Agrochemicals and Their Influence on Mosquito Population Genetics and Disease Transmission Dynamics

Abstract

Agricultural intensification has substantially increased agrochemical use, raising concerns about its unintended influence on mosquito ecology, genetic adaptation, and vector-borne disease transmission. This study investigates how pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers modify mosquito habitats, promote resistance development, and influence vector dynamics through an integrated ecological and epidemiological framework. The analysis synthesizes recent evidence on habitat alteration, pesticide-driven selection pressure, metabolic detoxification, target-site resistance, and behavioral adaptations affecting mosquito populations. Results demonstrate that insecticides exhibit the greatest environmental persistence (87%) and breeding site suitability (89%), while target-site insensitivity remains the dominant resistance mechanism with 81% stability. Furthermore, insecticides produced the highest blood-feeding activity (83%), vector survival rate (82%), and disease transmission potential (88%), indicating their strong contribution to sustaining pathogen transmission. Ecological assessment revealed significant predator population reduction (86%) and ecosystem risk (84%), highlighting the indirect consequences of intensive agrochemical application. These findings emphasize that agrochemical exposure accelerates mosquito adaptation, compromises conventional vector-control interventions, and increases disease transmission risks. Integrating agricultural management with public health surveillance and sustainable Integrated Pest Management strategies is essential for preserving insecticide efficacy, protecting ecosystem stability, and reducing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases.