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The effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae IP 46 conidia mixed with soil was tested against Aedes aegypti eggs. Mycelium and new conidia developed first on eggs between 4.8 and 15 days respectively after incubation of fungus-treated soils at 3.3 × 10(3) up to 3.3 × 10(5) conidia/g soil at 25°C and relative humidities close to saturation. After 15-day incubation, 53.3% of the eggs exposed to soil with 3.3 × 10(5) conidia/g showed external development of mycelium and conidia. Fungus-inoculated soils (but not untreated controls) showed some mycelial growth and sporulation apart from the eggs. Some eggs on treated soils hatched; those larvae died and eventually showed fungal development on their bodies. The cumulative relative eclosion of larvae after submersion of treated eggs in water decreased from 52.2% at 3.3 × 10(3) conidia/g to 25.3% at 3.3 × 10(5) conidia/g. These findings clearly showed that A. aegypti eggs can be infected by M. anisopliae when deposited on fungus-contaminated soil. The effectiveness of M. anisopliae against gravid females, larvae, and also eggs of A. aegypti underscored the possible usefulness of this fungus as a mycoinsecticide, whether naturally occurring or artificially applied, in the breeding sites of this mosquito.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections among adolescents and young adult women and to identify the risk factors associated.MethodsThis study included 276 sexually active participants, classified as adolescents (15‐19 years) and young adult women (20‐24 years) that realized conventional cytology and were tested for 27 HPV genotypes and for CT. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with both infections.ResultsThe prevalence of HPV infection was 50.7% in adolescents and 43.0% in young adult women. The HPV‐16 was the most prevalent (27.7%), followed by HPV‐68 (6.9%), HPV‐52 (6.2%), HPV‐39 (4.6%), and HPV‐73 (4.6%). The prevalence of CT infection was 11.5% among adolescents and 6.2% among young adult women. Cytological abnormalities were found in 14.2% among adolescents, of which 80.9% were positive for HPV and 10% of young adult women of which 84.6% were positive for HPV infection. HPV16 and HPV 68 were detected in 35.7% and 32.1% of cases with cytological abnormalities. Factors independently associated with HPV infection obtained by multivariate analysis were unmarried or divorced marital status and the presence of cytological abnormalities. The same variables were analyzed for the association with CT infection, and the association with cytological abnormalities remained significant.ConclusionHPV and CT infections are very prevalent in adolescent and young adult women; these findings reinforce the need of early vaccination, prior to the onset of sexual activity, and justify implementation of molecular screening tests.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Acaricida botânico, saponácea, tingui-do-cerrado, controle de carrapato ABSTRACT -The action of crude ethanol extract of the stem bark of the soapberry Magonia pubescens St. Hil. was studied upon larvae of the Brown Dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille). Tick larvae were obtained by maintaining gravid females in an incubator, after collecting them from naturally infested kennels. The tick larvae were placed in envelopes of fi lter paper impregnated with different concentrations of the extract dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and distilled water. Four tests were repeated with each solution (n 120). The control was carried out in DMSO and distilled water. The bioassays were performed at 27±1°C, RH 80% and 12:12 light cycle. Mortality was observed after 48h exposure. All motionless larvae were considered to be dead. The extract of M. pubescens showed larvicidal potential against R. sanguineus. The lethal concentrations of 1503 ppm (LC 50 ) and 9991 ppm (LC 99 ) were obtained. There was no mortality in the control group. Based on the results of the current study, M. pubescens should be recognized as an future alternative acaricide for the control of Brown Dog tick. These results reinforce the importance of the preservation of this soapberry in its natural biome.KEY WORDS: Botanical acaricide, soapberry, tingui, tick controlThe resistance related in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) to some synthetic acaricides in some parts of the world (Fernandes 2000, Fernandes & Freitas, 2001, Miller et al. 2001, together with the well-documented damage that these compounds can cause to the environment have resulted in a worldwide trend towards reducing their use as much as possible. In Brazil, acaricide resistance in R. sanguineus to some pirethroids was fi rst recorded by Fernandes (2000), in Goiânia, State of Goiás. Based on encouraging results of experiments with some plant species (Fernandes et al. 2005, active principles of plants with acaricidal properties could be used as an alternative with lower environmental impact to control ticks. (Fig. 1). It is also present in Bolivia and Paraguay. Despite adapting to any soil type, it is frequently observed at great densities in areas with poor soils. The trees are characterized by medium to great load, which wood is used in construction (Lorenzi 1992), and it is also considered useful for metallurgical coal. The species is distinguished easily by the fruit characteristics, which is big and of brown color. The fl owers are used by the bees, although they lead to a slightly toxic honey; seeds are also used in ornamental arrangements and in the soap production (Pott & Pott 1994). The crude ethanol extract of another member of the same family, the tingui Sapindus saponaria L., has also shown activity against larvae of the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Fernandes et al. 2005). These observations provided the incentive to carry out the present study. Activity of the ethanol extract of the stem bark M. pubescens was theref...

Conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) were assessed against Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Arachnida: Ixodidae) eggs under laboratory conditions. Clusters of 25 eggs were applied either directly with the fungal conidial formulations or set on previously fungus-treated filter paper. Treatments consisted of conidia formulated in water or an oil-in-water emulsion at final concentrations of 3.3 × 10(3), 10(4), 3.3 × 10(4), 10(5), or 3.3 × 10(5) conidia/cm(2). The development of mycelium and new conidia on egg clusters incubated at 25 °C and humidity close to saturation depended on conidial concentration, formulation, and application technique. No larvae eclosed from eggs after direct applications of conidia regardless of the formulation. The eclosion and survival of larvae from indirectly treated egg clusters depended on the type of formulation and conidial concentration applied. Oil-in-water formulations of conidia demonstrated the highest activity against eggs of R. sanguineus.