A general enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the type I py
rethroid insecticides, such as permethrin, phenothrin, resmethrin and biore
smethrin. Polyclonal antibodies were generated by immunizing with a permeth
rin derivative, 2,2-dimethyl-3-(5 ' -carboxy-pent-1-en-yl)cyclopropanecarbo
xylic acid-(3-phenoxybenzyl)ester conjugated with thyroglobulin, bovine ser
um albumin or ovalbumin. Antisera were screened against eight different coa
ting antigens. The antibody-antigen combination with the lowest background,
and highest sensitivity for permethrin was further optimized and tested fo
r solvent and detergent tolerance. The I-50's of the optimized immunoassay
were 30 mug/l for permethrin and 20 mug/l for phenothrin, respectively. No
cross-reactivities were measured to the type H pyrethroids, such as esfenva
lerate, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate and fluvalinate
. This assay can be used in monitoring studies to distinguish between types
I and II pyrethroids. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.