Vector competence of lambda-cyhalothrin resistant Aedes aegypti strains for dengue-2, Zika and chikungunya viruses in Colombia

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Studies have shown that insecticide resistance affects vector competence (VC) of some mosquito species. This study evaluates the effect of resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin and kdr V1016I mutation genotypes on the VC of Ae. aegypti strains for DENV-2, ZIKV, and CHIKV. Three Ae. aegypti strains with gradual lambda-cyhalothrin resistance (susceptible, resistant, and highly resistant) were infected with DENV-2, ZIKV, and CHIKV. Individual mosquitoes were tested to detect virus infection in the abdomen and head-salivary glands, using RT-PCR, and genotypes for V1016I mutations using allele-specific PCR. Recorded VC variables were midgut infection rate (MIR), dissemination rate (DIR), and dissemination efficiency (DIE). Lambda-cyhalothrin resistance affects differentially VC variables for ZIKV, DENV-2, and CHIKV. For ZIKV, an apparent gradual increase in DIR and DIE with the increase in insecticide resistance was observed. For DENV-2 the MIR and DIE were higher in insecticide resistant strains. For CHIKV, only MIR could be evaluated, this variable was higher in insecticide resistance strains. The presence of kdr V1016I mutation on mosquito resistant strains did not affect VC variables for three study viruses.