Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Exhibit Decreased Repellency by DEET following Previous Exposure |
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| Authors: | Nina M Stanczyk John F Y Brookfield Linda M Field James G Logan |
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| Institution: | 1. Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.; 2. Centre for Genetics and Genomics, School of Biology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.; 3. Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.; University of Crete, Greece, |
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| Abstract: | DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide) is one of the most widely used mosquito repellents. Although DEET has been shown to be extremely effective, recent studies have revealed that certain individual insects are unaffected by its presence. A genetic basis for this has been shown in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, but, for the triatomine bug, Rhodnius prolixus, a decrease in response to DEET occurred shortly after previous exposure, indicating that non-genetic factors may also be involved in DEET “insensitivity”. In this study, we examined host-seeking behaviour and electrophysiological responses of A. aegypti after pre-exposure to DEET. We found that three hours after pre-exposure the mosquitoes showed behavioural insensitivity, and electroantennography revealed this correlated with the olfactory receptor neurons responding less to DEET. The change in behaviour as a result of pre-exposure to DEET has implications for the use of repellents and the ability of mosquitoes to overcome them. |
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