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Characterization of biochemical based insecticide resistance mechanism by thermal bioassay and the variation of esterase activity in Culex quinquefasciatus

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Abstract

Biochemical mechanisms of insecticide resistance of thermal exposed and unexposed Culex quinquefasciatus strains are evaluated, which were not studied earlier. The activity of α- and β-carboxylesterases and acetylcholinesterase of malathion susceptible and resistant strains were compared after thermal treatment. Three-day-old adult females were used for the malathion susceptibility test and biochemical assays, and males were used only for the susceptibility test. Thermal exposure brought about increase in resistance levels from 85% to 90% in males and 91% to 96.6% in females of resistant strain. The resistance status of the susceptibility strain was unchanged after thermal exposure. The activities of α- and β-carboxylesterase of susceptible mosquitoes were within 800 and 700 U/mg protein, respectively. The α-carboxylesterase activity of the thermal exposed malathion-resistant population was significantly (t test, P < 0.05) higher than the unexposed resistant population, and the reverse was recorded in β-carboxylesterase. The α-carboxylesterase activity of susceptible population was lower than the resistant population. The activity of α-carboxylesterase was higher than the β-carboxylesterase in both the strains. Among the malathion resistant C. quinquefasciatus population, 2.3% population exhibited 30–40% inhibition which increased to 5.8% after the thermal exposure. Thermal exposure of mosquitoes increased the activity of both α-carboxylesterases and acetylcholinesterase but decreased the activity of β-carboxylesterase.

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Acknowledgments

The first author acknowledges University Grants Commission, Delhi for financial support. Mr. R. S. Sharma’s help in preparation of bio-chemical assays is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India

    V. Swain & R. K. Seth

  2. National Institute of Malaria Research, 22-Sham Nath Marg, Delhi, 110054, India

    K. Raghavendra & S. S. Mohanty

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  1. V. Swain
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  2. R. K. Seth
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  3. K. Raghavendra
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  4. S. S. Mohanty
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Correspondence to V. Swain.

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Swain, V., Seth, R.K., Raghavendra, K. et al. Characterization of biochemical based insecticide resistance mechanism by thermal bioassay and the variation of esterase activity in Culex quinquefasciatus . Parasitol Res 104, 1307–1313 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-1326-4

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