Raquel M. Gleiser

Repellence of essential oils of aromatic plants growing in Argentina against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes are vectors of pathogens to humans and domestic animals and may also have economical impacts. One approach to prevent mosquito-borne diseases is bite deterrence through the application of repellents. Currently, there is an interest to search for alternative bioactive products to the synthetic active ingredients most widely used in insect repellents. Repellence against Aedes aegypti of essential oils extracted from Acantholippia salsoloides, Aloysia catamarcensis, Aloysia polystachya, Lippia integrifolia, Lippia junelliana (Verbenaceae), Baccharis salicifolia, Euphatorium buniifolium, and Tagetes filifolia (Asteraceae) were assessed. Tests were conducted by alternatively exposing untreated and treated forehand to the mosquitoes and counting probing attempts. All essential oils tested were significantly repellent against A. aegypti when compared to untreated controls; L. junelliana was the most repellent and T. filifolia was the least based on the response of the mosquitoes to different concentrations of the essential oils (EO). Repellence may be attributed to the respective main components of each EO.

Synthesis and antimosquito properties of 2,6-substituted benzo[d]thiazole and 2,4-substituted benzo[d]thiazole analogues against Anopheles arabiensis.

A novel and efficient one pot synthesis was developed for 2,6-substituted-benzo[d]thiazole analogues 4a-k and 2,4-substituted-benzo[d]thiazole analogues 4l-pvia three component condensation reaction of substituted arylaldehyde, 2-amino-6-halo/4-methyl-benzo[d]thiazole and 2-naphthol or 6-hydroxyquinoline in presence of 10% w/v NaCl in water by microwave method. This method enabled for short reaction times, easy work-up and significant high yields. The title compound 4b was used for single crystal X-ray studies in order to understand its conformation and packing features. The title compounds 4a-p were screened for antimosquito properties such as repellency, insecticidal and larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis by mosquito feeding-probing assay, cone bio-assay and standard WHO larvicidal assay, respectively. Among these analogous 4b, 4d and 4p exhibit the highest repellent activity comparable to the positive control DEET, and 4a and 4k knockdown most mosquitoes on repellent assays.

Population dynamics of Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) south of Mar Chiquita Lake, Central Argentina.

Abstract Spatial and temporal changes in the abundance of adult female Aedes (Ochlerotatus) albifasciatus (Macquart) were studied using CDC miniature light traps at 7 sites along an 80-km transect parallel to the southern shore of Mar Chiquita Lake (central Argentina) during the rainy seasons between 1994 and 1997. Abundance was greatest and most variable at sites near larval habitats. Rainfall and an index combining rainfall and temperature predicted adult female abundance near larval habitats 7–15 d in advance. The spatial distribution of population abundance seemed to be influenced strongly by local factors, because temporal change at sampling sites located >10 km apart was asynchronous.

Mosquito Fauna Inhabiting Water Bodies in the Urban Environment of Córdoba City, Argentina, Following a St. Louis Encephalitis Outbreak

ABSTRACT: An understanding of urban aquatic environments as mosquito larval habitats is necessary to prioritize sites for surveillance and control of arbovirus vectors in urban areas. Natural and artificial water bodies at ground level that may be larval mosquito habitats in Córdoba city, Argentina were surveyed. Data on the characteristics of aquatic sites and the presence and abundance of mosquito larvae and pupae were collected in the summer of 2006, coinciding with the first report of human WNV and following an outbreak of St. Louis encephalitis in 2005. Eight species in the genera Aedes, Culex, and Mansonia were identified. At 64.2% (34 of 53) of the sites, only one species was collected, while 3.8% (2 of 53) had three associated species, the highest richness found per site. Culex quinquefasciatus represented over 99% (out of 32,729) of the specimens. It was also the most widely distributed and detected under diverse habitat conditions. Although puddles and semi-permanent pools harbored a greater number of species, drainages and channels may be more relevant as risk factors from an epidemiological point of view because they showed the highest larval densities, mainly of Cx. quinquefasciatus (vector of SLE and WNV). Also, higher densities of this species were associated with stormwater runoff and sewage water, thus water management systems should be targeted and closely monitored for mosquito control purposes.

