African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 14, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 605–612

DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/170549

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper

Title: Insecticide resistance profiling and voltage-gated sodium channel mutation frequencies in Cimex lectularius populations from urban transport hubs in West Africa

Names of Authors: Chuka E. Nwosu¹, Amara J. Obi¹, Idris S. Abubakar²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. ²Department of Biological Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

Abstract: Common bedbugs are re-emerging urban pests causing dermatological distress and psychological morbidity worldwide. This study assessed the phenotypic resistance profiles and underlying knock-down resistance (kdr) mutation frequencies within Cimex lectularius populations across major commercial transit centers and public transportation hubs in southern and northern Nigeria. Wild bedbug populations (n = 14 strains, 2800 specimens) were harvested from long-distance passenger vehicles, trains, and transit lodges. Standard WHO topical bioassays were conducted using pyrethroid (deltamethrin 0.05 percent) and organophosphate (malathion 5.0 percent) compounds. Molecular screening via quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeted the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) gene to detect the V419L and L925I mutations. Bioassay results revealed widespread high-level pyrethroid resistance, with mortality rates ranging from 4.0 percent to 28.6 percent following 24-hour exposures. Conversely, sensitivity to malathion remained high, yielding an average mortality rate of 91.4 percent. Molecular tracking confirmed a high overall frequency of the L925I kdr mutation (74.2 percent), whereas the V419L substitution occurred in 12.8 percent of analyzed samples. Linear regression analysis identified a significant positive correlation between L925I mutation frequency and deltamethrin survival times (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). These data demonstrate that pyrethroid-based chemical controls are largely ineffective in West African transport infrastructure, emphasizing the need for integrated pest management programs utilizing non-chemical thermal treatments and alternative classes of insecticides.

Keywords: Cimex lectularius, Pyrethroid resistance, Knock-down resistance, Urban transit, Insecticide bioassay, Nigeria

Manuscript Timeline: Received: 18 June 2026; Revised: 15 July 2026; Accepted: 02 August 2026; Published: 26 August 2026

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