High effectiveness of an adulticide-larvicide formulation for field control of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the city of Clorinda, Argentina

In Argentina, Leishmania infantum (syn. L. chagasi) is the etiologic agent of human visceral leishmaniosis (HVL), and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) is the main vector. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and residual effect of two commercial insecticide formulations, one with permethrin and pyriproxyfen as active ingredients (Dragon Max®) and the other with only permethrin (Flop®) for the control of sandflies. Both formulations were applied in chicken coops and other surroundings structures of the peridomicile of urban houses in Clorinda, Formosa (Argentina). Entomological monitoring was carried out weekly for 44 weeks after the intervention. The results showed great effectiveness and residual effect up to 21 weeks post-intervention for Dragon Max®. This result could be explained by the excellent larvicidal activity of the Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) pyriproxyfen against the immature forms of phlebotomines and by the delay on the restoration of the natural threshold of the vector population in treated sites.Fil: Gómez Bravo, Andrea. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez Costa, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Abril, Marcelo. Fundación Mundo Sano; ArgentinaFil: Zerba, Eduardo Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Juan, Laura Wilma. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentin

First evidence of the mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in head lice (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) from Honduras

Background: The human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is a cosmopolitan blood-sucking ectoparasite afect‑ ing mostly schoolchildren in both developed and developing countries. In Honduras, chemical pediculicides are the frst line of treatment, with permethrin as their main active ingredient. Despite the extended use of these products, there is currently no research investigating insecticide resistance in Honduran head lice. In head lice, the most com‑ mon mechanism is knockdown resistance (kdr), which is the result of two point mutations and the associated amino acid substitutions, T917I and L920F, within the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (VSSC). Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 83 head lice collected in the localities of San Buenaventura and La Hicaca, Honduras. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 332-bp fragment of the VSSC gene that contains a site afected by C/T mutation which results in a T917I amino acid substitution on each human head louse genomic DNA fragments. Results: The C/T non-synonymous mutation which results in the T917I kdr amino acid substitution was detected in both head lice populations at frequencies ranging between 0.45–0.5. Globally, the frequency of this substitution was 0.47. Of these, 5 (6.1%) were homozygous susceptible and 78 (93.9%) were heterozygotes. The kdr-resistant homozy‑ gote (RR) was not detected in the studied populations. Thus, 93.9% of the head lice collected in Honduras harbored only one T917I allele. Exact test for the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for both localities showed that genotype frequen‑ cies difered signifcantly from expectation. In addition, San Buenaventura and La Hicaca populations had an inbreed‑ ing coefcient (Fis) < 0, suggesting an excess of heterozygotes. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the frst study showing the presence of the C/T mutation responsible of the T917I kdr allele associated with pyrethroid resistance in P. h. capitis from Honduras. The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) employed here has demonstrated to be a reliable, economic, and reproducible assay that can be used to accurately genotype individual head lice for the mutation encoding the resistance-conferring T917I amino acid substitution. This highlights the necessity of proactive resistance management programmes designed to detect pyrethroid mutations before they become established within populations of head lice.Fil: Larkin, Kelsey. Brock University; CanadáFil: Rodriguez, Carol A.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; HondurasFil: Jamani, Shabana. Brock University; CanadáFil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Roca Acevedo, Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Ana. Brock University; Canadá. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras; HondurasFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentin

Insecticide resistance associated to environment in Triatoma infestans: what do we know and what remains unknown

Resistance to insecticides is considered as a barrier to chemical control of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease in the Southern Cone of South America. Although initiatives of disease incidence reduction in the area have integrated different strategies, they have been based mainly on vector elimination through pyrethroids insecticides like deltamethrin. The first reports of pyrethroids resistance were found in T. infestans populations from Salvador Mazza (northern Argentina) and Yacuiba (southern Bolivia). Recently, a mosaic pyrethroid resistant focus was described in the center of the Argentine Gran Chaco (General Güemes department, Chaco province), characterized by the presence in the same area of susceptible and very high resistant populations.Para acceder a la videoconferencia completa, hacer clic en "Enlace externo".Sociedad Latinoamericana de Ecología de Vectore

Comprehensive study of insecticide resistance in Triatoma infestans (Reduviidae: Triatominae) of the Gran Chaco

