Imidazolium salt's toxic effects in larvae and cells of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the main vectors of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, causing a major impact on global economic and public health. The main way to prevent these diseases is vector control, which is carried out through physical and biological methods, in addition to environmental management. Although chemical insecticides are the most effective strategy, they present some problems such as vector resistance and ecotoxicity. Recent research highlights the potential of the imidazolium salt "1-methyl-3-octadecylimidazolium chloride" (C18MImCl) as an innovative and environmentally friendly solution against Ae. aegypti. Despite its promising larvicidal activity, the mode of action of C18MImCl in mosquito cells and tissues remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate its impacts on Ae. aegypti larvae and three cell lines of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, comparing the cellular effects with those on human cells. Cell viability assays and histopathological analyses of treated larvae were conducted. Results revealed the imidazolium salt's high selectivity (> 254) for mosquito cells over human cells. After salt ingestion, the mechanism of larval death involves toxic effects on midgut cells. This research marks the first description of an imidazolium salt's action on mosquito cells and midgut tissues, showcasing its potential for the development of a selective and sustainable strategy for vector control.

Same parasite, different outcomes: unraveling the epidemiology of Leishmania infantum infection in Brazil and Spain.

Human leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum is an important health problem worldwide. One of the main aspects arousing interest is the epidemiological scenario surrounding Le. infantum infection in the New World (NW) and Old World (OW). This parasite was introduced to the Americas during European colonization leading to different epidemiology outcomes, even more enigmatic in the face of global changes. Thus, this review aims to highlight the differences and similarities between Le. infantum epidemiology between Brazil (NW) and Spain (OW), as both countries are leading the total number of leishmaniosis cases in their respective continents. Grounded on a systemic view, this article also draws attention to possible common innovative strategies to rethink ways of controlling infections caused by Le. infantum.

The great potential of entomopathogenic bacteria Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus for mosquito control: a review.

The control of insects of medical importance, such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are still the only effective way to prevent the transmission of diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Their control is performed mainly using chemical products; however, they often have low specificity to non-target organisms, including humans. Also, studies have reported resistance to the most commonly used insecticides, such as the organophosphate and pyrethroids. Biological control is an ecological and sustainable method since it has a slow rate of insect resistance development. Bacterial species of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus have been the target of several research groups worldwide, aiming at their use in agricultural, pharmaceutical and industrial products. This review highlights articles referring to the use of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus for insects and especially for mosquito control proposing future ways for their biotechnological applicability. Approximately 24 species of Xenorhabdus and five species of Photorhabdus have been described to have insecticidal properties. These studies have shown genes that are capable of encoding low molecular weight proteins, secondary toxin complexes and metabolites with insecticide activities, as well as antibiotic, fungicidal and antiparasitic molecules. In addition, several species of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus showed insecticidal properties against mosquitoes. Therefore, these biological agents can be used in new control methods, and must be, urgently considered in short term, in studies and applications, especially in mosquito control.

Spatiotemporal patterns and integrated approach to prioritize areas for surveillance and control of visceral leishmaniasis in a large metropolitan area in Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease with worldwide distribution. Brazil is the country with the largest number of cases in the Americas, and the state of Minas Gerais presents a high VL-related burden and a high case fatality rate. We aimed to analyse the spatial and spatiotemporal patterns of VL occurrence and to identify priority risk areas for surveillance and control in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte-MG, the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil. An ecological study was conducted considering all cases of VL in humans confirmed from 2006 to 2017. The crude and smoothed incidence rates were used to analyse the distribution patterns of the disease (dispersed, random, or clustered) based on global and local indicators of spatial association and space-time risk assessment. Positive spatial autocorrelation and spatial dependence were found between incidence rates. It was possible to observe a high concentration of VL cases in the metropolitan core area, with the identification of two high-risk clusters in strictly urban areas, showing an urban association with the disease. Ten municipalities were categorised as high risk for VL occurrence. Our results provide evidence for making decisions in surveillance programs, suggesting the prioritisation of the municipalities with more risk of transmission.