[Recent observations on the sensitivity to pyrethroids and DDT of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus in the central Highlands of Madagascar; preliminary results on the absence of the kdr mutation in An. arabiensis].

Abstract

Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus are the principal vectors of malaria on the central highlands of Madagascar. These two species of mosquito are directly or indirectly the targets of indoor insecticide spread. The survey of the susceptibility of these two vectors to insecticides is essential specifying for the anti-vectorial current directives and for the future programs. This paper describes: --the recent tests of susceptibility and the study of the knock-down effect of four pyrethroids (deltamethrin 0.50%, permethrin 0.250%, alpha-cypermethrin 0.025%, cyfluthrin 0.150%) and DDT 4% on An. arabiensis collected from December 2002 to May 2003 in three villages on the district of Tsiroanomandidy and in Alasora, a rural area near the capital, Antananarivo. --the susceptibility tests of An. funestus realised in Morafeno, against cyfluthrin 0.150%, deltaméthrin 0.050%, lambda-cyhalothrin 0.050% and DDT 4%. --the preliminary study of the kdr gene mutation, which might account for the pyrethrinoid and DDT resistance, of An. arabiensis in Alasora. The data indicate a decrease in the efficiency of alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% (Tkd99 = 21 mn) and of DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 191.5 mn) on An. arabiensis in Analamiranga. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of permethrin 0.250% has been notified. In Soanierana, alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% was effective against An. arabiensis, whilst the ineffectiveness of the DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 116 mn) in Andranonahoatra was observed. In Alasora, a fall in the effectiveness of alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% (Tkd99 = 21 mn) and the resistance to DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 6894 mn) was noted. No kdr mutation was detected on the kd gene of An. arabiensis resistant to the alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% and to DDT 4%, collected in Alasora. An. funestus collected in the district of Miandrivazo is susceptible to pyrethroids and to DDT. To conclude, in the Malagasy Central Highlands, An. arabiensis is ordinary sensitive to pyrethroid and poorly sensitive, or even resistant to DDT (as observed in Antananarivo plain). However, An. funestus remains sensitive to all tested insecticides; this observation is crucial because this anopheles vector is the first target of the campaigns of indoor spraying insecticides.