Current insecticide resistance status in Anopheles sacharovi and Anopheles superpictus populations in former malaria endemic areas of Turkey.

Anopheles sacharovi and Anopheles superpictus have a significant public health importance since they are primer and seconder malaria vectors of Turkey, respectively. As a result of intensive insecticide usage in historically malaria endemic regions of Turkey for long years, insecticide resistance problem has occurred inevitably. In this study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of the detoxification enzymes in insecticide resistance in Turkish An. sacharovi and An. superpictus populations in the Mediterranean and South-eastern Anatolia region where have a malaria history in the past. Bioassay results indicated that both An. sacharovi and An. superpictus populations are resistant to DDT, resistant or possible resistant to organophosphates and carbamates and finally mostly susceptible to pyrethroids. Although bioassays results indicated high DDT resistance in all mosquito populations, biochemical assays did not show significantly high GST levels in all strains. Almost all An. sacharovi and An. superpictus populations had an increased α and ß esterase activity levels while nearly half of the overall populations had an increased p-NPA esterase than the control group. Elevated levels of MFO frequency have been shown in the majority of the populations. Consequently, our results reveal that biochemical resistance mechanisms may play an important role in insecticide resistance in Turkish An. sacharovi and An. superpictus populations. These results give useful cues to monitor the insecticide resistance before it spreads throughout an entire population, enabling early intervention.

The relation between melanism and thermal biology in a colour polymorphic bush cricket, Isophya rizeensis.

According to the thermal melanism hypothesis, darker coloured melanic individuals heat up faster and to higher temperatures than lighter coloured individuals due to lower skin reflectance. Consequently, it is assumed that darker melanic types may be advantageous compared to light coloured types in colder regions. As temperature gradually decreases with elevation and latitude the degree of melanism is expected to increase along these gradients in ectothermic species. Isophya rizeensis, a colour polymorphic bush cricket species endemic to Northeastern Turkey is an interesting case since the degree of melanism decreases with elevation, contrary to the thermal melanism hypothesis. In order to investigate the relation between colouration and thermal biology of this species, body temperatures (Tb) of crickets from different colour morphs, environmental temperatures (Ta), solar radiation and vegetation height were measured to test the relation between these variables and thermoregulation. Field results showed that solar radiation was the most effective factor on temperature excess (Tex), the difference between body and ambient temperature. Additionally, Tex values showed negative correlation with vegetation height. Although Tex values did not differ significantly between colour morphs, paired experiments under sunlight showed that darker morphs heated up faster and attained higher body temperatures than light morphs. We conclude that, since higher Tex values at alpine short swards might also increase the risk of facing deleterious temperatures at high elevations, protection against overheating might be one of the factors responsible for this polymorphism.

Monitoring of five different insecticide resistance status in Turkish house fly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) populations and the relationship between resistance and insecticide usage profile.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the resistance status and yearly changes involved for house fly populations from six cities in Turkey. METHODS: Field strains of house fly (Musca domestica L. Diptera: Muscidae) were collected in 2004-2006 from cow farms (Antalya, Izmir) and garbage dumps (Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, Sanliurfa) in Turkey. The resistance levels of first and two generation offspring were determined against five insecticides (cypermethrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, permethrin and fenitrothion). RESULTS: While the highest resistance level for pyrethroid was determined for Antalya 2005 strain (851.97 Cypermethrin) and lowest resistance level for Sanliurfa 2004 strain (2.06 Permethrin), the highest fenitrothion resistance was found in Sanliurfa 2004 strain (50.37) and lowest fenitrothion resistance was found in Adana 2004 strain (6.45). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that pyrethroid resistance levels were very high and determined a decreasing trend for Antalya and Istanbul strains and an increasing trend for Adana and Sanliurfa strain for all tested pyrethroid insecticides from 2004 to 2006. Although cypermethrin and cyphenothrin resistance showed a decreasing trend, deltamethrin and permethrin showed an increasing trend for the Izmir strain from 2004 to 2006. The same trend was also determined for the Ankara strain except for permethrin. Fenitrothion resistance was determined to be lower than pyrethroids, but these levels were still high. Flies from cow farms were generally more resistant than those from garbage dumps. Our results also revealed the presence of strong selective pressure on the populations.

Assessment of antimicrobial, insecticidal and genotoxic effects of Melia azedarach L. (chinaberry) naturalized in Anatolia.

In this study, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and genotoxic activities of the fruit and leaf extracts of Melia azedarach of Turkish origin were evaluated for the first time. The antimicrobial activity was assessed against Gram (+) and (-) bacteria, four Candida species and three dermatophytic fungus (Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum). The insecticidal activity of the methanolic fruit extract was performed against the larvae of Aedes aegpyti, Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus. The genotoxicity of this extract was evaluated against Drosophila melanogaster by somatic mutation and recombination test. The extracts showed higher antibacterial effect against Gram (-) strains (16-32 µg ml(-1) of minimal inhibition concentration, MIC), while the leaf extracts were more effective on Candida albicans (32 µg ml(-1)of MIC). The extracts did not exhibit insecticidal activity and genotoxicity. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically, and the ethyl acetate extract of the leaves was the richest in total flavonoids.