Status of insecticide resistance in An. culicifacies in Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) India

Abstract

An. culicifacies is the major vector of malaria in tribal community and tribal dominated areas in India. Development of resistance to insecticides is the major challenge to curb the transmission. Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) is a tribal district in central India where incidence of malaria increased from 2012 to 2015 despite indoor space spray with synthetic pyrethroids. To determine the susceptibility status of An. culicifacies against commonly used insecticides in public health program in Gadchiroli. standard WHO method and test kit were used. The insecticide impregnated papers were procured from vector control unit Malaysia. An. culicifacies found resistance to three major groups of pesticides i.e. organochlorine (DDT 4%), organophosphorous (Malathion 5%) and pyrethroids (Cyfluthrin 0.15%, Deltametherin 0.05% and Lambdacyhalothrin 0.05%). The susceptibility status in Permethrin 0.75% needs further confirmation. Development of resistance to different insecticides of varied groups is an adverse finding for the elimination of malaria, explaining the recent increase in malaria incidence in Gadchiroli. The phenomenon further needs to be studied in different locations and the susceptibility needs to test against other insecticides. The findings may have significant implications to the choice of insecticides in the malaria control program in tribal areas.

Keywords:

• An. culicifacies
• insecticide resistance
• malaria vector
• Gadchiroli

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Acknowledgment

We specially thank Dr Kanchan Jagtap (Joint director, Govt. of Maharashtra), Dr. Mahendra Jagtap (State Entomologist, Govt. of Maharashtra) and Dr S. J. Pande (District malaria officer, Gadchiroli) and Mr Rajesh Karlekar (VBD consultant, Gadchiroli) for their sincere co-operation in the study. We would like to thank Sh. Dhan Singh, Sh. S.B. Dubey, Sh. S.R. Mishra, Sh. B.S. Patel (NIRTH field staff) and Mr Mahadhev Satpute, Mr Haridas Sakere, Mr Najuk Jade, Mrs. Deola and Mr Anandrao Dudhabale (SEARCH field staff) for their support in the field. We thank Dr Anand Bang of the Tata Trusts for facilitating the support.