INSECTICIDE SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF Aedes aegypti IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENT

Resistance to insecticides is one of the major challenges to eradicating insect vectors and arthropod-borne diseases. Aedes aegypti is a major vector of several arboviruses, including yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus. This study was designed to assess the insecticide susceptibility of the Aedes aegypti population at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to various commonly used pyrethroids. Ovitraps were used to collect eggs within the University environment. The collected eggs were reared to the adult stage at the insectary unit of the National Arbovirus and Vectors Research Centre, Enugu. Non-blood fed, 3 – 5-day-old, F1 of the female Ae. Aedes were exposed to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) bottle bioassay using permethrin (15 µg/bottle), deltamethrin (10 µg/bottle), and α-cypermethrin (10 µg/bottle). Knockdown was recorded after 15 minutes and 30 minutes (diagnostic time). The results showed that the tested Aedes population was susceptible to the three pyrethroids: permethrin (100%), α-cypermethrin (100%), and deltamethrin (98%). This study indicates that pyrethroids can still be used in the control of Ae. aegypti in the study area. However, rational use of insecticides and an integrated vector control approach are recommended to prevent the development of resistance in the Ae. aegypti population