Evaluation of the evolutionary genetics and population structure of Culex pipiens pallens in Shandong province, China based on knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations and the mtDNA-COI gene

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes are important vectors for a range of diseases, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality in the human population. Culex pipiens pallens is dominant species of Culex mosquito in northern China and a major vector for both West Nile virus and Bancroftian filariasis. Insecticide application were largely applied to control the mosquito-mediated spread of these diseases, contributing to increasing rates of resistance in the mosquito population. The voltage-gated sodium channel (Vgsc) gene is the target site of pyrethroids, and mutations in this gene cause knockdown resistance (kdr). While these kdr mutations are known to be critical to pyrethroid resistance, their evolutionary origins remain poorly understood. Clarifying the origins of these mutations is potential to guide further vector control and disease prevention efforts. Accordingly, the present study was designed to study the evolutionary genetics of kdr mutations and their association with the population structure of Cx. p. pallens in Shandong province, China. METHODS: Adult Culex females were collected from Shandong province and subjected to morphological identification under a dissection microscope. Genomic DNA were extracted from the collected mosquitoes, the Vgsc gene were amplified via PCR and sequenced to assess kdr allele frequencies, intron polymorphisms, and kdr codon evolution. In addition, population genetic diversity and related population characteristics were assessed by amplifying and sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene. RESULTS: Totally, 263 Cx. p. pallens specimens were used for DNA barcoding and sequencing analyses to assess kdr allele frequencies in nine Culex populations. The kdr codon L1014 in the Vgsc gene identified two non-synonymous mutations (L1014F and L1014S) in the analyzed population. These mutations were present in the eastern hilly area and west plain region of Shandong Province. However, only L1014F mutation was detected in the southern mountainous area and Dongying city of Shandong Province, where the mutation frequency was low. Compared to other cities, population in Qingdao revealed significant genetic differentiation. Spatial kdr mutation patterns are likely attributable to some combination of prolonged insecticide-mediated selection coupled with the genetic isolation of these mosquito populations. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that multiple kdr alleles associated with insecticide resistance are present within the Cx. p. pallens populations of Shandong Province, China. The geographical distributions of kdr mutations in this province are likely that the result of prolonged and extensive insecticide application in agricultural contexts together with frequent mosquito population migrations. In contrast, the low-frequency kdr mutation detected in central Shandong Province populations may originate from the limited selection pressure in this area and the relative genetic isolation. Overall, the study compares the genetic patterns revealed by a functional gene with a neutral marker and demonstrates the combined impact of demographic and selection factors on population structure.