Evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of pyrethroid insecticide resistance in the malaria vector species of the Anopheles gambiae complex.

A published polymerase chain reaction assay proved reliable for detecting nerve-insensitivity (kdr-type) resistant and susceptible alleles to the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin in the malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis and the nonvector species An. quadriannulatus. The assay detects pyrethroid susceptible and resistance alleles mediated by a mutation in region II of the para-type sodium channel gene, showing that resistance is conferred by pyrethroid target site insensitivity. Analysis of results of the assay suggests that more than 1 mechanism conferring pyrethroid resistance is operating in an An. gambiae s.s. strain from Côte d'Ivoire. The value of the assay as a tool for monitoring this mode of insecticide resistance in wild populations is discussed.