Insecticide Resistance and Vector Control

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne diseases remain a major global health concern, posing risks to human and animal populations, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Vectors like mosquitoes, triatomines, ticks, and other arthropods are responsible for transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika, Chagas disease, and West Nile virus, among others. The impact of these diseases on public health and the economy is substantial, necessitating the use of insecticides to control vector populations and reduce disease transmission.

Insecticides have long been a cornerstone of vector control efforts, successfully reducing the prevalence of many diseases. However, with the overuse of insecticides, resistance has developed in many vector populations. This resistance threatens the efficacy of existing control measures, increasing the likelihood of disease resurgence. The problem is particularly pronounced in resource-limited settings, where alternative tools and strategies are not always available. Tackling insecticide resistance is critical to ensuring the ongoing success of vector control programs and reducing the global burden of these diseases.

This Special Issue aims to bring together recent advances and strategies in understanding and combating insecticide resistance in vectors of both human and veterinary importance. Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Mechanisms of insecticide resistance in vectors of human and veterinary diseases—investigation of the molecular, biochemical, and genetic underpinnings of resistance in various vectors;
• The ecological and evolutionary dynamics of resistance development—analysis of the environmental and evolutionary pressures shaping resistance patterns in vector populations;
• Novel insecticides and biopesticides—exploration of new chemical and biological agents that offer alternative modes of action with reduced resistance potential;
• Integrated vector management (IVM) strategies—examination of comprehensive approaches combining biological, chemical, environmental, and regulatory strategies to sustainably manage vector populations and resistance;
• The monitoring and surveillance of insecticide resistance—emphasizing the importance of continuous resistance monitoring to inform adaptive vector control strategies;
• The impact of insecticide resistance on vector competence and disease transmission—examination of the relationship between resistance and a vector’s ability to transmit diseases;
• Behavioral adaptations of vectors—exploration of how vectors modify their behavior in response to insecticide pressure, reducing the effectiveness of interventions;
• The use of synergists and rotational strategies—assessment of the role of combined or rotated insecticides in maintaining control efficacy and delaying resistance;
• Policy and regulatory implications—discussion of the challenges posed by insecticide resistance from a policy and regulatory standpoint, emphasizing public and veterinary health.

Through this collection of research, this Special Issue seeks to provide insights into the mechanisms driving insecticide resistance while presenting innovative approaches for sustainable vector control in both human and animal health contexts.

Dr. Adriana Elizabeth Flores Suárez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• vector-borne diseases
• insecticides
• resistance
• vector control
• disease transmission
• monitoring and surveillance
• policy and regulatory implications