Evaluation of Efficacy of Insecticides and Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets for Control of <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> Say Populations from Northern Nigeria

Information on Culex mosquitoes (vectors of filarial worm and viral encephalitis) from northern Nigeria is scanty, hindering evidence-based control.Here, two Culex populations (Kano and Kaduna) were characterized.Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex pipiens were found breeding in sympatry, with some hybrid individuals identified.Larval bioassays revealed high temephos resistance (LC 50 s = 1.34 mg/mL and 3.01 mg/mL for Kano and Kaduna, respectively).Larvae were more sensitive to α-cypermethrin (LC 50 s = 0.026 mg/mL and 0.067 mg/mL for Kano and Kaduna).WHO adult tube bioassays revealed high pyrethroid and DDT resistance, with mortalities of 44.01%± 6.79%, 35.83% ± 12.58%, 29.69% ± 9.97% and 52.47% ± 4.34% for permethrin, deltamethrin, α-cypermethrin and DDT, respectively.Highest resistance was observed with bendiocarb (mortality = 13.58%± 3.98%).High resistance was obtained with fenitrothion and malathion (mortalities = 21% ± 4.76% and 56.47% ± 8.67%, respectively), while a full susceptibility was observed with pirimiphos-methyl.Pre-exposure to piperonylbutoxide (PBO) significantly recovered α-cypermethrin susceptibility (mortality = 82% ± 5.16%, χ 2 = 50.99,p < 0.0001), compared with the conventional bioassay (mortality = 32 ± 7.30).Mortalities of <20% were obtained in cone bioassays with Yorkool, DuraNet and PermaNet3.0(side panels) nets, suggesting a loss of efficacy of conventional long-lasting insecticidal nets.However, mortalities of 99% and 86% were obtained in Kano and Kaduna populations using the roof of Per-