Data From: The 1014F knockdown resistance mutation is not a strong correlate of phenotypic resistance to pyrethroids in Florida populations of <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>

<p dir="ltr"><i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> is an important target for vector control because of its ability to transmit pathogens that cause disease. Most populations are resistant to pyrethroids and often to organophosphates, the two most common classes of active ingredients used by public health agencies. A knockdown resistance (<i>kdr)</i> mutation, resulting in a change from a leucine to phenylalanine in the voltage gated sodium channel, is one mechanism contributing to the pyrethroid resistant phenotype. Enzymatic resistance has also been shown to play a very important role. Recent studies have shown strong resistance in populations even when <i>kdr</i> is relatively low which indicates factors other than <i>kdr</i> may be larger contributors to resistance. In this study, we examined on a statewide scale (over 70 populations), the strength of the correlation between resistance in the CDC bottle bioassay and the<i> kdr</i> genotypes and allele frequencies. Spearman correlation analysis showed only moderate (-0.51) and weak (-0.29) correlation between the <i>kdr</i> genotype and permethrin and deltamethrin respectively. The frequency of the <i>kdr</i> allele was an even weaker correlate. These results indicate, in contrast to <i>Aedes aegypti</i>, assessing <i>kdr</i> in populations of <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> is not a good surrogate for phenotypic resistance testing.</p>