Effect of Culex quinquefasciatus Infection by Wuchereria bancrofti on the Ability to Resist Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets

Limited information is available on the behavior of Culex mosquitoes in an insecticide-treated environment. We explored the effect of Wuchereria bancrofti infection on aggressiveness of Culex quinquefasciatus in long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs) presence. Adult mosquitoes were collected over four months in Tiassalékro experimental huts. The collected mosquitoes were pooled according to the hut compartments and treatment. Ten huts were selected, including five with LLINs and five with Untreated nets (UN). The mosquito DNA was extracted and analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction to detect W. bancrofti infection in different compartments. Overall, 5,273 mosquitoes were collected with 80.8% of Anopheles and 14.5% of Culex. Culex quinquefasciatus species (n= 620/763; 81.3%) was predominate among the Culex mosquitoes. The exophily rate and blood meal inhibition in LLINs presence was estimated to be 1.5 times than UN (P < 0.05). The W. bancrofti infection rate of Culex was 12 % in veranda-traps with LLINs and 18% indoor UN huts (p= 0.534). Infected Culex mosquitoes may be attracted to blood meals irrespective of the presence of an insecticide-treated mosquito net, even when the insecticide used is one to which they are known to be susceptible.