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Sublethal Pyriproxyfen Exposure Alters Anopheles arabiensis Fitness and Pyrethroid Susceptibility Without
Simoni Twaha Mnzava1,2, Augustino Thabiti Mmbaga1,2, Anitha Mutashobya1,2
1Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara P.O. Box 53, Tanzania.
Background:
Pyriproxyfen (PPF), a juvenile hormone analog, is a promising chemical for autodissemination strategies, where mosquitoes aid in transferring insecticides to their breeding sites. This study evaluated the effects of sublethal PPF doses on Anopheles arabiensis fitness (fecundity, fertility, and body size) and pyrethroids susceptibility across three generations.
Methods:
Laboratory-reared, pyrethroid-resistant mosquito larvae were exposed once to sublethal PPF concentrations of (0.0003, 0.0006, 0.0008, and 0.001 mg a.i./L), which caused emergence inhibition rates of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, respectively, alongside a control group. Emerged adults were tested for susceptibility to 0.75% permethrin, 3.75% permethrin, and 0.05% deltamethrin using WHO tube bioassays. Knockdown was recorded at 1 h, mortality at 24 h post-exposure, while fecundity, fertility, and body size were measured across three generations.
Results:
First-generation Anopheles arabiensis emerging from PPF-treated larvae showed reduced susceptibility to 0.75% permethrin and 0.05% deltamethrin compared to controls. Mortality from permethrin dropped from 22.7% in the controls to 11% and then 3% at 0.0003 and 0.001 mg a.i./L. For deltamethrin, mortality fell from 62.7% to 36% and then 23.3% at the same concentrations. Knockdown at 60 min was also significantly reduced, with permethrin KDT60 dropping from 41.3% in controls to 9.3% and 3.3%, and deltamethrin KDT60 from 79.7% to 66.7% and 65%. No significant differences were observed in subsequent generations (p > 0.05). PPF exposure also induced notable fitness costs in the first generation: mean wing length decreased from 3.07 mm in controls to 2.88-2.66 mm (6-13% reduction), mean egg production dropped from 30.1 to 13.9-18.8 eggs per female (37-54% reduction), and egg hatching rate declined from 87% to 79-82% (6-9% reduction).
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that sublethal PPF doses can temporarily enhance insecticide resistance without leading to heritable resistance and negatively impact key mosquito fitness traits. PPF may thus be a valuable addition to integrated vector management strategies.
