A marker of glutathione S-transferase-mediated resistance to insecticides is associated with higher Plasmodium infection in the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 8;9(1):5772. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42015-1.

Abstract

Metabolic resistance to insecticides is threatening malaria control in Africa. However, the extent to which it impacts malaria transmission remains unclear. Here, we investigated the association between a marker of glutathione S-transferase mediated metabolic resistance and Plasmodium infection in field population of Anopheles funestus s.s. in comparison to the A296S-RDL target site mutation. The 119F-GSTe2 resistant allele was present in southern (Obout) (56%) and central (Mibellon) (25%) regions of Cameroon whereas the 296S-RDL resistant allele was detected at 98.5% and 15% respectively. The whole mosquito Plasmodium and sporozoite infection rates were 57% and 14.8% respectively in Obout (n = 508) and 19.7% and 5% in Mibellon (n = 360). No association was found between L119F-GSTe2 genotypes and whole mosquito infection status. However, when analyzing oocyst and sporozoite infection rates separately, the resistant homozygote 119F/F genotype was significantly more associated with Plasmodium infection in Obout than both heterozygote (OR = 2.5; P = 0.012) and homozygote susceptible (L/L119) genotypes (OR = 2.10; P = 0.013). In contrast, homozygote RDL susceptible mosquitoes (A/A296) were associated more frequently with Plasmodium infection than other genotypes (OR = 4; P = 0.03). No additive interaction was found between L119F and A296S. Sequencing of the GSTe2 gene showed no association between the polymorphism of this gene and Plasmodium infection. Glutathione S-transferase metabolic resistance is potentially increasing the vectorial capacity of resistant An. funestus mosquitoes. This could result in a possible exacerbation of malaria transmission in areas of high GSTe2-based metabolic resistance to insecticides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anopheles / drug effects
  • Anopheles / genetics
  • Anopheles / parasitology*
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics*
  • Insect Proteins / genetics*
  • Insecticide Resistance*
  • Mosquito Vectors / drug effects
  • Mosquito Vectors / genetics
  • Mosquito Vectors / parasitology*
  • Mutation
  • Oocysts / pathogenicity
  • Plasmodium / pathogenicity
  • Sporozoites / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Glutathione Transferase