Influence of lufenuron on the nutrient content and detoxification enzyme expression in Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Aedes aegypti is of utmost public health concern transmitting various diseases of human health concern. Employment of chemical-based control interventions has induced immunity in mosquitoes, harmed environment, and adversely affected human health and non-targets diverting the research focus on alternate measures. Current study investigates the efficacy of an Insect Growth Regulator, lufenuron, against early fourth instars of Ae. aegypti. The larvae exposed to lufenuron for 24 h were assessed for the effects on the development and adult emergence. The impact of sub-lethal and median-lethal dose of lufenuron was determined on the nutrients and detoxification enzymes of Ae. aegypti. The larvae exposed to lufenuron showed reduced adult emergence exhibiting the respective IE30 and IE50 as 0.13 μg/L and 0.96 μg/L. Larval treatment with IE30 and IE50 lufenuron reduced the carbohydrate and lipid content in Ae. aegypti. However, the protein levels in the larvae decreased only on exposure to IE30 lufenuron while increased with IE50 lufenuron. Besides, IE30 and IE50 lufenuron treatment elevated α-esterases (1.05-fold; 1.15-fold); β-esterases (1.29-fold;1.62-fold), and Glutathione-S-transferases (1.19-fold; 3.1-fold) expression in the Ae. aegypti larvae. The % acetylcholinesterase inhibition also reduced by 3.75-fold and 2.07-fold, correspondingly, while the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase expression rose (1.15-fold) only with IE50 dosage of lufenuron. It is suggested that lufenuron stress probably ampliflied the catabolism of nutrients and expression of metabolic detoxifying enzymes in Ae. aegypti larvae in order to meet higher energy requirements and counteract the adverse effects of lufenuron. This is the first ever report unravelling the effect of lufenuron on the biochemical parameters of Ae. aegypti larvae.