Chloroquine resistance and Plasmodium falciparum in Punjab, Pakistan during 2000-2001.

During the years 2000-2001, the rural populations of 5 districts in Punjab were examined for malarial parasites. The incidence of Plasmodium falciparum was more than double (8.98%) that of P. vivax (4.06%). The incidence was higher among male subjects (53.5%) than females (46.9%). The largest number of infected male subjects was found in Sheikhupura district (77.78%). Chloroquine resistance was only checked in the subjects harboring P. falciparum, using in vivo techniques. Overall chloroquine sensitivity was 63.8%. Overall frequency of chloroquine resistance in the 5 Punjabi districts was 35%, with 30.6% RI and 4.4% RII. It is important that RIII was not found in the present study. Among the five districts, maximum RI (35.1%) and RII (5.4%) were noted in Multan. By age, maximum chloroquine resistance was noted in the 1-5 year age group (ie RI, 41%; RII 8%). A similar RI value (41%) was noted for the 6-14 age group, but with a low RII (3%) value. Although, the present finding is an outcome of a survey conducted in only 5 districts of Punjab, it reflects an alarming situation, as not only RI and RII resistance against chloroquine is increasing, but at the same time the incidence of P. falciparum is increasing two-fold that of P. vivax. The findings warrant that top priority be given to determining the exact status of chloroquine resistance among P. falciparum in this region, which is now hosting a heavy influx of refugees from Afghanistan, a country endemic for P. falciparum.

Aspectos moleculares de la resistencia a insecticidas / Molecular basic of insecticide resistance

El surgimiento de resistencia en poblaciones de insectos es uno de los efectos indeseables asociados al uso de insecticidas, y es un buen ejemplo del modo en que ocurren los procesos microevolutivos. En 1908 se documentó por primera vez la existencia de insectos resistentes a insecticidas. Ahora se conocen casos de resistencia en más de 500 especies de artrópodos. Los principales mecanismos que confieren resistencia a insecticidas son penetración cuticular reducida, metabolismo degradativo aumentado y reducción en la susceptibilidad de los sitios de acción. Los métodos de la biología molecular permiten identificar las bases moleculares de esos mecanismos. El propósito de este artículo es reseñar el conocimiento disponible acerca de la biología molecular de la resistencia a insecticidas: mutaciones puntuales en genes de acetilcolinesterasa (Drosophila melanogaster) y del receptor de GABA (varias especies), inserciones en genes de transferasas (D. melanogaster) y del citocromo P450 (D. melanogaster), amplificación de genes de esterasas (Myzus persicae y Culex pipiens / quinquefasciatus complex), cambios que afectan la expresión del gen del citocromo P450 (Musca domestica), y una mutación ligada al gen del canal de sodio dependiente de voltaje (M. domestica)

Plan continental de ampliación e intensificación del combate a Aedes aegypti / Continental Plan for expanding and intensifying the war against Aedes aegypti

Campaigns for the eradication of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito vector responsible for spreading dengue and yellow fever, enjoyed great success during the forties and fifties. Between 1948 and 1962, A. aegypti disappeared from 21 countries in the Region of the Americas, but lack of sustainability of the programs resulted in the gradual reinfestation of practically all countries. In an effort to combat the situation, in 1995 PAHO began to help its Member States with the creation of an expert panel charged with drawing up a continental plan of action for eradicating A. aegypti from all countries. The Continental Plan for expanding and intensigying the war against Aedes aegypti was drawn up in Caracas, Venezuela, in April of 1997, in accordance with the objectives previously established by the countries. The plan's success will depend on having all countries commit themselves to putting it into effect and to providing the national funds that are needed for its full implementation