Pyrethroid, DDT and malathion resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background Malaria remains the most important parasitic disease in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the extent of resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to three classes of insecticide approved by WHO for indoor residual spraying. Method Standard WHO bioassays were performed on adult Anopheles mosquitoes reared in the laboratory from larvae collected from different sites. Molecular techniques were used for species identification and to identify knockdown resistance (kdr) and acetylcholinesterase (ace-1 R ) mutations in individual mosquitoes. Results Only A. gambiae s.s., the nominal member of the A. gambiae species complex, was found. Bioassays showed phenotypic resistance to the main insecticides used in the region, notably pyrethroids (deltamethrin, permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin), an organochlorine (DDT) and an organophosphate (malathion). The L1014F kdr allele, often associated with resistance to pyrethroids and DDT, was detected in samples from all collection sites at varying frequencies. No ace-1 R resistance alleles (associated with organophosphate and carbamate resistance) were detected. Conclusions These data can be used to inform a resistance management strategy that requires comprehensive information concerning malaria vector species composition in the areas of interest, and their susceptibility to the insecticides proposed for their control.