Increased Repellent Effect of DEET on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Field Population.

Insecticides and repellents are routinely used in Brazil because of the high rates of arbovirus transmission and the nuisance caused by mosquitoes. However, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of repellents against mosquito populations that have been under exposure to xenobiotics, mainly insecticides and repellents. This study investigated the sensitivity of a field population of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) from a dengue-endemic area under high insecticide pressure to N,N-diethylmethylbenzamide (DEET), the active ingredient in common repellent products. The field (Laranjeiras, Sergipe, Brazil) and laboratory (Rockefeller) populations were characterized for the presence of the Val1016Ile kdr mutation, associated with pyrethroid resistance, and locomotor activity. Repellency bioassays were performed to assess the response of the mosquitoes to human odor by exposing them to 10% DEET applied to the skin in ethanol. Samples from the field population showed higher frequency of the kdr mutation, 21.9% homozygous and 21.9% heterozygous, greater locomotor activity and greater sensitivity to DEET than the laboratory population. These results suggest increased sensitivity to DEET in field populations and a possible interaction between insecticide exposure and sensitivity to DEET.

Investigação do comportamento de tolerância ao N, N- dietilmetilbenzamida (DEET) em populações de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) / Investigation of tolerance behavior to N, N-diethylmethylbenzamide (DEET) in populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti é um mosquito de grande interesse para saúde pública, pois é o vetor de arbovírus, como dengue, chikungunya e Zika. Para o controle desse vetor, são utilizados o controle biológico, mecânico e o controle químico, com utilização de inseticidas e repelentes. Os repelentes são considerados uma das melhores formas de se evitar as picadas das fêmeas, sendo os mais comercializados aqueles que possuem N,N-dietilmetilbenzamida (DEET) na fórmula, além de serem um dos mais estudados atualmente. Entretanto a resitência a alguns inseticidas como o piretroide, pode levar à alteração na atividade locomotora dos mosquitos. Deste modo, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar aspectos relacionados à tolerância ao DEET e à resistência a xenobióticos em cepas Ae. aegypti de campo (Laranjeiras) e de laboratório (Rockefeller). Foram realizados testes de repelência com Ae. aegypti para a resposta ao odor humano. Em cada teste, foram utilizadas 50 fêmeas, totalizando 700 fêmeas da população Laranjeiras e 1500 fêmeas para a população Rockefeller. As fêmeas foram colocadas em gaiolas de teste por cerca de duas horas, a fim de se adaptarem ao ambiente. Posteriormente, foi realizado o teste de repelência, que consistiu na exposição do mosquito a 0,5 mL de DEET (10% em etanol), este foi aplicado uniformemente pelo antebraço humano. Para diagnosticar a presença da mutação kdr na população de Laranjeiras foram analisadas 32 fêmeas dessa população. Para avaliar a atividade locomotora das fêmeas de Ae. aegypti Rockefeller e de Laranjeiras, foi utilizado o Drosophila Activity Monitor - Trikinetics. No período de setembro a novembro de 2019, foram instaladas 290 ovitrampas no município de Laranjeiras - SE, tendo sido verificado um total de 80,3% de palhetas com presença de ovos de Aedes, contabilizando 15.940 ovos. Após a realização dos bioensaios, foi possivel observar maior sensibilidade ao DEET nas fêmeas provinientes do campo. Além disso, também foi possivel observar a presença da mutação kdr e uma maior atividade locomotora nessa população. Dessa forma, nossos resultados sugerem que mosquitos resistentes podem ser mais suceptíveis ao DEET.

Aedes aegypti is a mosquito of great interest for public health, as it is the vector of arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Biological, mechanical and chemical control, with the use of insecticides and repellents, are used against this vector. Repellents are considered one of the best ways to avoid female bites, being those that have N, N-diethylmethylbenzamide (DEET) in the formula the most commercialized, as well as the most studied today. However, resistance to some insecticides such as pyrethroid, can lead to changes in the locomotor activity of mosquitoes. Thus, this study aims to evaluate aspects related to DEET tolerance and resistance to xenobiotics in field Ae. aegypti (Laranjeiras) and laboratory (Rockefeller) strains. Repellency tests were performed with Ae. aegypti for the response to human odor. In each test, 50 females were used, totaling 700 females from the Laranjeiras population and 1500 females from the Rockefeller population. The females were placed in test cages for about two hours in order to adapt to the environment. Subsequently, the repellency test was performed, which consisted of exposing the mosquito to 0.5 mL of DEET (10% in ethanol), which was applied evenly to the human forearm. To diagnose the presence of the kdr mutation in the population of Laranjeiras, 32 females from that population were analyzed. To evaluate the locomotor activity of Ae. aegypti Rockefeller and Laranjeiras females,, the Drosophila Activity Monitor - Trikinetics was used. In the period from September to November 2019, 290 ovitraps were installed in the municipality of Laranjeiras - SE, with a total of 80.3% of reeds with the presence of Aedes eggs, accounting for 15,940 eggs. After conducting the bioassays, it was possible to observe greater sensitivity to DEET in females from the field. In addition, it was also possible to observe the presence of the kdr mutation and greater locomotor activity in this population. Thus, our results suggest that resistant mosquitoes may be more susceptible to DEET.

Mosquitoes of the Caatinga. III. Larval Habitats, Frequency, and Dynamics of Immature and Adult Stages in a Dry Brazilian Forest.

Even though the seasonally dry tropical Caatinga forest is an historically neglected biome, recent studies have enhanced our knowledge of its biodiversity. We investigated larval habitats as well as the frequency and dynamics of immature and adult Culicidae in a conservation unit within the Caatinga in the Brazilian state of Sergipe. We carried out monthly surveys between July 2011 and October 2012 to count both immature (tree holes, bromeliad tanks, ponds, and rock holes and depressions) and adult individuals (Shannon traps baited with light). In total 8,021 individuals representing 32 taxa, eight of which are currently undescribed, were collected. The majority of the specimens collected came from tree holes followed by bromeliads, ponds, and rock depressions. Ponds had the highest species richness in this survey while the bromeliad fauna exhibited high endemicity. We also reveal a correlation between precipitation during the month prior to collection and the abundance of immature individuals in tree holes. Peaks in Haemagogus sp. near spegazzinii and Aedes terrens abundance were observed soon after rain, whereas Culex conservator was abundant during the rainy season in tree holes evidencing a species rotation within this habitat. Although the results of this study contribute to our knowledge regarding the distribution of mosquitoes in Brazilian semiarid region, further taxonomic studies will be required to fully understand the richness and endemism of the Neotropical Culicidae fauna.