Hereditary Genetics: Current Research

Abstract

Study on Resistance of Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations to Fenitrothion in Northern Tunisia

Ahmed Tabbabi, Jaber Daaboub, Raja Ben Cheikh, Mohamed Feriani, Chokri Boubaker and Hassen Ben Cheikh

Four populations of Culex pipiens were collected as larvae in Northern Tunisia to evaluate their resistance status against two insecticides: fenitrothion and propoxur. At LC50, the sample # 1 was susceptible, whereas all the other samples were resistant. The RR50 ranged from 1.08 in sample # 1 to 550 in sample # 3. The A2-B2, A4-B4 (and/or A5- B5), B12 and C1 esterases were found in collected samples and the frequencies ranged from 0.02 to 0.42. Propoxur caused a mortality of 0% in samples # 3 which showed the highest resistance levels to fenitrothion insecticide and 87% in sample # 1 which was susceptible hence the involvement of AChE 1 in the recorded resistance. Our results are essential for the development of such strategies.