Population Dynamics and Insecticide Susceptibility of in Malaria Endemic Districts of Chhattisgarh, India.

A study was undertaken in the villages of Korea and Bastar district (Chhattisgarh) during the years 2012-2015 to investigate the bionomics of malaria vectors and the prevalence of their sibling species complexes. Entomological surveys carried out every month included indoor resting collections, pyrethrum spray catches, light trap catches, and insecticide susceptibility status of using World Health Organization (WHO) methods. and species were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of malaria parasite, and sibling species were identified using PCR and DNA sequencing. A total of 13,186 samples of Anopheles comprising 15 species from Bastar and 16 from Korea were collected. was recorded as the most dominant species and also the only active vector at both sites. This species was found to be resistant to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Malathion, showing signs of emerging resistance against pyrethroids. Among the sibling species of , the group BCE was found in maximum numbers, while sibling species T of the was recorded to be dominant among its complex. The study provides a comprehensive view of the vector bionomics in the highly malarious regions of India that may have importance in developing vector control strategies.