Detection of diflubenzuron and pyrethroid resistance mutations in Culex pipiens from Muğla, Turkey

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 203; p. 105294
• Main Authors: Guz, Nurper, Cagatay, Naciye Sena, Fotakis, Emmanouil A, Durmusoglu, Enver, Vontas, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Chitin synthase mutations; Insecticide resistance; KDR; Vector control; KDR; Chitin synthase mutations; Insecticide resistance; Vector control
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105294

•First report of diflubenzuron resistant mutations in Cx. pipiens outside Italy.•High frequencies of diflubenzuron resistant mutations in Cx. pipiens - Mugla, Turkey.•The KDR mutation L1014F ranged from 40 to 50% in the same populations.•Ongoing Cx. pipiens resistance surveillance is of utmost importance in Turkey. Chemical insecticides are the main tool for vector control worldwide with pyrethroids and the larvicide diflubenzuron (DFB) used extensively against the primary West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens. In this study we monitored the presence, frequency and geographical distribution of the Chitin synthase 1 gene mutations I1043L, I1043M associated with striking diflubenzuron resistance and the knock down resistance mutation L1014F associated with pyrehtroid resistance, in Cx. pipiens populations from Turkey. DFB resistance mutations I1043L, I1043M were found at high frequencies ranging from 15.7% to 37.5% and 25% to 52.7% in all study sites (first report for the presence of DFB resistant mutations, anywhere outside Italy). The L1014F pyrethroid resistance mutation was also present at relatively high frequencies, ranging from 40% to 50%. The high frequency of both DFB and pyrethroid resistance mutations are possibly associated with the intense use of these insecticides in agricultural and mosquito control applications in the region. Given the limited number of available insecticides for vector control these findings are of major importance for public health in Turkey and neighboring countries. [Display omitted]