WHO global database on insecticide resistance in malaria vectors

Database description

Contents

The database contains results from:

• insecticide susceptibility bioassays (i.e. WHO tube test, WHO bottle bioassay and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] bottle assays); 
• intensity bioassays;
• synergist-insecticide bioassays;
• biochemical and molecular assays to detect the presence of various resistance mechanisms (i.e. mono-oxygenases, esterases, GSTs, kdr L1014S, kdr L1014F, Ace1R).
  

Data inclusion criteria

The database includes results from bioassays conducted following the standard WHO and CDC procedures for insecticide resistance monitoring in malaria vector mosquitoes with validated, or tentatively validated, discriminating concentrations, as well as results from biochemical and molecular assays. Results of bioassays conducted with non-standard discriminating concentrations are excluded.

Data sources

The data are provided by WHO Member States, as well as partner institutions (including research institutes and nongovernmental organizations), some of which run partner platforms such as Vector Base or IR Mapper, and are regularly extracted from publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Data quality control

Data reported by WHO Member States are checked for validity and consistency at WHO country, regional and headquarters levels before being included in the database. Data from partner institutions are checked at WHO headquarters level.

Other important remarks

• The data include assays conducted with fewer than the minimum recommended number of mosquitoes (i.e. 100 female anopheline mosquitoes tested in WHO susceptibility tests) as in the absence of other data these results are considered to be informative despite the small sample size.
• Data from WHO susceptibility tests and CDC bottle bioassays are included. However, these measure different outcomes and results are therefore not directly comparable to those from WHO tests.
• Mosquito collection durations may span two calendar years; hence, the year indicated for a test result in the database is the year when collection of mosquitoes began for that test.
• Insecticide resistance status varies spatially and temporally. Annual national data, provided for summary purposes, are not necessarily reflective of local situations. For decision-making purposes, the most recent data and those at the lowest possible geographical level should be used. 
• Data quality is dependent on the correct implementation of the standard insecticide resistance test procedures. Ambient conditions such as temperature and humidity, as well as the procedures followed to rear and handle the mosquitoes during the test, may cause significant variations in test results that hamper the comparability of results in time and space. Countries and institutions are encouraged to strictly follow the WHO standard operation procedures for resistance monitoring.