Sensitivity of the Mosquito Culex pipiens Diptera: Culicidae towards Temephos in Southern Central Morocco

Abstract

Mosquito species are responsible for the transmission of many parasitic diseases and their control leads to the phenomenon of resistance to insecticides including temephos, mostly used by hygienic services. This article reports the results of studies conducted using WHO sensitivity tests on larvae local populations of Culex pipiens collected in three lodging in the city of Marrakesh (Southern-Central, Morocco), towards temephos. Five concentrations of insecticide in addition to a control, were used to determine the DC50 and DC 90 of Culex pipiens species towards temephos. Sensitivity tests were carried out at the entomology unit and monitoring of insect sensitivity towards insecticides installed at the Regional Diagnostic Laboratory Epidemiological and Environmental Hygiene (LRDEHM), Marrakesh, under the Regional Directorate of Health of Marrakesh-Safi. The bioassay results affirmed the presence of resistance in Culex pipiens larvae towards temephos. This species has also developed similar and comparable resistance levels in the three lodgings studied, with resistance rates recorded varying between 15.2 and 128.5. This study results can be used as database for the control of mosquito resistance to insecticides at local and national level.