Update on the biology of Triatoma dimidiata Latreille (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) under laboratory conditions.

Feeding time, postfeeding defecation delay, and life cycle for each stage of a cohort of recently colonized Mexican Triatoma dimidiata were evaluated, and results were compared to existing published information on this species. Seventy-five nymphs (41.7%) completed a cycle with an average time from N-I to adult of 142 +/- 64 days. The average span in days for each stage was 20.2 for N-I, 17.9 for N-II, 10.1 for N-III, 43.6 for N-IV, and 55.1 for N-V. First-stage nymphs had the highest mean feeding time (25 min) and the longest postfeeding defecation delay (45 min). Differences among biological data from previous studies and the present study confirm the importance of conducting research on the behavior of the indigenous triatomine species from various countries.

[The focal control of malaria. Focal treatment using chemoprophylaxis and home insecticide spraying for the control of malaria in southern Mexico]. / Control focal del paludismo. Tratamiento focal usando quimioprofilaxis y rociado intradomiciliar con insecticida para el control del paludismo en el sur de México.

The efficacy of a focal control strategy for malaria was evaluated against a conventional scheme carried out in two groups of villages in the Soconusco, southern Chiapas, Mexico. Focal control consisted on the prophylactic administration of antimalarial drugs to people who had experienced malaria episodes two years previous to the study. Homes of these malaria patients were also sprayed indoors with DDT. The traditional strategy consisted on the treatment of all patients with antimalarial drugs as well as indoor spraying with DDT of all houses in the villages. Results from the focal control demonstrated similar efficacy as compared to conventional. However, in terms of cost, focal control was four fold more economical. Focal control had an additional advantage of incorporating community participation within the control operations.

[Intra-domiciliary low volume spraying of malathion and deltamethrin for controlling Anopheles sp]. / Aplicación intradomiciliar de malatión y deltametrina en bajo volumen para el control de Anopheles sp.

The effectiveness of low volume (LV) house-spraying of deltamethrin 0.027 per cent and malathion 20 per cent in the control of Anopheles sp was evaluated in two villages of Tabasco, México during the last semester of 1987. Two spray rounds were carried out at three-month intervals, using Fontan R-12 back-pack-space sprayers. Residual effect and cost-benefit were evaluated and compared to the standard DDT spraying technique using the Hudson X-pert sprayer. The entomological evaluation focused on mortality rates and density levels observed from intra and peridomicilliary man biting collections, indoor mosquito resting densities, curtain trap and the standard WHO wall bioassay. It was determined that when using the LV method these insecticides were highly effective. Malathion showed a residual effect of eight weeks whereas deltamethrin was found to have a residual activity of up to 12 weeks. Deltamethrin was more effective in reducing intra and peridomiciliary biting rates, and indoor resting mosquitoes. The cost-benefit ratio of deltamethrin and malathion LV house-spraying was 2.56 and 0.89, respectively, as compared to the standard DDT house-spraying. Considering its effectiveness in anopheline control and its cost-benefit, in addition to being a functional technique, intradomicile LV insecticide spraying should be considered as a practical alternative in malaria control programs.

Production of hybrids of mouse myeloma cells and protozoa which express parasite antigens.

Mouse myeloma cells were fused with blood stage forms of the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi and with promastigotes of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of kala-azar in man. The fusion was carried out by polyethylene glycol treatment. The parasites provided the enzyme which enabled the hybrids to grow in selective medium containing aminopterin. Clones of parasite-myeloma hybrids grown in continuous culture for up to 5 months expressed parasite antigen and induced anti-parasite antibodies in mice.