RETRACTION
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and Journal of Clinical Microbiology (JCM) are issuing this retraction notice regarding the following publication:
Drali R, Benkouiten S, Badiaga S, Bitam I, Rolain JM, Brouqui P. 2012. Detection of a knockdown resistance mutation associated with permethrin resistance in the body louse Pediculus humanus corporis by use of melting curve analysis genotyping. J Clin Microbiol 50:2229–2233 https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00808-12.
As part of a larger investigation, the University of Aix Marseille conducted an ethical assessment of this research article, for which the majority of the authors were also affiliated with IHU Méditerranée Infection. The ethics committee, comprising independent and international members, specifically evaluated potential ethical breaches regarding the enrollment of study participants, collection of samples for the study, and appropriate approvals by the Institutional Review Board.
According to the investigation report, the authors did not cite the correct approval information and the information cited in the article (ID RCB: 2010-A01406-33) was not obtained from the competent CPP (Committees of the Protection of Persons). Additionally, according to the report for this investigation, “it is the responsibility of the authors to clarify the issue by providing clear evidence that they have obtained a valid approval by the competent CPP before stating the recruitment for this study. The decision provided to [the committee] does not correspond to the cited decision in the paper, and the alleged decision cited in the paper was not obtained from the proper ethics committee.” Therefore, “this article cannot be deemed formally in conformity with the Declaration of Helsinki and the French Law and regulations.”
In light of the severity of the research ethics breach determined by these findings and in accordance with COPE guidelines, this article is being retracted by ASM and JCM.