Knockdown Resistance (KDR) Mutations in Aedes: Global Distribution and Its Role in Vector Control Failures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46799/adv.v4i11.772Keywords:
aedes, knockdown resistance, voltage-gated sodium channel, pyrethroid resistance, vector controlAbstract
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are major mosquito vectors of dengue, Zika, and other arboviral diseases, while pyrethroid insecticides remain widely used in vector control programs worldwide. However, repeated insecticide exposure has contributed to the selection and spread of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene, potentially reducing insecticide susceptibility and compromising vector control effectiveness. This literature review aimed to examine the global distribution of kdr mutations in Aedes mosquitoes, evaluate their associations with pyrethroid resistance, and discuss their implications for vector control strategies. A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2018 and 2025. Of the 2,850 records initially identified, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria following the screening process. The findings indicated that kdr substitutions, including F1534C, V1016G, V1016I, V410L, S989P, and I1532T, were geographically widespread but unevenly distributed across regions and mosquito species. Studies from Africa reported V1016I and V410L, while investigations in Asia identified V1016G and F1534C in association with reduced pyrethroid susceptibility. Evidence from the Americas highlighted the coexistence of multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms. Combinations of kdr substitutions, particularly F1534C occurring alongside V1016G, V410L, or S989P, were associated with stronger resistance phenotypes in certain populations than individual substitutions. Metabolic resistance mechanisms frequently co-occurred with target-site resistance, and the use of the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO) did not consistently restore insecticide susceptibility. These findings suggested that kdr mutations represent a substantial challenge to pyrethroid-based vector control, although resistance detected through laboratory bioassays cannot be directly interpreted as evidence of operational control failure under field conditions. Integrated resistance surveillance combining molecular detection of kdr mutations, standardized phenotypic susceptibility bioassays, and assessment of metabolic resistance mechanisms is therefore essential to inform insecticide selection, improve resistance management, and sustain the effectiveness of available vector control interventions.
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