Depósitos observados con larvas de Aedes aegypti durante el uso operacional del biolarvicida Bactivec / Aedes aegypti larvae found in reservoirs during the operational use of Bactivec biolarvicide

Introducción: la determinación de los sitios de cría de Aedes aegypti constituye un factor de importancia para la aplicación de estrategias de control. Objetivo: identificar los depósitos utilizados por Aedes aegypti durante el período de uso operacional del biolarvicida Bactivec en el municipio Mariel. Métodos: de mayo 2008-2009, durante el período operacional del biolarvicida Bactivec, se realizó la búsqueda de criaderos positivos al culícido en áreas urbanas y semiurbanas de los consejos populares Boca/Mojica/Henequén, Mariel, Sabana/Zayas, Quiebra Hacha y Cabañas. Se identificaron todos los recipientes positivos al vector en las áreas en las que fueron colectados, se determinó el porcentaje de participación de cada tipo de recipiente en relación con el total de muestras positivas. Resultados: se identificaron 35 tipos de depósitos utilizados como sitio de cría del culícido. Los recipientes no útiles eliminables representaron el 54,28 porciento, los de almacenamiento de agua 14,29 porciento y los útiles 11,43 porciento; la presencia del vector del dengue en criaderos naturales y aguas contaminadas fue de 8,57 porciento. Conclusiones: los depósitos no útiles resultaron los más utilizados por el culícido para la puesta, seguido por los de almacenamiento de agua, los cuales se trataron con el biolarvicida. Se destaca la presencia de Aedes aegypti en aguas contaminadas, que también fueron tratadas con Bactivec

Introduction: the detection of breeding sites of Aedes aegypti is an important factor for the implementation of control strategies. Objective: to identify the reservoirs where Aedes aegypti mosquito was observed during the period of operational use of Bactivec larvicide in Mariel municipality. Methods: during the period of operational use of Bactivec biolarvicide from May 2008 to 2009, breeding sites positive for this mosquito were searched for in urban and semiurban areas of the people's councils Boca/Mojica/Henequen, Mariel, Sabana/Zayas, Quiebra Hacha y Cabanas. All the positive reservoirs were identified in those areas where they were collected and the percentage of involvement of each type of reservoir with respect to the total amount of positive samples was estimated. Results: thirty five types of reservoirs used as the breeding site of the mosquito were identified. The useless disposable reservoirs accounted for 54.28 percent, water storage reservoirs for 14.29 and the useful ones for 11.43 percent. The presence of the dengue vector in natural breeding sites and in polluted waters reached 8.57 percent. Conclusions: the useless reservoirs turned to be the most used by the Culicidae for egg-laying, following by the water storage ones which were treated with biolarvicide. Aedes aegypti was heavily present in polluted waters, which were also treated with Bactivec

Influencia de factores bióticos sobre la eficacia de Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis contra Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) / Influence of biotic factors on the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Israelensis against Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Introducción: Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 ha mostrado alta eficacia sobre las larvas de Aedes aegypti, pero su efectividad puede ser influida por numerosos factores. El conocimiento de estos es de gran importancia porque permite optimizar los parámetros de aplicación en condiciones reales, para garantizar la eficiencia de los tratamientos y reducir el impacto ambiental. Objetivo: evaluar la influencia de los factores bióticos sobre la eficacia de Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 contra las larvas de Aedes aegypti. Métodos: se realizó un estudio experimental mediante bioensayos de laboratorio, siguiendo la metodología de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se evaluó la influencia de la disponibilidad de alimento, densidad y estadio larvario sobre la eficacia de Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 para Aedes aegypti. Se utilizó un biolarvicida comercial (Bactivec, Labiofam) y una cepa de referencia de Aedes aegypti (Rockefeller). Resultados: la eficacia de Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 fue menor en la medida en que avanzó la densidad y el estadio de desarrollo larvario, lo que puede estar en relación con la conducta de alimentación y la disponibilidad del principio activo. La presencia abundante de alimento también limita la eficacia por un efecto de competencia. Conclusiones: la eficacia de Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 se afectó por la disponibilidad de alimento, el estadio de desarrollo y la densidad larvaria, por lo que debe tenerse en cuenta esto para las aplicaciones del biolarvicida en el terreno.

Introduction: Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 has shown high efficacy on Aedes aegypti larvae. But a number of factors could affect its effectiveness. Knowing these factors is of vital importance for improving the application parameters in real conditions in order to guarantee the treatment's efficiency and to reduce environmental impact. Objective: to evaluate the influence of some biotic factors on Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 efficacy against Aedes aegypti (Rockefeller). Methods: an experimental study was conducted following the WHO guidelines. The influence of the food availability, the larval density and the larval staging was evaluated on laboratory bioassays. A commercial Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 formulation against a reference Aedes aegypti strain was used. Results: the efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 decreased in a linear manner with increasing larval density and development stage. This could be related to food intake and availability of the active principle. Competition in food intake resulted in lower efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 applications. Conclusions: the Bacillus thuringiensis H-14 efficacy was affected for the availability of food, the larval development stage and the larval density, so all this should be borne in mind when applying the biolarvicide in situ.

Analysis of toxicity on Bacillus sphaericus from amazonian soils to Anopheles darlingi and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae / Análise da toxicidade em Bacillus sphaericus de solos da Amazônia em larvas de Anopheles darlingi e Culex quinquefasciatus

Bioassays under laboratory conditions aiming to determine the larvicidal activity of Bacillus sphaericus were carried out on Anopheles darlingi and Culex quinquefasciatus. In order to estimate the toxicity through median lethal concentration (LC50) and the relative potency of the strains to B. sphaericus standard strain 2362, probit analysis was performed utilizing the POLO-PC program. The findings of LC50 pointed out high effectiveness on strains IB15 (0.040 ppm), IB19 and S1116 (0.048 ppm), IB16 (0.052 ppm) and S265 (0.057 ppm). Strain IB15 presented nearly 50 percent more potency than strain 2362 in bioassays conducted on A. darlingi. It was observed that IB16 and S1116 strains were the most powerful against C. quinquefasciatus, showing to be about 300-400 percent stronger than 2362 strain. The results show that laboratory conditioned evaluation can be an important way to select promising bacteria with entomopathogenic action on biolarvicides production for use on mosquitoes breeding sites.

Bioensaios sob condições de laboratório foram realizados em larvas de Anopheles darlingi e Culex quinquefasciatus, visando determinar a atividade larvicida de Bacillus sphaericus. Para estimar a toxicidade através da concentração letal mediana (CL50) e a potência das estirpes em relação à estirpe padrão 2362, foi realizada a análise de probit utilizando o programa POLO-PC. Os resultados da CL50 apontaram alta efetividade para as estirpes IB15 (0,040 ppm), IB19 e S1116 (0,048 ppm), IB16 (0,052 ppm) e S265 (0,057 ppm). A estirpe IB15 apresentou potência cerca de 50 por cento maior que a estirpe 2362 nos bioensaios realizados com A. darlingi. Foi observado que as estirpes IB16 e S1116 foram as mais tóxicas para controle de C. quinquefasciatus, mostrando-se cerca de 300-400 por cento mais potente. Os resultados mostram que a avaliação em laboratório é uma importante etapa para selecionar bactérias com ação entomopatogênica a serem usadas na para a produção de biolarvicidas para uso nos criadouros das larvas de mosquitos.