Detoxifying esterases in Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus from the Caribbean countries.

Several over-produced esterases confer resistance to organophosphorus insecticides in the Culex pipiens complex. We describe their distribution in islands and countries of the Caribbean region based on new collections and previous studies, and discuss the need to: 1) undertake DNA studies to correctly identify the esterase B alleles that are amplified in different regions, and 2) investigate the variability among gene copies within each amplification system in order to fully understand their origin and their evolution through time.