La enfermedad de Chagas afecta a más de un millón y medio de personas en Argentina y es transmitida principalmente por la vinchuca Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834). El control químico del vector con insecticidas piretroides constituye la herramienta más utilizada para reducir la incidencia de la enfermedad. En los últimos años se han detectado fallas de control a campo en zonas del Gran Chaco Argentino, corroborándose en el laboratorio la ocurrencia de resistencia. El objetivo de esta tesis fue avanzar en el conocimiento de la evolución de la resistencia a insecticidas en poblaciones de campo de T. infestans mediante el uso combinado de herramientas de la toxicología, la genética y la ecología. Se analizó la distribución de la susceptibilidad en 69 poblaciones recolectadas en relevamientos entomológicos realizados por el Programa Nacional de Chagas y criadas en el laboratorio. Como resultado del análisis toxicológico, el 83 % de las poblaciones resultaron susceptibles a deltametrina, todas ellas pertenecientes a las provincias de Mendoza, San Juan, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Catamarca y Chaco. Sólo se hallaron poblaciones resistentes en el Departamento chaqueño de Gral. Güemes. En este lugar, se caracterizó un patrón toxicológico complejo, compuesto por un 23 % de poblaciones susceptibles, un 41 % de poblaciones con baja resistencia (sin fallas de control a campo) y un 36 % de poblaciones con alta resistencia, estas últimas con los grados de resistencia (GR) más elevados detectados hasta el momento. La totalidad de las poblaciones resistentes a deltametrina resultó susceptible a fenitrotión, remarcando la importancia de este insecticida como la única alternativa de control a campo. Los ensayos bioquímicos en las poblaciones del foco resistente evidenciaron el aumento en la actividad de las enzimas degradativas oxidasas P450 y esterasas como mecanismo contributivo de la resistencia observada. Sin embargo, frecuencias altas de la mutación puntual L925I en el sitio de acción de los piretroides (el canal de sodio dependiente de voltaje) estarían determinando los GR elevados. Finalmente, se logró explicar el 70 % de la variabilidad toxicológica del foco a partir de predictores de temperatura, precipitación y extensión del paraje. Las variables de rociado, usadas como indicadores de la presión de selección por parte del insecticida, no contribuyeron a explicar el patrón toxicológico. Se propone que el ambiente podría estar modulando la presión de selección del insecticida, promoviendo la variabilidad toxicológica en una zona de gran complejidad en cuanto al control de T. infestans. Este conocimiento busca contribuir a generar estrategias integrales de control vectorial que permitan reducir la incidencia de la enfermedad.In Argentina, Chagas disease affects more than one and a half million people and is mainly transmitted by the kissing bug Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834). Chemical control of the vector with pyrethroid insecticides has been the most frequently used tool to reduce the disease incidence. Recently, failures of field control have been detected in areas of the Argentinian Gran Chaco, and then the emergence of resistance has being corroborated in the laboratory. The main goal of this thesis was to advance in the knowledge of the evolution of the resistance to insecticides in field populations of T. infestans by the integration of several fields like toxicology, genetics and ecology. The distribution of susceptibility was analyzed in 69 populations collected in entomological surveys carried out by the National Chagas Program. From the toxicological analysis, 83% were susceptible to deltamethrin and were from the provinces of Mendoza, San Juan, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Formosa, Catamarca and Chaco. The only resistant populations were found in Gral. Güemes Department (Chaco province). In this area, a complex toxicological pattern was found that consisted of 23% of susceptible populations, 41% of populations with low resistance (without field control failures) and 36% of populations with high resistance. It is interesting to note that these latter possessed the highest degrees of resistance (RR) detected of the moment. All the populations resistant to deltamethrin were susceptible to fenitrothion, highlighting the importance of this insecticide as the only field control alternative. The biochemical tests in the populations of the resistant focus showed the increase in the activity of the degradative enzymes P450 oxidases and esterases as contributive mechanism of the resistance characterized. The genetics study revealed high frequencies of the L925I mutation at the site of action of the pyrethroids (the voltage-gated sodium channel) might be the responsible of the high RRs. Finally, the ecological analysis showed that 70% of the toxicological variability of the focus could be explained from temperature, precipitation and village extension predictors. Spray variables, used as indicators of the selection pressure by the insecticide, did not contribute to explain the toxicological pattern. It is proposed that the environment could be modulating the selection pressure of the 6 insecticide, promoting toxicological variability in an area of great complexity regarding the control of T. infestans. This thesis contribute to the generation of comprehensive vector control strategies that reduce the incidence of the disease.Fil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentin

Genetic structure of deltamethrin-resistant populations of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in the Gran Chaco

