Insecticide resistance status of Aedes aegypti in 10 localities in Colombia

Insecticide resistance is one of the major threats to the effectiveness of vector control programs. In order to establish a baseline susceptibility profile of Aedes aegypti in the southwest of Colombia, 10 localities in four Departments (States) were evaluated. Standardized WHO bioassay, CDC bottle bioassay and microplate biochemical assays of non-specific β-esterase (NSE), mixed function oxidases (MFO) and acetylcholinesterase were used. Cross resistance was evaluated with field collected mosquitoes that underwent selection pressure in the laboratory from DDT, propoxur and lambdacyhalothrin during three alternate generations. Mosquitoes with mortality rates below 80% in bioassays were considered resistant. Insecticide resistance varied geographically. Insecticide resistance was observed in 100% of localities in which mosquitoes were exposed to DDT, bendiocarb and temephos using both assays. WHO bioassays showed susceptibility to pyrethroids in all the localities evaluated, however CDC bottle bioassays showed decreases in susceptibility especially with lambdacyhalothrin. All localities showed susceptibility to the organophosphate malathion. Mosquitoes from eight regions with evidence of resistance to any of the insecticide evaluated were also evaluated biochemically. Mosquitoes from five of these regions had increased levels of NSE and two regions had increased levels of MFO. Increase levels of NSE explain partially the low susceptibility to temephos found in all the localities. However, the biochemical mechanisms evaluated do not explain all the resistance observed. Cross resistance was observed between the DDT-selected strain and lambdacyhalothrin, and between the lambdacyhalothrin-selected strain and propoxur and vice versa. The selected strains do not show changes in the biochemical assays evaluated, therefore the observed cross-resistance suggests different biochemical mechanisms. This study shows that Ae. aegypti from Colombia can develop resistance to most of the insecticide classes in the market. Periodic surveillance of insecticide resistance is necessary in order to maintain effective interventions. This study helped to establish the National Network for the surveillance of the insecticide resistance in Colombia.