Permethrin resistance in Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) collected from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Permethrin resistance status of a laboratory strain, a permethrin-selected strain and three field strains of Aedes aegypti collected in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were evaluated using three standard laboratory bioassays: WHO larval bioassay, WHO adult mosquito bioassay, and mixed function oxidase (MFO) enzyme microassay. The LC 50 values of field strains from the WHO larval bioassay did not differ significantly. The highest LC 50 value was from the Taman Melati field strain (0.39 mg/L). The resistance ratio for the permethrin-selected strain and the field strains ranged from 1.86 fold to 5.57 fold. Pre-exposure to piperonyl butoxide (PBO) in the WHO adult bioassay and MFOs enzyme microassay reduced the LT 50 values and reduced the mean optical density of elevated oxidase activity (0.28–0.42) at 630 nm. The LC 50 or LT 50 values and the level of oxidases were significantly correlated ( r = 0.825; p< 0.05). This study confirmed the presence of permethrin resistance in these mosquito populations.