The genetic structure of natural populations offers insight into the complexities of their dynamics, information that can be relevant to vector control strategies. Microsatellites are useful neutral markers to investigate the genetic structure and gene flow in Triatoma infestans, one of the main vectors of Chagas disease in South America. Recently, a heterogeneous pyrethroid-resistant hotspot was found in the Argentine Gran Chaco, characterized by the highest levels of deltamethrin resistance found at the present time. We applied population genetics analyses to microsatellite and village data and search for associations between the genetic variability and the heterogeneous toxicological pattern previously found. We genotyped 10 microsatellite loci in 67 T. infestans from 6 villages with no, low, and high pyrethroid resistance. The most genetically diverse populations were those susceptible or with low values of resistance. In contrast, high-resistance populations had lower herozygosity and some monomorphic loci. A negative association was found between variability and resistant ratios. Global and pairwise FSTs indicated significant differentiation between populations. The only susceptible population was discriminated in all the performed studies. Low-resistance populations were also differentiated by a discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and were composed mostly by the same two genetic clusters according to STRUCTURE Bayesian algorithm. Individuals from the high-resistance populations were overlapped in the DAPC and shared significant proportions of a genetic cluster. These observations suggest that the resistant populations might have a common origin, although more genetic markers and samples are required to test this hypothesis more rigorously.Fil: Piccinali, Romina Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología; ArgentinaFil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Mougabure Cueto, Gastón Adolfo. Ministerio de Salud. Dirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles por Vectores. Centro de Referencia de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Universidad Caece. Departamento de Administración y Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentin

Kdr mutations in Triatoma infestans from the Gran Chaco are distributed in two differentiated foci: Implications for pyrethroid resistance management

Point mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel, the primary target of pyrethroid insecticides, have been associated with the resistance in Triatoma infestans, an important vector of Chagas' disease. Hence, the sustainability of vector control programs requires the implementation of resistance management strategies.We determined the sensitivity of the molecular assays previously designed for early resistance detection to be used in pooled samples from a wide area of the endemic region, and validated them for their routine use in control campaigns for the monitoring of insecticide resistance in T. infestans. Consequently, we used these methods to examine the distribution of resistance-associated mutations in the sodium channel gene in populations of T. infestans from the Argentinean and Bolivian Gran Chaco.The PASA and REA assays tested proved sensitive enough to detect kdr SNPs in pooled samples, indicating these assays are suitable for routine screening in insecticide resistance surveillance. Two geographically differentiated foci were detected in T. infestans populations from the Argentinean and Bolivian Gran Chaco, with populations on the Bolivian-Argentinean border carrying L1014F mutation, and those from the Argentinean Chaco carrying L925I mutation. In all highly resistant populations analyzed, one of both kdr mutations was present, and toxicological assays determined that all pyrethroid resistant populations analyzed herein were sensitive to fenitrothion.The principal cause of pyrethroid resistance in T. infestans from the Gran Chaco ecoregion is kdr mutations in the sodium channel. Different levels of resistance occur in different populations carrying identical mutation, suggesting the existence of contributory mechanisms.Fil: Sierra, Ivana Samanta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; ArgentinaFil: Capriotti, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; ArgentinaFil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Mougabure Cueto, Gastón Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Ons, Sheila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentin

Geographical Variation of Deltamethrin Susceptibility of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Argentina With Emphasis on a Resistant Focus in the Gran Chaco

Chagas disease is one of the most important parasitic infections in Latin America. The main vector of the protozoanTrypanosoma cruziin America isTriatoma infestans, a blood-sucking triatomine bug who is widely distributed in the Gran Chaco ecoregion. Control programs in endemic countries are focused in the elimination of triatomine vectors with pyrethroid insecticides. However, chemical control has failed in the Gran Chaco over the last two decades because of several factors. Previous studies have reported the evolution of different levels of resistance to deltamethrin inTri. infestans. Recently, very high resistance has been found in the central area of the Argentine Gran Chaco. However, the origin and the extension of this remarkably resistant focus remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the geographical variation of deltamethrin susceptibility of Tri. infestansin different endemic provinces of Argentina, with emphasis in the center of the Argentine Gran Chaco ecoregion where this main vector has not been reduced. Populations of Mendoza, San Juan, Santiago del Estero, and Tucum an provinces were all susceptible. Resistant populations were only detected in the province of Chaco, where a mosaic resistant focus was described at the Gu¨ emes Department. It was characterized into three pyrethroid resistance categories: susceptible, low, and highly resistant populations. We found the populations with the highest resistance levels to deltamethrin, with resistant ratios over 1000.Fil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Picollo, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Spillmann, Cynthia. Ministerio de Salud. Dirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles Por Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Mougabure Cueto, Gastón Adolfo. Ministerio de Salud. Dirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles Por Vectores. Centro de Referencia de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Response of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) to Volatiles of Whole and Individual Components of the Human Scalp

