Permethrin Treatment of Head Lice with Knockdown Resistance–like Gene
Authors:
- Ralf BialekRBRalf Bialek
- Ulrike E. ZelckUZUlrike E. Zelck
- Regina Fölster-HolstRFRegina Fölster-Holst
- 27 January 2011
- journal article
- letter
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 364 (4) , 386-387
Abstract
Chosidow and colleagues (March 11, 2010, issue)1 justify their study of oral ivermectin for the treatment of pediculosis capitis by the increasing resistance of head lice to pyrethroids because of amino acid substitutions (Thr929Ile and Leu932Phe) in the alpha subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel. These substitutions are considered to reduce or delay the insecticidal effects of permethrin and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).2 The DNA sequence bearing the two mutations is called the knockdown resistance (kdr)–like gene, which has been detected in up to 95% of head lice examined in Europe.3,4 However, the gene has not been studied in relation to treatment outcomes in prospective studies.Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Molecular Analysis of kdr-like Resistance in Permethrin-Resistant Strains of Head Lice, Pediculus capitisPesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 2000