Abstract
Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann is one of the primary vectors of malaria in northern Belize. The primary breeding sites for this species in Central America are fresh water wetlands that are found in close proximity to agriculture and, in particular, sugarcane fields. The use of insecticides and herbicides on these crops leads to the introduction of chemicals into the surrounding wetlands. The potential for the development of insecticide resistance is, therefore, quite high. A study was undertaken to obtain comparative data on the resistance status of An. albimanus in northern Belize in relation to agriculture practices. Larval surveys were conducted at four collection points in marshes juxtaposed to different crop types: Dubloon (DB)—control site located 300 m from any agriculture; Little Belize (LB)—mixed crop agricultural with some human settlements; and Chan Chen (CC) and Buena Vista (BV)—year round sugarcane production. Time mortality curves were obtained by exposing F1 larvae to DDT 1 μg/ml, malathion 1 μg/ml, and permethrin 0.05 μg/ml. Significant differences in mortality rates from the four sites were observed only to malathion. The DB sites contained larvae that were the most susceptible overall, in congruence with its distance from crops. Larvae from LB exhibited a medium level of tolerance. Finally, the two populations collected at the edge of sugarcane fields (CC and BV) exhibited the highest tolerance to malathion. These results represent first data on the impact of agriculture on the resistance status of malaria vectors in northern Belize. The effect of malathion on An. albimanus insecticide resistance reinforces the concerns of the potential impact of agriculture usage on the efficacy of vector control program.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akogbeto MC, Djouaka RF, Kinde-Gazard DA (2006) Screening of pesticide residues in soil and water samples from agricultural settings. Malar J 5:22
Breeland SG, Kliewer JW, Austin JR, Miller CW (1970) Observations on malathion-resistant adults of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann in coastal El Salvador. Bull World Health Organ 43:627–631
Brogdon WG, Beach RF, Stewart JM, Castanaza L (1988) Microplate assay analysis of the distribution of organophosphate and carbamate resistance in Guatemalan Anopheles albimanus. Bull World Health Organ 66:339–346
Diabate A, Baldet T, Chandre F, Akoobeto M, Guiguemde TR, Darriet F, Brengues C, Guillet P, Hemingway J, Small GJ, Hougard JM (2002) The role of agricultural use of insecticides in resistance to pyrethroids in Anopheles gambiae s.l. in Burkina Faso. Am J Trop Med Hyg 67:617–622
Georghiou GP (1969) The resistance potential of anopheline and culicine mosquitoes to cholinesterase inhibitors. World Rev Pest Contr 8:86–94
Georghiou G, Ariaratnam V, Breeland S (1972) Development of resistance to carbamates and organophosphorus compounds in Anopheles albimanus in nature. Bull World Health Organ 46:551–554
Grieco JP, Johnson S, Achee NL, Masuoka P, Pope K, Rejmankova E, Vanzie E, Andre R, Roberts D (2006) Distribution of Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles vestitipennis, and Anopheles crucians associated with land use in northern Belize. J Med Entomol 43:614–622
Hargreaves K, Hunt RH, Brooke BD, Mthembu J, Weeto MM, Awolola TS, Coetzee M (2003) Anopheles arabiensis and An. quadriannulatus resistance to DDT in South Africa. Med Vet Entomol 17:417–422
Hemingway J (1983) Biochemical studies on malathion resistance in Anopheles arabiensis from Sudan. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 77:477–480
Johnson S, Rejmankova E (2005) Impacts of land use on nutrient distribution and vegetation composition of freshwater wetlands in Northern Belize. Wetlands 25:89–100
Lines JD, Ahmed MAE, Curtis CF (1984) Genetic studies of malathion resistance in Anopheles arabiensis Patton. Bull Entomol Res 74:317–325
Mzilahowa T, Ball AJ, Bass C, Morgan JC, Nyoni B, Steen K, Donnelly MJ, Wilding CS (2008) Reduced susceptibility to DDT in field populations of Anopheles quadriannulatus and Anopheles arabiensis in Malawi: evidence for larval selection. Med Vet Entomol 22:258–263
Pesticide Control Board (2002) The Belize pesticides manual, 2nd edn. Pesticide Control Board, Central Farm, Cayo district, Belize
Pope KO, Masuoka P, Rejmankova E, Grieco JP, Johnson S, Roberts DR (2005) Mosquito habitats, land use, and malaria risk in Belize from satellite imagery. Ecol Appl 15:1223–1232
Rejmankova E, Pope KO, Post R, Maltby E (1996a) Herbaceous wetlands of the Yucatan Peninsula: communities at extreme ends of environmental gradients. Int Rev Ges Hydrobiol 81:223–252
Rejmankova E, Roberts DR, Manguin S, Pope KO, Komarek J, Post RA (1996b) Anopheles albimanus (Diptera: Culicidae) and cyanobacteria: an example of larval habitat selection. Environ Entomol 25:1058–1067
Rios R, Bown D, del Angel Cabanas G (1988) Stratification of resistance levels to different insecticides in three ecological along the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. Centre de Investigaciones sobre Paludismo, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by K. J. Gorman
The opinions and ascertains are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the view of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dusfour, I., Achee, N.L., Briceno, I. et al. Comparative data on the insecticide resistance of Anopheles albimanus in relation to agricultural practices in northern Belize, CA. J Pest Sci 83, 41–46 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-009-0268-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-009-0268-7