Very high DDT-resistant population of Anopheles pharoensis Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) from Gorgora, northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Standard WHO insecticide bioassay tests were carried out in Gorgora, northern Ethiopia to evaluate the susceptibility status of Anopheles pharoensis Theobald for the insecticides DDT, malathion, permethrin and deltamethrin. The mortality and when appropriate knockdown effect of the insecticides were observed. The results indicated that this species was resistant to DDT. A high mortality was obtained after exposure to permethrin and deltamethrin but below 97 % which is the limit for susceptibility according to WHO. A prolonged knockdown time was noted for DDT and the two pyrethroids. An. pharoensis was found to be susceptible to malathion.

Keywords

• Anopheles pharoensis
• insecticide resistance
• DDT
• pyrethroid
• malathion
• Ethiopia