Tree holes as larval habitats for Aedes aegypti in public areas in Aguaray, Salta province, Argentina

1Instituto de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Alvarado 751 Orán, 4530 Salta, Argentina 2 Instituto de Investigación en Energías no Convencionales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Av. Bolivia 5150, 4400 Salta, Argentina 3Centro de Relevamiento y Evaluación de Recursos Agrícolas y Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Cátedra de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba

Evaluation of Halogenated Coumarins for Antimosquito Properties

Mosquitoes are the major vectors of parasites and pathogens affecting humans and domestic animals. The widespread development of insecticide resistance and negative environmental effects of most synthetic compounds support an interest in finding and developing alternative products against mosquitoes. Natural coumarins and synthetic coumarin analogues are known for their several pharmacological properties, including being insecticidal. In the present study halogenated coumarins (3-mono/dibromo acetyl, 6-halogenated coumarin analogues) were screened for larvicidal, adulticidal, and repellent properties against Anopheles arabiensis, a zoophilic mosquito that is one of the dominant vectors of malaria in Africa. Five compounds exerted 100% larval mortality within 24 h of exposure. All coumarins and halogenated coumarins reversibly knocked down adult mosquitoes but did not kill them after 24 h of exposure. Repellent properties could not be evidenced. Five compounds were considered potential larvicidal agents for further research and development, while adulticidal activity was considered only mild to moderate.

Antimosquito properties of 2-substituted phenyl/benzylamino-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-methoxycarbonyl-4-methyl-3,6-dihydropyrimidin-1-ium chlorides against anopheles arabiensis

Eight novel dihydropyrimidine analogs named DHPM1-DHPM8 was synthesized in their hydrochloride salt form using one pot synthesis between methyl 2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate and substituted arylamines in isopropanol. The antimosquito effect of the test compounds were assessed against the adult mosquito Anopheles arabiensis. For adulticidal properties the test compounds were sprayed onto ceramic tiles and screened using the cone bio-assay method. The larvicidal activity was tested by monitoring larval mortality daily and up to 3 days of exposure. Repellency properties were tested in a feeding-probe assay using unfed female Anopheles arabiensis. Compounds DHPM1, DHPM4, DHPM5 and DHPM6 exerted larval mortality equivalent to temephos (trade name Abate, a commercial larvicidal compound). Compounds DHPM1 to DHPM5 repelled or knocked down 92 to 98% of mosquitoes exposed to rodent skin treated with the compounds. None of the compounds showed any significant activity against the adult mosquito Anopheles arabiensis.

Emergent and Reemergent Arboviruses in South America and the Caribbean: Why So Many and Why Now?

Abstract Several arboviruses have emerged and/or reemerged in the New World in the past decades. Zika and chikungunya viruses, formerly restricted to Africa and perhaps Asia, invaded the continent, causing great concern. Dengue virus outbreaks have continued to occur in almost all countries, with millions of cases per year. West Nile virus rapidly invaded North America, and now cases have been found in Central and South America. Other arboviruses, such as Mayaro and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses, have increased their activity and have been found in new regions. Changes in pathogenicity have been documented for some viruses leading to unexpected disease. A diverse mosquito fauna, changing climate and vegetation, increased travel, and unplanned urbanization producing conditions for the proliferation of Aedes aegypti (L.), Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and other vectors have combined to strongly influence changes in the distribution and incidence of several arboviruses. The need for thorough studies of the mosquito fauna and modifications of environmental conditions, mostly in urban areas strongly influenced by social, political, and economic factors, is emphasized.

Greener synthesis of indolizine analogues using water as a base and solvent: study for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis

Greener synthesis of a series of novel indolizine analogues have been achieved by the cyclization of aromatic cycloimmonium ylides with electron‐deficient alkynes in the presence of water as the base and solvent at 80 °C. Yield of the title compounds was good and reactions performed were eco‐friendly. The structures of these newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, NMR, LC‐MS, and elemental analysis. Characterized title compounds were evaluated for larvicidal activity against Anopheles arabiensis by standard WHO larvicidal assay using Temefos as standard at 4 μg/mL. Title compounds 2e, 2f, and 2g emerged as promising larvicidal agents.

Culicidae community composition and temporal dynamics in Guapiacu Ecological Reserve, Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A temporal observational study was conducted of the Culicidae fauna in a remnant area of Atlantic Forest within a private reserve (Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve-REGUA) presenting typical vegetation cover of dense rain forest, with some patches recovering a floristic composition similar to that of the original community. Research was carried out to analyze the influence of climatic factors (mean monthly temperature, rainfall, and air relative humidity) on the temporal dynamics of the mosquito communities that occur in the reserve. The completeness of the mosquito inventory was assessed with individual-based rarefaction-extrapolation curves. Differences in species composition between sites and months were tested with PERMANOVA. True diversities of orders 0, 1, and 2 (effective numbers) were estimated and compared between sites, months, and years. Multiple stepwise regressions were used to assess relationships between climatic variables, measures of diversity, and abundances of the most common species. There were significant interactive effects between year and site on measures of diversity. However, diversity estimates showed little variation among months, and these were weakly correlated with climatic variables. Abundances of the most common species were significantly related to temperature or relative humidity, but not rainfall. The presence of mosquito species known to be vectors of human diseases combined with an intermittent flow of visitors to the study area suggests there is a risk of disease transmission that warrants further monitoring.