Vol. 3, Issue 6, Part A (2016)

Author(s): Anju Viswan K, Pushapalatha E and Azhahianambi P

Abstract: The mosquito populations are increasing day by day in Chennai, one of the filarial endemic regions in Tamil Nadu, India due to the unplanned growth of cities, increased and improper usage of insecticides, development of resistance in target insects etc. Continuous and extensive uses of chemical insecticides lead to selection of resistant mosquitoes in the environment. The early detection of resistance in vector mosquitoes will help the local government to plan and select appropriate alternative control measures or insecticides for effective control. Quantitative metabolic enzymes assay have been commonly used in the detection of insecticide resistance because it is very sensitive and gives results rapidly even at low frequencies. Elevation in detoxifying enzyme levels indicates the status of insecticide resistance. The present study compares the detoxifying enzyme levels of Culex quinquefasciatus Say of Chennai with laboratory population. The results shows the samples collected from the Chennai corporation shows 1.85, 1.79, 1.71 and 1.48 fold increase in α and β esterases, GST and MFO levels respectively. The % remaining activity of AChE in Propoxur inhibited fraction was 89.84 in field population indicates the organophosphate and carbamate resistance. The study highlights rise of multiple insecticide resistance in Cx. quinquefasciatus of Chennai and the urgent need to rapidly implement resistance management strategies by improving vector control measures using alternative ecofriendly techniques.

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