Summarybackground and method Variation in wing length among natural populations of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is associated with different vectorial capacities. Geometric morphometrics allowed us to use a more powerful estimator of wing size ('centroid size'), as well as to visualize the variation of wing shape, to describe the effects of density or food variation at larval stage on 20 anatomical landmarks of the wing of A. aegypti.results Almost perfect correlations between (centroid) size and larval density or size and larval food were observed in both sexes: a negative correlation with increasing density and a positive one with increasing amount of food. The allometric component of shape change was always highly significant, with stronger contribution of size to shape under food effects. Within each experiment, either food or density effects, and excluding extreme conditions, allometric trends were similar among replicates and sexes. However, they differed between the two experiments, suggesting different axes of wing growth.conclusion Aedes aegypti size is highly sensible to food concentration or population density acting at larval stages. As larger individuals could be better vectors, and because of the stronger effect of food concentration on size, vector control activities should pay more attention in eliminating containers with rich organic matter. Furthermore, as a simple reduction in larval density could significantly increase the size of the survivors, turning them into potentially better vectors, the control activities should try to obtain a complete elimination of the domestic populations.

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Thirty-two Aedes aegypti populations collected throughout Thailand and five populations of Aedes albopictus from southern Thailand were subjected to standard WHO contact bioassays to assess susceptibility to three commonly used synthetic pyrethroids: permethrin, deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. A wide degree of physiological response to permethrin was detected in Ae. aegypti, ranging from 56.5% survival (Lampang, northern Thailand) to only 4% (Kalasin in northeastern and Phuket in southern Thailand). All 32 populations of Ae. aegypti were found to have evidence of incipient resistance (62.5%) or levels of survival deemed resistant (37.5%) to permethrin. Four populations of Ae. albopictus were found with incipient resistance (97 -80% mortality) and one with resistance (< 80%) to permethrin. The majority of Ae. aegypti populations (68.7%) was susceptible (> 98% mortality) to deltamethrin, with incipient resistance (observed 97-82% mortality) in other localities. In contrast, all populations of Ae. aegypti were completely susceptible (100% mortality) to the recommended operational dosage of lambda-cyhalothrin. All five populations of Ae. albopictus were found completely susceptible to both deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin. Evidence of defined incipient or resistance to synthetic pyrethroids mandates appropriate response and countermeasures to mitigate further development and spread of resistance. In light of these findings, we conclude that routine and comprehensive susceptibility monitoring of dengue mosquito vectors to synthetic pyrethroids should be a required component of resistance management policies and disease control activities.

The diagnostic dose for temephos susceptibility test was established based on Aedes aegypti, the susceptible Bora (French Polynesia) strain, for practical and routine use. The diagnostic dose was subsequently used to evaluate the susceptibility/resistance status in F1 progenies of field-collected samples from Bangkok and various parts of Thailand. It appeared that Ae. aegypti mosquitoes of one collection site each in Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan (northcentral), and Nakhon Ratchasrima (northeast) were resistant to temephos, with mortality ranging from 50.5 to 71.4%. Moreover, there was a trend of resistance to temephos among Ae. aegypti populations of all studied districts of Nakorn Ratchasima and most areas of Nakhon Sawan, of which those in one area were susceptible. However, various levels of temephos susceptibility were found in Bangkok populations, including resistance and incipient resistance. In Chonburi Province (eastern), all mosquitoes were susceptible to temephos with an indication of tolerance in one sample. Additionally, mosquitoes from Songkhla (south), Chiang Rai (north), Kanchanaburi (west), and Chanthaburi (east) remained susceptible to temephos during the sample collecting period. Bioassay tests on Aedes albopictus populations collected in this study from Nakhon Sawan, Nakorn Ratchasima, Songkhla, and Kanchanaburi revealed high susceptibility to temephos. Although the use of temephos seems to be potentially effective in many areas of the country, a noticeable trend of resistance indicated that alternative vector control methods should be periodically applied.

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