The head louse Pediculus humanus capitis (De Geer) (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae) is a cosmopolitan human ectoparasite causing pediculosis, one of the most common arthropod parasitic conditions of humans. The mechanisms and/or chemicals involved in host environment recognition by head lice are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the response of head lice to volatiles that emanate from the human scalp. In addition, we identified the volatile components of the odor and evaluated the attractive or repellent activity of their pure main components. The volatiles were collected by means of Solid Phase microextraction and the extract obtained was chemically analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Twenty-four volatile were identified in the human scalp odor, with the main compounds being the following: nonanal, sulcatone, geranylacetone, and palmitic acid. Head lice were highly attracted by the blend human scalp volatiles, as well as by the individual major components. A significant finding of our study was to demonstrate that nonanal activity depends on the mass of the compound as it is repellent at high concentrations and an attractant at low concentrations. The results of this study indicate that head lice may use chemical signals in addition to other mechanisms to remain on the host.Fil: Galassi, Federico Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Picollo, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez Audino, Paola Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentin

Modelling the association between deltamethrin resistance in Triatoma infestans populations of the Argentinian Gran Chaco region with environmental factors

In Latin America, Triatoma infestans is the main vector of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, causal agent of Chagas disease. This blood-sucking triatomine is widely distributed in the Gran Chaco ecoregion, where chemical control has failed because of the evolution of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. Recently, we described a deltamethrin high resistant focus in Güemes Department (Chaco province) characterized by susceptible populations, populations with low resistance (without field control failures) and some of the populations with the highest resistance level detected. This toxicological heterogeneity could be a result of non-homogenous insecticide pressure and be influenced by environmental factors. The present study evaluated the association of deltamethrin resistance ratios (RR50s) of T. infestans populations with explanatory variables extracted from the WorldClim dataset and constructed from information of National Chagas Program actions during 2005–2015. Control actions were distributed throughout the analyzed period, representing a homogeneous selective pressure. The average percentage of total positive houses was 33.66%. Models that included temperature and precipitation indicators presented 65% explanation. When village size variables where added, the explanatory power reached 70%. This observational result suggests that the climate may favor directly or indirectly the development/selection for resistance, representing a valuable tool to understand the occurrence of resistance that could increase the Chagas disease in the Gran Chaco.Fil: Fronza, Georgina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Picollo, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Carbajo, Anibal Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez, S.. Ministerio de Salud Pública del Chaco; ArgentinaFil: Mougabure Cueto, Gastón Adolfo. Ministerio de Salud. Dirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles por Vectores. Centro de Referencia de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms in Triatoma infestans (Reduviidae: Triatominae): The Putative Role of Enhanced Detoxification and Knockdown Resistance (kdr) Allele in a Resistant Hotspot from the Argentine Chaco

Chagas disease affects around 6 million people in the world, and in Latin America, it is mainly transmitted by the kissing bug. Chemical control of the vector with pyrethroid insecticides has been the most frequently used tool to reduce the disease incidence. Failures of field control have been detected in areas of the Argentinian Gran Chaco that correlate with high levels of insecticide resistance. Here, we provide evidence of the mechanisms involved in the resistance to insecticides of field populations of T. infestans from General Güemes Department (Chaco Province, Argentina). The biochemical analysis suggests the increase in the activity of the degradative enzymes P450 oxidases and esterases as a minor contributive mechanism in low-resistance populations. The molecular study revealed high frequencies of the kdr L925I mutation at the voltage-gated sodium channel as responsible for the high resistance ratios detected. This knowledge contributes to the generation of comprehensive vector control strategies that reduce the incidence of the disease.Fil: Fronza, Georgina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones e Ingeniería Ambiental. Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Roca Acevedo, Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; ArgentinaFil: Mougabure Cueto, Gastón Adolfo. Ministerio de Salud. Dirección de Enfermedades Transmisibles por Vectores. Centro de Referencia de Vectores; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Sierra, Ivana Samanta. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Capriotti, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Toloza, Ariel Ceferino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa. Centro de Investigación de Plagas e Insecticidas; Argentin