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The need for practical insecticide-resistance guidelines to effectively inform mosquito-borne disease control
Alice Namias1,2, Ndey Bassin Jobe3, Krijn Petrus Paaijmans3,4,5,6
1Département de Biologie, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
Elife
|August 6, 2021
Summary
Standard insecticide resistance tests do not predict real-world effectiveness. New guidelines are needed to assess practical resistance for better vector control and disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Vector control
- Entomology
- Public health
Background:
- Monitoring insecticide resistance in mosquito populations is crucial for controlling vector-borne diseases.
- Current phenotypic assays (technical resistance) often fail to predict the field efficacy of vector control products (practical resistance).
- Discrepancies arise from differing test conditions (environment, dose, substrate) and mosquito physiology (age, feeding status) compared to field settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of standard insecticide resistance assays in predicting field efficacy.
- To emphasize the need for new testing guidelines that assess practical resistance under relevant local conditions.
- To improve the programmatic impact of vector control strategies.
Main Methods:
- The study critically evaluated existing phenotypic insecticide resistance assays.
- It analyzed the discordance between technical resistance and practical resistance in field settings.
- It considered indirect effects of insecticide resistance on mosquito behavior and pathogen transmission.
Main Results:
- Standard laboratory assays do not accurately reflect the impact of insecticide resistance on mosquito populations in the field.
- Environmental factors, exposure doses, and mosquito physiological states significantly influence insecticide efficacy.
- Insecticide resistance and exposure can indirectly affect mosquito longevity, pathogen development, and host-seeking behavior.
Conclusions:
- Existing methods for measuring insecticide resistance do not adequately predict the success of vector control interventions.
- Additional testing guidelines are essential to evaluate practical resistance, considering local conditions and mosquito biology.
- Implementing new guidelines will enhance the effectiveness of vector control programs and reduce disease transmission.
