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. 2012 Nov;19(4):381-7.
doi: 10.1051/parasite/2012194381.

Infestation by pyrethroids resistant bed bugs in the suburb of Paris, France

R Durand  1 , A Cannet, Z Berdjane, C Bruel, D Haouchine, P Delaunay, A Izri
Affiliations

Infestation by pyrethroids resistant bed bugs in the suburb of Paris, France

R Durand et al. Parasite. 2012 Nov.

Abstract
in English, French

Bed bugs are hematophagous insects responsible for a re-emerging and challenging indoor pest in many countries. Bed bugs infestations may have health consequences including nuisance biting, cutaneous and systemic reactions. This resurgence can probably be attributed to factors such as increased international travel and development of resistance against insecticides. Resistance against pyrethroids has been reported several times from the USA and rarely in Europe. In France, very few data on bed bugs are available. The present study aimed to assess the infestation by bed bugs of a complex of two high-rise apartment buildings in the suburb of Paris and to evaluate their susceptibility to pyrethroid insecticides. We inspected for bed bugs 192 out of 198 apartments units (97%) and interviewed their residents. 76 (39.6%) apartments were infested. Among the 97 residents living in infested apartments, 53 (54.6%) reported bed bug bites. A total of 564 bed bugs were collected in the infested units. Bioassays showed that 54 out of 143 bed bugs were resistant to pyrethroids (37.8%; 95% confidence interval: 29.9-45.7%). DNA sequencing showed that all bed bugs tested (n=124) had homozygous L925I kdr-like gene mutation. The level of pyrethroid resistance found indicates that this phenomenon was already established in the site and prompts the need to reevaluate the wide use of pyrethroids to control bed bugs.

Les punaises de lit sont des insectes hématophages cosmopolites, responsables d’infestations ré-émergentes dans de nombreux pays. L’infestation par les punaises de lit peut avoir des conséquences sanitaires comprenant les nuisances dues aux piqûres, ainsi que des réactions locales ou générales. Cette résurgence peut probablement être attribuée à différents facteurs, tels que l’augmentation des voyages internationaux et le développement de la résistance aux insecticides. La résistances aux pyréthrinoïdes a été rapportée plusieurs fois aux États-Unis, mais rarement en Europe. En France, très peu de données sur les punaises de lit sont disponibles. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’infestation par les punaises de lit de deux immeubles voisins, situés dans la banlieue de Paris, et de déterminer la sensibilité aux pyréthrinoïdes de ces punaises. Nous avons inspecté 192 appartements sur les 198 (97%) composant les deux immeubles et eu un entretien avec leurs résidents. 76 (39.6%) appartements étaient infestés. Parmi les 97 résidents vivant dans des appartements infestés, 53 (54,6%) ont rapporté des piqûres de punaises. Au total, 564 punaises de lit ont été collectées dans les appartements infestés. Les tests ex vivo ont montré une résistance aux pyréthrinoïdes pour 54 punaises sur 143 testées (37,8%; intervalle de confiance 95% : 29,9-45,7%). Le séquençage de l’ADN a montré que toutes les punaises testées (n = 124) étaient homozygotes pour la mutation L925I du gène kdr-like. Les niveaux de résistance aux pyréthrinoïdes observés indiquent que ce phénomène est bien installé dans le site et incitent à réévaluer l’usage intensif des pyréthrinoïdes pour contrôler l’infestation par les punaises de lit.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Adult bed bugs and excreta in a flat.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Bed bugs excreta on a mattress.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Lesions on a human arm caused by bed bugs bites.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
A: alignment of a part of the sequence of the voltage-gated sodium channel a-subunit gene, encompassing codon 419 (highlighted in yellow), from a pyrethroid-susceptible bed bug [Genbank access number: GU123927] and 124 adult bed bugs collected in the study. Nucleotides identical to those of the GU123927 sequence are indicated by periods; B: alignment of a part of the sequence of the voltagegated sodium channel a-subunit gene, encompassing codon 925 (highlighted in yellow), from a pyrethroid-susceptible bed bug [Genbank access number: GU123928] and 124 adult bed bugs collected in the study. Nucleotides identical to those of the GU123928 sequence are indicated by periods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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