The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles arabiensis</it> is a major malaria vector in Africa. It thrives in agricultural areas and has been associated with increased malaria incidence in areas under rice and maize cultivation. This effect may be du...

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Main Authors: Oliver Shüné V, Brooke Basil D
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2013-02-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.malariajournal.com/content/12/1/44
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author Oliver Shüné V
Brooke Basil D
author_facet Oliver Shüné V
Brooke Basil D
author_sort Oliver Shüné V
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles arabiensis</it> is a major malaria vector in Africa. It thrives in agricultural areas and has been associated with increased malaria incidence in areas under rice and maize cultivation. This effect may be due to increased adult size and abundance as a consequence of optimal larval nutrition. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of larval nutrition on the life history and expression of insecticide resistance in adults of laboratory reared <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Larvae drawn from an insecticide susceptible <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> strain (SENN) as well as a DDT-resistant strain (SENN-DDT) were subjected to three fasting regimes: 1 mg of food per larva offered once per day, once every second day and once every third day. Control cohorts included larvae offered 1 mg food thrice per day. The rate of larval development was compared between matched cohorts from each strain as well as between fasted larvae and their respective controls. The expression of DDT resistance/tolerance in adults was compared between the starved cohorts and their controls by strain. Factors potentially affecting variation in DDT resistance/tolerance were examined including: adult body size (wing length), knock-down resistance (<it>kdr</it>) status and levels of detoxification enzyme activity.</p> <p>Results and conclusion</p> <p><it>Anopheles arabiensis</it> larval development is prolonged by nutrient deprivation and adults that eclose from starved larvae are smaller and less tolerant to DDT intoxication. This effect on DDT tolerance in adults is also associated with reduced detoxification enzyme activity. Conversely, well fed larvae develop comparatively quickly into large, more DDT tolerant (SENN) or resistant (SENN-DDT) adults. This is important in those instances where cereal farming is associated with increased <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> transmitted malaria incidence, because large adult females with high teneral reserves and decreased susceptibility to insecticide intoxication may also prove to be more efficient malaria vectors. In general, larval nutrient deprivation in <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> has important implications for subsequent adults in terms of their size and relative insecticide susceptibility, which may in turn impact on their malaria vector capacity in areas where insecticide based control measures are in place.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-088aba7e86804db68c071f82aae7740f2022-12-22T02:12:08ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752013-02-011214410.1186/1475-2875-12-44The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>Oliver Shüné VBrooke Basil D<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles arabiensis</it> is a major malaria vector in Africa. It thrives in agricultural areas and has been associated with increased malaria incidence in areas under rice and maize cultivation. This effect may be due to increased adult size and abundance as a consequence of optimal larval nutrition. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of larval nutrition on the life history and expression of insecticide resistance in adults of laboratory reared <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Larvae drawn from an insecticide susceptible <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> strain (SENN) as well as a DDT-resistant strain (SENN-DDT) were subjected to three fasting regimes: 1 mg of food per larva offered once per day, once every second day and once every third day. Control cohorts included larvae offered 1 mg food thrice per day. The rate of larval development was compared between matched cohorts from each strain as well as between fasted larvae and their respective controls. The expression of DDT resistance/tolerance in adults was compared between the starved cohorts and their controls by strain. Factors potentially affecting variation in DDT resistance/tolerance were examined including: adult body size (wing length), knock-down resistance (<it>kdr</it>) status and levels of detoxification enzyme activity.</p> <p>Results and conclusion</p> <p><it>Anopheles arabiensis</it> larval development is prolonged by nutrient deprivation and adults that eclose from starved larvae are smaller and less tolerant to DDT intoxication. This effect on DDT tolerance in adults is also associated with reduced detoxification enzyme activity. Conversely, well fed larvae develop comparatively quickly into large, more DDT tolerant (SENN) or resistant (SENN-DDT) adults. This is important in those instances where cereal farming is associated with increased <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> transmitted malaria incidence, because large adult females with high teneral reserves and decreased susceptibility to insecticide intoxication may also prove to be more efficient malaria vectors. In general, larval nutrient deprivation in <it>An</it>. <it>arabiensis</it> has important implications for subsequent adults in terms of their size and relative insecticide susceptibility, which may in turn impact on their malaria vector capacity in areas where insecticide based control measures are in place.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/12/1/44<it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>Larval nutritionDDT resistanceAdult body size
spellingShingle Oliver Shüné V
Brooke Basil D
The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
Malaria Journal
<it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
Larval nutrition
DDT resistance
Adult body size
title The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
title_full The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
title_fullStr The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
title_full_unstemmed The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
title_short The effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and DDT resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
title_sort effect of larval nutritional deprivation on the life history and ddt resistance phenotype in laboratory strains of the malaria vector it anopheles arabiensis it
topic <it>Anopheles arabiensis</it>
Larval nutrition
DDT resistance
Adult body size
url http://www.malariajournal.com/content/12/1/44
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