Frequency of sodium channel genotypes and association with pyrethrum knockdown time in populations of Californian Aedes aegypti

Geoffrey M Attardo,Tess Van Schoor,Yoosook Lee,Aamina Zahid,Katherine K Brisco,Erin Taylor Kelly,Anthony J Cornel,Lindsey K Mack,Kaiyuan Victoria Shen

doi:10.1186/s13071-021-04627-3

Abstract

BackgroundSince their detection in 2013, Aedes aegypti has become a widespread urban pest in California. The availability of cryptic larval breeding sites in residential areas and resistance to insecticides pose significant challenges to control efforts. Resistance to pyrethroids is largely attributed to mutations in the voltage gated sodium channels (VGSC), the pyrethroid site of action. However, past studies have indicated that VGSC mutations may not be entirely predictive of the observed resistance phenotype.MethodsTo investigate the frequencies of VGSC mutations and the relationship with pyrethroid insecticide resistance in California, we sampled Ae. aegypti from four locations in the Central Valley, and the Greater Los Angeles area. Mosquitoes from each location were subjected to an individual pyrethrum bottle bioassay to determine knockdown times. A subset of assayed mosquitoes from each location was then analyzed to determine the composition of 5 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci within the VGSC gene.ResultsThe distribution of knockdown times for each of the five Californian populations sampled was non-parametric with potentially bimodal distributions. One group succumbs to insecticidal effects around 35–45 min and the second group lasts up to and beyond the termination of the assay (120+ min). We detected 5 polymorphic VGSC SNPs within the sampled California populations. One is potentially new and alternatively spliced (I915K), and four are documented and associated with resistance: F1534C, V1016I, V410L and S723T. The Central Valley populations (Clovis, Dinuba, Sanger and Kingsburg) are fairly homogenous with only 5% of the mosquitoes showing heterozygosity at any given position. In the Greater LA mosquitoes, 55% had at least one susceptible allele at any of the five SNP loci. The known resistance allele F1534C was detected in almost all sampled mosquitoes (99.4%). We also observe significant heterogeneity in the knockdown phenotypes of individuals with the identical VGSC haplotypes suggesting the presence of additional undefined resistance mechanisms.ConclusionsResistance associated VGSC SNPs are prevalent, particularly in the Central Valley. Interestingly, among mosquitoes carrying all 4 resistance associated SNPs, we observe significant heterogeneity in bottle bioassay profiles suggesting that other mechanisms are important to the individual resistance of Ae. aegypti in California. Keywords: Aedes aegypti, Resistance, Pyrethroid, IPLEX genotyping, Voltage gated sodium channel, California.Graphical

Highlights

Since their detection in 2013, Aedes aegypti has become a widespread urban pest in California
Populations in Southern California are thought to have arrived from Mexico, while populations in the Central Valley may have been introduced, in part, from the Southeastern United States
Upon detection in 2013, the Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District (CMAD) implemented an integrated vector control management strategy which involved extensive public education, thorough property inspections, sanitation, insecticide treatment at larval sources and residual barrier spraying with pyrethroids

Summary

Introduction

Since their detection in 2013, Aedes aegypti has become a widespread urban pest in California. Mack et al Parasites Vectors (2021) 14:141 medically important vector was detected in California in 2013 in response to a residential service request [1] It has been detected in 17 counties throughout the state despite aggressive surveillance and treatment efforts, presenting a significant challenge to local control agencies [1,2,3]. Upon detection in 2013, the Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District (CMAD) implemented an integrated vector control management strategy which involved extensive public education, thorough property inspections, sanitation, insecticide treatment at larval sources and residual barrier spraying with pyrethroids. Despite these efforts, Ae. aegypti successfully overwintered and continued to spread. It is likely that the invasive populations of Ae. aegypti arrived in California with genetic mutations conferring resistance to the type I pyrethroid insecticides applied for vector control in California [6, 7]

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