Crithidia ricardoi sp. n. a new species of trypanosomatidae isolated from Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928 (Diptera: Culicidae)

A flagellte trypanosomatid was isolated in culture from the digestive tract of the mosquito Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928. It grows exuberantly in liver infusion in the form of epimastigotes and choanomastigotes typical of the genus Crithidia. The trypanosomatid was compared to C. deanei, C. fasciculata, C. luciliae, C. oncopelti and C. guilhermei. The techniques used for comparison were electron transmission microscopy, isoenzymes and kDNA restriction profiles. No endosymbionts were found at electron microscopy. Results for the biochemical methods employd indicate that the trypanosomatid isolated from C. saltanensis is a new species of Crithidia. The name C. ricardoi sp. n. is proposed for thes new species.

Integrated control measures against Culex quinquefasciatus, the vector of filariasis in Recife

Integrated control measures against Culex quinquefasciastus have been implemented in a pilot urban area in Recife, Brazil. About 3,000 breeding sites found within the operational area were responsible for very high mosquito densities recorded during the pretrial period. Physical control measures have been applied to cess pits before starting a series of 37 treatments of the other sites with Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362, over 27 months. In spite of the difficulties due to environmental conditions, very significant reductions in preimaginal population of C. quinquefasciatus were achieved and, as a consequence, low adult mosquito densities were maintained for a relatively long period of time. Entomological and environmental data gathered in this pilot project can contribute to design an integrated mosquito control program in Recife city.

Effects of three organophosphorus insecticides in the reproductive potential of Culex quinquefasciatus

A Culex quinquefasciatus Say 1823 strain with resistant genes to organophosphates was tested in the laboratory to know the reproductive potential after exposure, as larvae, at the LC30 and LC70 (mg/l) of three organophosphorus insecticides: malathion, chlorpyrifos and methyl-pirimiphos. Data showed that fecundity was decreased significantly by malathion at LC30 = 0.0025 and LC70 = 0.0075, whereas fertility has a no significant decrement by chlorpyrifos and methyl-pirimiphos at the LC70 (0.000016, 0.00043). The sexual index was affected by chlorpyrifos and methyl-pirimiphos showing a greater number of adult females.

Distribution and hybridization between Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina

To better undesrtand the distribution of Culex pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus in Argentina, samples were collected from six localities situated in a North-South line from Castelli (Chaco Province) to Puerto Madryn (Chubut Province). Identification was based on the morphology of male genitalia. Only Cx. quinquefasciatus was found in Castelli and Esperanza, while in Rosario, 95.3% belonged to this species and 4.7% represented hybrid forms. Southern samples included only Cx. pipiens. With the purpose of verfying if Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus hybridize, different crosses between the two species were perfomed. All crosses produced viable egg rafts. Hatching ranged from 70 to 100%, except in one cross, female Cx. pipiens x male Cx. quinquefasciatus, where a high incompatibility was observed (11.1%hatch). The F1 hybrids obtained all crosses were fertile. The finding of hybrid forms in nature can be interpreted as evidence for subspecific status of Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus in Argentina.

Culex (Culex) interfor Dyar (Diptera: Culicidae), morphological description including previously unknown life stages

The adult female and male and the pupal and larval stages of Culex (Culex) interfor Dyar are described and compared with those of Cx. bidens Dyar. Available data about distribution are presented.

Taxonomy and biology of Culex (Culex) maxi Dyar (Diptera: Culicidae) in South America

Culex (Culex) maxi Dyar is described in the adult, pupal and larval stages, and the male genitalia and parts of the fourth-instar larva are illustrated. The larva is described for the first time. The paper includes a summary of available information on the taxonomy, bionomics and distribution of the species. The taxonomy and identification of the species are reviewed in light of current knowledge of the subgenus Culex in the New World.

Winter biology of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus say, (Diptera: Culicidae) from Córdoba, Argentina

Adult cohorts and immature stages were kept under field conditions during the autumn and winter of three consecutive years. Survival, oviposition and development time from egg to adult were considered. The adult cohorts were studied under three experimental conditions: unfed cohorts, cohorts fed with sugar solution ansd cohorts fed with both sugar solution and blood (chicken). Female longevity showed significant differences among the three treatments. Females of unfed cohorts lived up to three weeks; females fed with sugar solution survived until six weeks, while those fed both with sugar and blood lived at most fourteen weeks; after the blood intake eggs were laid. In the immature stages, the highest relative mortality rates occurred during the egg and larval stages. Total pre-adult mortality varied between 59.09 and 89.71%. The developmental duration from egg to adult was between 43-62 days; there were no differences among results obtained for the three years.

