Resistance of vectors and reservoirs of disease to pesticides : tenth report of the WHO Expert Committee on Vector Biology and Control, meeting held in Geneva from 5 to 11 November 1985

1. Introduction -- 2. Present status of resistance -- 3. Impact of pesticide resistance on the control of vectors and reservoirs of disease -- 4. Research on biochemistry and genetics of resistance -- 5. Detection and monitoring of vector resistance to pesticides -- 6. Measures to counteract the development of resistance -- 7. Recommendations -- Acknowledgements -- references -- Annexes.

An expert report on the incidence and spread of vector resistance to pesticides, the implications for control programmes, and the research required to develop appropriate countermeasures. To illustrate the extent of the problem, the book outlines the species of medically important vectors and intermediate hosts known to exhibit resistance to one or more pesticides. The impact of pesticide resistance on control programmes is assessed in the second section, which makes a distinction between the operational implications of resistance and those of exophilic behaviour. Factors useful in assessing the actual or potential epidemiological impact of resistance are presented together with information on the comparative costs of seven insecticides used in residual spraying for malaria vector control. A section devoted to research on the biochemistry and genetics of resistance reviews the main lines of evidence useful in elucidating the origin and dynamics of resistance and in developing appropriate countermeasures. Other sections provide instructions for the correct use and interpretation of tests for detecting and monitoring resistance and outline what can be done to counteract the development of resistance.