Insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors in endemic states of India (2017-2024): A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To collate and summarize phenotypic insecticide susceptibility data of Indian malaria vectors from 2017 to 2024, focusing on insecticides used in adult vector control, dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane, malathion, deltamethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, and permethrin to identify resistance patterns to different classes of insecticides.

Methods: The data included information on vector species, location of the study (state/district), insecticide tested, mortality percentage, and susceptibility classification based on the World Health Organization interpretation criteria. Retrospective data were collected from peer-reviewed publications (2017-2024) and up to June 2025. The data were collated for five major malaria vector species, namely Anopheles (An.) culicifacies, An. fluviatilis, An. stephensi, An. baimaii, and An. minimus.

Results: Insecticide susceptibility data were available from 86 districts across 16 Indian states for 40615 mosquitoes. The majority of the data was on An. culicifacies (n=28308), followed by An. stephensi (n=5 611), An. fluviatilis (n=5967), An. baimaii (n=365), and An. minimus (n=364). Intensity bioassays revealed low to moderate resistance levels in An. culicifacies populations from selected districts in 3 states, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh against deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin.

Conclusions: This review highlights spatial and species-level variations in insecticide susceptibility among Indian malaria vectors. The low to moderate intensity suggested that it may not yet be severe enough to cause operational failure with current vector control interventions. Continued monitoring of insecticide resistance, as well as the use of new-generation insecticides and interventions, is suggested to sustain vector control efficacy and manage insecticide resistance in malaria vectors to support India’s malaria elimination.

Keywords

Malaria vectors / Insecticide resistance / India

References

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