Screening the Resistance of Male and to Insecticides in the Context of Using Genetic Control Tools in Burkina Faso.

Background: Genetic control tools, such as the sterile insect technique (SIT) and genetically modified mosquitoes (GMMs), require releasing males comparable to their wild counterparts. Ensuring that released males do not exhibit higher insecticide resistance is critical. This study assessed the phenotypic characteristics and insecticide susceptibility of key dengue and malaria vector species.

Methods: Phenotypic resistance to deltamethrin (0.05%) was tested in two-to-five-day-old male and female (Linnaeus, 1762) (Borabora and Bobo strains) and (Coetzee & Wilkerson, 2013) (Vallee du Kou strain) using WHO susceptibility guidelines. Wing measurements of live and dead mosquitoes were used to assess body size.

Results: Mortality rates were similar between male and female (Bobo strain) and , while Borabora was fully susceptible in both sexes. Females were consistently larger than males, with significantly larger live females than dead ones in the Bobo strain.

Conclusion: This study highlights sex-specific differences in body size and insecticide susceptibility. Integrating these analyses into vector management programs is essential for the success and sustainability of SIT- and GMM-based interventions targeting malaria and dengue vectors. Implications for integrating genetic control strategies are discussed.