title: Reduced bio-efficacy of permethrin EC impregnated bednets against an Anopheles gambiae strain with oxidase-based pyrethroid tolerance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are an integral component of malaria control programmes in Africa. How much pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors will impact on the efficacy of ITNs is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knockdown and killing effects of ITNs on a metabolic-based resistant or tolerant malaria vector strain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bio-efficacy of 500 mg/m2 permethrin EC treated bednets was assessed on the OCEAC laboratory (OC-Lab) strain of Anopheles gambiae s.s.. This strain is resistant to DDT and tolerant to pyrethroids, with elevated mixed function oxidases. The Kisumu reference susceptible strain of A. gambiae s.s. was used as control. Nets were impregnated in February 1998 and used by households of the Ebogo village. Then they were collected monthly over six months for Bio-assays (WHO cone test). Knockdown and mortality rates were compared between the OC-Lab and the Kisumu strains, by means of the Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the whole trial, permethrin EC knockdown rates were impressive (mostly higher than 97%). No significant difference was observed between the two strains. However, the mortality rates were significantly decreased in the OC-Lab strain (40-80%) compared with that of the Kisumu strain (75-100%). The decrease of killing effect on the OC-Lab strain was attributed to permethrin EC tolerance, due to the high oxidase metabolic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggested an impact of pyrethroid tolerance on the residual activity of ITNs. More attention should be given to early detection of resistance using biochemical or molecular assays for better resistance management.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Research and Studies of Medicinal Plants (IMPM), Ministry of Scientific Research and Technique, P,O, Box 6163, Yaoundé, Cameroon. josyet@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Josiane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etang
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chandre
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guillet
authors.forename: Lucien
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001681:Biological Assay; D005260:Female; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D007306:Insecticides; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D026023:Permethrin
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D026023:Permethrin; D010088:Oxidoreductases