Search

Abstract Background Mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) is the principal malaria vector control strategy adopted by Niger. To better inform on the most appropriate ITN to distribute, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) of Niger and its partners, conducted insecticide resistance monitoring in selected sites across the country. Methods The susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) to chlorfenapyr and pyrethroid insecticides was investigated in a total of sixteen sites in 2019 and 2020, using 2–5-day-old adults reared from wild collected larvae per site. The susceptibility status, pyrethroid resistance intensity at 5 and 10 times the diagnostic concentrations, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergism with diagnostic concentrations of deltamethrin, permethrin and alpha-cypermethrin were assessed using WHO bioassays. Two doses (100 and 200 µg/bottle) of chlorfenapyr were tested using the CDC bottle assay method. Species composition and allele frequencies for knock-down resistance (kdr-L1014F and L1014S) and acetylcholinesterase (ace-1 G119S) mutations were further characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results High resistance intensity to all pyrethroids tested was observed in all sites except for alpha-cypermethrin in Gaya and Tessaoua and permethrin in Gaya in 2019 recording moderate resistance intensity. Similarly, Balleyara, Keita and Tillabery yielded moderate resistance intensity for alpha-cypermethrin and deltamethrin, and Niamey V low resistance intensity against deltamethrin and permethrin in 2020. Pre-exposure to PBO substantially increased susceptibility with average increases in mortality between 0 and 70% for tested pyrethroids. Susceptibility to chlorfenapyr (100 µg/bottle) was recorded in all sites except in Tessaoua and Magaria where susceptibility was recorded at the dose of 200 µg/bottle. Anopheles coluzzii was the predominant malaria vector species in most of the sites followed by An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) and Anopheles arabiensis. The kdr-L1014S allele, investigated for the first time, was detected in the country. Both kdr-L1014F (frequencies [0.46–0.81]) and L1014S (frequencies [0.41–0.87]) were present in all sites while the ace-1 G119S was between 0.08 and 0.20. Conclusion The data collected will guide the NMCP in making evidence-based decisions to better adapt vector control strategies and insecticide resistance management in Niger, starting with mass distribution of new generation ITNs such as interceptor G2 and PBO ITNs.

Background: Timely entomological and insecticide resistance monitoring is a key to generating relevant data for vector management. We investigated the insecticide susceptibility status of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in eight rural farming communities in Southern Gombe, Nigeria. Methods: Overall, 3–5 days-old adult female Anopheles mosquitoes reared from field-collected immature stages between September and November, 2014 were exposed to the diagnostic doses of pyrethroids, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides using the Center for Disease Control Bottle bioassay. The observatory knockdown time from exposure to each insecticide was recorded up to two hours. The dead mosquitoes were then identified morphological­ly and by molecular assays. Results: Mortality results showed resistance in An. gambiae s.l. populations to bendiocarb (2.3–100%), deltamethrin (39–70%), pirimiphos-methyl (65-95%), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (0–38.1%), permethrin (0–46.3%) and lambda-cyhalothrin (42.5–86.4%). The few cases of full susceptibility were observed from lamdacyhalothrin exposed population of An. gambiae s.l. in Banbam and Pantami respectively. An. gambiae 177 (45%) was significantly higher (P< 0.05) than An. arabiensis 64 (16.3%), An. coluzzii 34 (8.7%) and An. gambiae/An. coluzzii hybrid 78 (19.8%). Conclusion: A strong evidence of widespread resistance in the major malaria vector species in Southern Gombe to all common classes of insecticides is a justification for the State Malaria Elimination Programme to consciously con­sider incorporating insecticide resistance management strategies into control programs in order to sustain the future of current control interventions.