Unstable fipronil resistance associated with fitness costs in fipronil-selected Aedes aegypti L.

Abstract

Mosquitoes are very serious household and medically important pests transmitting many diseases of humans and animals. Among mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti L., is an active transmitter of dengue and lumpy skin disease virus, horrible and terrifying diseases, causing human and animal death throughout the world. Fipronil is a new chemistry insecticide used to control agriculture and medically important insect pests. It affects the GABA receptors in the nervous system and consequently causes the death of the pests. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate the onset of fipronil resistance and associated fitness costs in Ae. Aegypti. Moreover, the stability of fipronil resistance was evaluated after five generations of rearing without selection pressure. The population of Ae. Aegypti was exposed continuously for 12 generations to fipronil under controlled conditions. The fipronil selected population (Fipro-Sel Pop) had a 317 and 115.7-fold level of resistance compared to a susceptible and field population, respectively. Relative fitness for Fipro-Sel Pop was 0.57, with a significant disadvantage in larval duration, developmental time, percent hatchability, intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproductive rate (Ro), number of larvae in the next generation, and mean relative growth rate (MRGR) when compared to the Unselected population (Un-Sel Pop). However, the relative fitness value of Cross1 (Un-Sel Pop ♂ × Fipro-Sel Pop ♀) and Cross2 (Fipro-Sel Pop ♂ × Un-Sel Pop ♀) was 1.69 and 1.12, respectively. It is evident from the results that fipronil resistance comes with a fitness disadvantage, and it is unstable in the Fipro-Sel Pop of Ae. Aegypti. Therefore, the alternation of fipronil with other chemicals or suspension of fipronil usage for some time could improve its efficacy by delaying resistance development in Ae. Aegypti. Further research should be performed to investigate the field applicability of our findings.