Abstract
BackgroundIran has recently initiated a malaria elimination program with emphasis on vector control strategies which are heavily reliant on indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticidal nets. Insecticide resistance seriously threatens the efficacy of vector control strategies. This study was conducted to determine the insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles stephensi to DDT and current insecticides in Jask county as an active malaria focus in southeastern Iran.MethodsIn this study, the anopheline larvae were collected from different aquatic habitats in Jask county and transported to insectarium, fed with sugar and then 3-day-old adults were used for susceptibility tests. WHO insecticide susceptibility tests were performed with DDT (4 %), malathion (5 %), lambda-cyhalothrin (0.05 %), deltamethrin (0.05 %) and permethrin (0.75 %).ResultsThe field strain of An. stephensi was found resistant to DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin. The LT50 values for DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin in this species were 130.25, and 37.71 min, respectively. Moreover, An. stephensi was completely susceptible to malathion and permethrin and tolerant to deltamethrin.ConclusionThe present study results confirm the resistance of the major malaria vector, An. stephensi, to DDT and lambda-cyhalothrin, and tolerance to deltamethrin, which could gradually increase and spread into other malaria endemic areas. Thus, there is a need for regular monitoring of insecticide resistance in order to select suitable insecticides for vector control interventions towards malaria elimination.
Highlights
Iran has recently initiated a malaria elimination program with emphasis on vector control strategies which are heavily reliant on indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticidal nets
The results of susceptibility tests using a threshold of 90 % mortality for resistance confirmation as set by WHO criteria indicated that the natural population of An. stephensi is resistant to DDT
The Iran national malaria control programme has implemented indoor residual spraying with lambdacyhalothrin and deltamethrin insecticides, distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets and application of larvicides as the main malaria vector control strategies [1, 14, 19]
Summary
Iran has recently initiated a malaria elimination program with emphasis on vector control strategies which are heavily reliant on indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticidal nets. Recent studies on anopheline mosquitoes in Iran have reported the presence of eight malaria vectors [1]. Almost all regions are free of the disease, with the exception of the thinly populated southeastern tropical part of the country near the border with Pakistan (Fig. 1). This area has two seasonal peaks in spring and autumn [1, 6]
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