Exploring the Mechanisms of Multiple Insecticide Resistance in a Highly Plasmodium -Infected Malaria Vector Anopheles funestus Sensu Stricto from Sahel of Northern Nigeria

The Nigerian Government is scaling up the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets for malaria control, but the lack of surveillance data, especially in the Sudan/Sahel region of the country, may hinder targeting priority populations. Here, the vectorial role and insecticide resistance profile of a population of a major malaria vector sensu stricto from Sahel of Nigeria was characterised. s.s. was the only vector found, with a high human blood index (100%) and a biting rate of 5.3/person/night. High infection was discovered (sporozoite rate = 54.55%). The population is resistant to permethrin (mortality = 48.30%, LT = 65.76 min), deltamethrin, DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and bendiocarb, with mortalities of 29.44%, 56.34% and 54.05%, respectively. Cone-bioassays established loss of efficacy of the pyrethroid-only long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs); but 100% recovery of susceptibility was obtained for piperonylbutoxide (PBO)-containing PermaNet 3.0. Synergist bioassays with PBO and diethyl maleate recovered susceptibility, implicating CYP450s (permethrin mortality = 78.73%, χ = 22.33, < 0.0001) and GSTs (DDT mortality = 81.44%, χ = 19.12, < 0.0001). A high frequency of 119F mutation (0.84) was observed (OR = 16, χ = 3.40, = 0.05), suggesting the preeminent role of metabolic resistance. These findings highlight challenges associated with deployment of LLINs and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in Nigeria.