Comparative Study on the Thermal Performance of Three Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations From Argentina.

The distribution of Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is expanding towards colder regions, which could be aided by an adaptation of the immature stages to the local thermal conditions. This study aimed to assess the developmental success at different temperatures in three populations of Ae. aegypti located across a climate gradient in Argentina. Survival to the adult stage, development time, and wing length at 14, 18.5 and 24°C were compared among three populations of Argentina: Resistencia in the subtropical region, and Buenos Aires and San Bernardo in the temperate region. Survival was similar between populations and equal to or higher than 69%, and increased at higher temperatures within the studied range. Development times were similar between populations. A negative effect of temperature was observed and the reduction of development time at increasing temperatures was stronger for males than for females. Wing lengths were negatively affected by increasing temperatures, and the reduction of wing length was stronger for females than for males. Also, the reduction of wing lengths with temperature was stronger for San Bernardo and Resistencia than for Buenos Aires, and differences between sexes were larger for Resistencia than for Buenos Aires or San Bernardo. Although the results do not evidence differences in survival and development time between temperate and tropical populations, the three populations have a higher tolerance to low temperatures than the populations from other regions.

Differential inhibition of egg hatching in Aedes aegypti populations from localities with different winter conditions.

In Argentina, the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) is distributed from subtropical to temperate climates. Here, we hypothesized that the expansion of Ae. aegypti into colder regions is favoured by high-phenotypic plasticity and an adaptive inhibition of egg hatching at low temperatures. Thus, we investigated the hatching response of eggs of three populations: one from a subtropical region (Resistencia) and two from temperate regions (Buenos Aires City and San Bernardo) of Argentina. Eggs collected in the field were raised in three experimental colonies. F1 eggs were acclimated for 7 days prior to immersion at 7.6 or 22°C (control eggs). Five immersion temperatures were tested: 7.6, 10.3, 11.8, 14.1 and 16°C (range of mean winter temperatures of the three localities). A second immersion at 22°C was performed 2 weeks later to assess the inhibition to hatch under favourable conditions. After the first immersion, we compared the proportions of hatched eggs and dead larvae among treatment levels, whereas after the second immersion we compared the hatching response among the three populations. The factors that most influenced the egg hatching response were the geographical origin of the populations and the immersion temperature, but not the acclimation temperature. The proportions of hatching and larval mortality at low temperatures were higher for Resistencia than for Buenos Aires and San Bernardo, whereas the hatching response at ambient temperature was lower for San Bernardo than for Buenos Aires and Resistencia. The results support the hypothesis that populations from colder regions show an adaptive inhibition of egg hatching.

Effects of Constant and Fluctuating Low Temperatures on the Development of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from a Temperate Region.

Most studies of the effects of low temperature on the development of immature stages of Aedes aegypti (L.) have been performed at constant temperatures in the laboratory, which may not accurately reflect the variable environmental conditions in the field. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of constant temperatures (CT) and fluctuating low temperatures (FT) on the fitness of Ae. aegypti of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three CT treatments (12, 14, and 16°C) and three FT treatments (12, 14, and 16°C ± 4°C) were performed and then survival, development time, and size of adults analyzed for each treatment. The immature stages completed development in all the treatments, with an average survival of 88% at 16°C, 85% at 14°C, and 22% at 12°C, and showed no differences between the CT and FT treatments. Development times were similar between the CT and FT treatments at 16°C (average ± SD: 22.7 ± 2.0 d) and at 14°C (average ± SD: 30.5 ± 2.5 d), whereas at 12°C, they lasted longer under CT (average ± SD: 46.6 ± 5.1 d) than under FT (average ± SD: 37 ± 6.5 d). The sizes of the adults at 12 and 14°C were similar but larger than those at 16°C, and showed no differences between the CT and FT treatments. Compared to populations of other geographical regions assessed in previous studies, the shorter development times and the high survival at 14 and 16°C, and the ability to complete development at 12°C, a fact not previously reported, suggest that the Ae. aegypti population of Buenos Aires city has a higher tolerance to these conditions.

Effect of habitat complexity on the predation of Buenoa fuscipennis (Heteroptera: Notonectidae) on mosquito immature stages and alternative prey.

Notonectids are well-known predators in aquatic habitats, where mosquito larvae, chironomids, and cladocerans constitute their main diet. Our purpose was to assess the effect of structural complexity on the predatory ability of Buenoa fuscipennis, a common predator in aquatic habitats of Buenos Aires city (Argentina). Buenoa fuscipennis showed type 2 functional responses in both the presence and absence of prey refuge and no differences in attack rate or handling time between refuge treatments. Regarding mosquito size classes, B. fuscipennis exhibited a significantly higher preference for 2(nd) instar larvae and no predation on pupae. In the presence of mosquito larvae and alternative prey, B. fuscipennis preferred mosquitoes over chironomid larvae and adult cladocerans over mosquito larvae. No switching behavior was detected in our experiments. Habitat structure only slightly affected the predator´s consumption rates on mosquito larvae. Overall, preference for prey did not vary with the presence of refuge, except for the preference for mosquitoes over chironomid larvae, which was significantly decreased in the presence of refuge as a consequence of reduced predation on mosquito larvae. The results suggest that B. fuscipennis could efficiently control mosquitoes in structurally simple habitats where chironomids are the most abundant alternative prey but not in temporary pools where cladocerans are abundant.

Efeitos do laser de baixa potência sobrea regeneração da cartilagem na osteoartrose / Effects of low level laser therapy for regeneration of cartilage in osteoarthrosis

Osteoartrose (OA) é uma enfermidade articularmultifatorial que acomete diversas articulações e caracteriza-se peladegeneração da cartilagem. A fotobiomodulação pode favorecer ocontrole dos sinais e sintomas característicos dessa afecção. Entretanto,na literatura ainda não há um consenso sobre o papel da luzna regeneração da cartilagem. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão daliteratura acerca do papel da luz na faixa espectral do vermelho aoinfravermelho próximo no tratamento das doenças articulares degenerativas.Métodos: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática de estudosdisponíveis nas bases de dados Capes, PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro eLilacs. Resultados: Os critérios de inclusão foram atingidos por noveestudos. Somente um artigo avaliou o uso da fotobiomodulação noreparo da cartilagem em células humanas. Não houve homogeneidadeentre os estudos em relação à maioria dos parâmetros luminososutilizados. Discussão: Houve grande diversidade entre os parâmetrosde aplicação estabelecidos por cada estudo, o que difi culta adeterminação de parâmetros clínicos efi cazes para utilização dessesdispositivos no tratamento da OA. Conclusão: A radiação luminosaparece ser efi caz no reparo da cartilagem. Os parâmetros ideais paraaplicações em humanos são, entretanto, ainda controversos...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease thataff ects many joints and is characterized by degeneration of cartilage.Photobiomodulation can help the control of signs and symptoms ofthis disease. However, there is no consensus in the literature aboutthe eff ect of light in the cartilage regeneration. Aim: To realize aliterature review about the eff ects of light in spectrum of red andnear infrared in the treatment of articular degenerative disease.Methods: A systematic review of studies available in the databasesCapes, PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro and Lilacs was performed.Results: Th e inclusion criteria were met in 9 studies. Only onestudy evaluated the use of photobiomodulation in cartilage repairin human cells. Th ere was not homogeneity between the studiesrelated to the light parameters utilized by each study. Discussion:Th ere was wide diversity among the light parameters established byeach study, making diffi cult to determine the most eff ective clinicalparameters of these devices in management of OA. Conclusion: Th elight radiation seems to be eff ective in cartilage repair. However theideal parameters for applications in humans are still controversial...