A Comparison of Two Brazilian Populations of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823) from Endemic and Non-endemic Areas to Infection with Wuchereria bancrofti (Cobbold, 1877)

Culex quinquefasciatus is known to be an efficient insect host of Wuchereria bancrofti. In Brazil Cx. quinquefasciatus is widely distributed throughout the country and is often abundant in and around human habitations. In contrast, Bancroftian filariasis is limited to three foci in Brazil. Experiments were undertaken to compare the vector capacities of Cx. quinquefasciatus originating from Maceió (Alagoas), one of the endemic areas of W. bancrofti infection in Brazil, and Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), a non endemic area. Laboratory-reared Cx. quinquefasciatus were dissected 20 days after blood feeding on microfilaraemic patients. Survival rates and the number of infective larvae that developed did not differ in female mosquitoes of different origins. Thus both populations of Culex were susceptible to infection with W. bancrofti

Culex gnomatos a New Species of the Spissipes Section of Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Amazon Region

The adult male and female of Culex (Melanoconion) gnomatos n. sp. are described and compared with Cx. vomerifer Komp, Cx. portesi Senevet & Abonnenc and Cx. sacchettae Sirivanakarn & Jakob. Available data about distribution and bionomics are presented

Estimation of Genetic Divergence and Gene Flow between Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina

Allele frequencies at seven polymorphic loci controlling the synthesis of enzymes were analyzed in six populations of Culex pipiens L. and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say. Sampling sites were situated along a north-south line of about 2,000 km in Argentina. The predominant alleles at Mdh, Idh, Gpdh and Gpi loci presented similar frequencies in all the samples. Frequencies at the Pgm locus were similar for populations pairs sharing the same geographic area. The loci Cat and Hk-1 presented significant geographic variation. The latter showed a marked latitudinal cline, with a frequency for allele b ranging from 0.99 in the northernmost point to 0.04 in the southernmost one, a pattern that may be explained by natural selection (FST = 0.46; p < 0.0001) on heat sensitive alleles. The average value of FST (0.088) and Nm (61.12) indicated a high gene flow between adjacent populations. A high correlation was found between genetic and geographic distance (r = 0.83; p < 0.001). The highest genetic identity (IN = 0.988) corresponded to the geographically closest samples from the central area. In one of these localities Cx. quinquefasciatus was predominant and hybrid individuals were detected, while in the other, almost all the specimens were identified as Cx. pipiens. To verify the fertility between Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus from the northern- and southernmost populations, experimental crosses were performed. Viable egg rafts were obtained from both reciprocal crosses. Hatching ranged from 76.5 to 100%. The hybrid progenies were fertile through two subsequent generations

Experimental Infection of Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus and Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti with Wuchereria bancrofti

A study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of local strains of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti to infection with the strain of Wuchereria bancrofti that occurs in Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil. Cx. quinquefasciatus blood fed simultaneously on the same microfilariae carrier ingested more blood and 2-3x more microfilariae than Ae. aegypti. Survival rates of both species of insects living for 21 days after blood feeding on microfilaraemic patients were not significantly different from the survival rates of mosquitoes that blood fed on amicrofilaraemic individuals. W. bancrofti parasites underwent normal development in Cx. quinquefasciatus, with third stage larvae first being recorded on the 11th day post infection, and their numbers increasing thereafter. Development of filariae in Ae. aegypti did not proceed beyond the first larval stage, and there was a progressively increasing number of non-viable larvae with the passage of time. It is concluded that Ae. aegypti is not involved in the transmission of W. bancrofti in Maceió.

Evaluation of Insecticide Resistance and Biochemical Mechanisms in a Population of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) from São Paulo, Brazil

To establish an insecticidal resistance surveillance program, Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes from São Paulo, Brazil, were colonized (PIN95 strain) and analyzed for levels of resistance. The PIN95 strain showed low levels of resistance to organophosphates [malathion (3.3-fold), fenitrothion (11.2-fold)] and a carbamate [propoxur (3.0-fold)]. We also observed an increase of 7.4 and 9.9 in a and b esterase activities, respectively, when compared with the reference IAL strain. An alteration in the sensitivity of acetylcholinesterase to insecticide inhibition was also found in the PIN95 mosquitoes. The resistant allele (Ace.1R), however, was found at low frequencies (0.12) and does not play an important role in the described insecticide resistance. One year later, Cx. quinquefasciatus mosquitoes were collected (PIN96 strain) at the same site and compared to the PIN95 strain. The esterase activity patterns observed for the PIN96 strain were similar to those of the PIN95 mosquitoes. However the occurrence of the Ace.1R allele was statistically higher in the PIN96 strain. The results show that esterase-based insecticide resistance was established in the PIN95 Cx. quinquefasciatus population and that an acethylcholinesterase based resistant mechanism has been selected for. A continuous monitoring of this phenomenon is fundamental for rational mosquito control and insecticide application programs.