Relationship between periodontal outcomes and serum biomarkers changes after non-surgical periodontal therapy.

The systemic effect of chronic periodontitis (CP) has been suggested by several studies as an etiologic factor and modulator of diseases based on the changes in the inflammatory marker levels. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the changes in clinical periodontal outcomes and serum biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, albumin and percentage of leukocytes) after non-surgical periodontal therapy in systemically healthy adults. An interventional study was conducted with a sample of 29 individuals without CP (control group) and 33 with CP (CP group). Periodontal clinical variables were recorded, and the serum levels of inflammatory markers were measured. Statistical analysis included the chi-square and Student's t-tests and Pearson's correlation analysis. After 90 days of non-surgical periodontal treatment, a reduction of periodontal parameters and IL-6 in both groups could be observed (P < 0.001). The correlation analysis revealed a directly proportional correlation between changes in the probing depth (r = 0.349, P = 0.049) and clinical attachment level (r = 0.374, P = 0.034) with CRP in the CP group. The findings suggest a reduction of IL-6 serum concentration and periodontal clinical measures 90 days after periodontal therapy in both groups.

Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) Diversity and Host Relationships in Diverse Environments Estimated with Two Sampling Methods.

Knowledge of the diversity of fruit flies is essential for understanding aspects of their community ecology. However, the effectiveness of sampling methods in representing species diversity and relationships with hosts in a diverse environment has not been adequately assessed. This study aimed to determine the optimum method to represent the diversity of fruit flies and assess their relationships with host fruits. Species of Anastrepha sampled with both traps and fruits in the same area were comprehensively analyzed. Data were analyzed by Hill's numbers (species diversity in both sampling methods), heat map graph (interaction of species with methods), and rank clocks (population fluctuations of the most abundant species). We also measured the interaction strength of the species. Our results showed that estimated parameters of species diversity in an area may differ when sampled with traps or fruits. However, the most abundant species appeared to interact similarly in both methods. Fruits of members of the families Myrtaceae and Anacardiaceae contributed highly to the presence of Anastrepha. The optimum strategy to represent Anastrepha diversity in an area is the combined use of both sampling methods.

Geostatistics and Geographic Information System to Analyze the Spatial Distribution of the Diversity of Anastrepha Species (Diptera: Tephritidae): the Effect of Forest Fragments in an Urban Area.

Fruit flies are among the most damaging insect pests of commercial fruit in Brazil. It is important to understand the landscape elements that may favor these flies. In the present study, spatial data from surveys of species of Anastrepha Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) in an urban area with forest fragments were analyzed, using geostatistics and Geographic Information System (GIS) to map the diversity of insects and evaluate how the forest fragments drive the spatial patterns. The results indicated a high diversity of species associated with large fragments, and a trend toward lower diversity in the more urbanized area, as the fragment sizes decreased. We concluded that the diversity of Anastrepha species is directly and positively related to large and continuous forest fragments in urbanized areas, and that combining geostatistics and GIS is a promising method for use in insect-pest management and sampling involving fruit flies.

Feasibility of using a Caribbean screwworm for SIT campaigns in Brazil.

The screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), remains one of the most damaging parasites of livestock in South America, causing millions of dollars in annual losses to producers. Recently, South American countries demonstrated interest in controlling this pest using the Sterile Insect Technique, and a pilot-project was conducted near the Brazil-Uruguay border in 2009. Since molecular studies have suggested the existence of C. hominivorax regional groups, crossing tests were conducted to evaluate mating competitiveness, mating preference and reproductive compatibility between a C. hominivorax strain from the Caribbean (Jamaica-06) and one from Brazil. Mating rates between Jamaican males and Brazilian females ranged between 82 and 100%, and each male inseminated from 3.3 to 3.95 females. Sterile males, regardless of the strain, competed equally against the fertile males for Brazilian females. Jamaican sterile males and Brazilian fertile males mated randomly with fertile or sterile females. No evidence of genetic incompatibility or hybrid dysgenesis was found in the hybridization crosses. Mating barriers should not compromise the use of Jamaican sterile males for Sterile Insect Technique campaigns in Brazil.

A new generation of X ray irradiators for insect sterilization.

Recent fears of terrorism have provoked an increase in delays and denials of transboundary shipments of radioisotopes. This represents a serious constraint to sterile insect technique (SIT) programs around the world as they rely on the use of ionizing radiation from radioisotopes for insect sterilization. To validate a novel X ray irradiator, a series of studies on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) were carried out, comparing the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) between X rays and traditional gamma radiation from 60Co. Male C. capitata pupae and pupae of both sexes of A. fraterculus, both 24-48 h before adult emergence, were irradiated with doses ranging from 15 to 120 Gy and 10-70 Gy, respectively. Estimated mean doses of 91.2 Gy of X and 124.9 Gy of gamma radiation induced 99% sterility in C. capitata males. Irradiated A. fraterculus were 99% sterile at approximately 40-60 Gy for both radiation treatments. Standard quality control parameters and mating indices were not significantly affected by the two types of radiation. The RBE did not differ significantly between the tested X and gamma radiation, and X rays are as biologically effective for SIT purposes as gamma rays are. This work confirms the suitability of this new generation of X ray irradiators for pest control programs that integrate the SIT.

Pupal development of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) at different moisture values in four soil types.

This study aimed to evaluate adult emergence and duration of the pupal stage of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and emergence of the fruit fly parasitoid, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), under different moisture conditions in four soil types, using soil water matric potential. Pupal stage duration in C. capitata was influenced differently for males and females. In females, only soil type affected pupal stage duration, which was longer in a clay soil. In males, pupal stage duration was individually influenced by moisture and soil type, with a reduction in pupal stage duration in a heavy clay soil and in a sandy clay, with longer duration in the clay soil. As matric potential decreased, duration of the pupal stage of C. capitata males increased, regardless of soil type. C. capitata emergence was affected by moisture, regardless of soil type, and was higher in drier soils. The emergence of D. longicaudata adults was individually influenced by soil type and moisture factors, and the number of emerged D. longicaudata adults was three times higher in sandy loam and lower in a heavy clay soil. Always, the number of emerged adults was higher at higher moisture conditions. C. capitata and D. longicaudata pupal development was affected by moisture and soil type, which may facilitate pest sampling and allow release areas for the parasitoid to be defined under field conditions.

Sexual behavior and diel activity of citrus fruit borer Ecdytolopha aurantiana.

Males and virgin females of the citrus fruit borer Ecdytolopha aurantiana Lima, displayed two flight peaks during a 24-hr period, one at dawn and the other at dusk in an orange grove near Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. During the day, when temperatures were highest and relative humidity lowest, most individuals rested on leaves in the lower and middle crown. Moths rapidly moved higher in the crown after sunset, and many were observed flying above the tree canopy. This behavior was mainly associated with mating. Males and virgin females marked with fluorescent powder of different colors were observed in the dark with the aid of a black light. Mating was observed only in the upper crown of citrus trees from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, with a peak (64%) between 7:00 and 8:00 PM. Males of E. aurantiana were captured in traps baited either with virgin females or female extracts, suggesting the use of a long-range sex pheromone. At close distance (1-2 cm), males and females displayed a short-range communication behavior, with males exposing hairpencils and vibrating their wings. Females were frequently stimulated to contact the body of a male before copulation. The mean duration of copulation was 1 hr 40 min.