BackgroundDengue is an increasingly important public health problem in most Latin American countries and more cost-effective ways of reducing dengue vector densities to prevent transmission are in demand by vector control programs. This multi-centre study attempted to identify key factors associated with vector breeding and development as a basis for improving targeted intervention strategies.MethodsIn each of 5 participant cities in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Uruguay, 20 clusters were randomly selected by grid sampling to incorporate 100 contiguous households, non-residential private buildings (businesses) and public spaces. Standardized household surveys, cluster background surveys and entomological surveys specifically targeted to obtain pupal indices for Aedes aegypti, were conducted in the dry and wet seasons.ResultsThe study clusters included mainly urban low-middle class populations with satisfactory infrastructure and –except for Uruguay- favourable climatic conditions for dengue vector development. Household knowledge about dengue and “dengue mosquitoes” was widespread, mainly through mass media, but there was less awareness around interventions to reduce vector densities. Vector production (measured through pupal indices) was favoured when water containers were outdoor, uncovered, unused (even in Colombia and Ecuador where the large tanks used for household water storage and washing were predominantly productive) and –particularly during the dry season- rainwater filled. Larval infestation did not reflect productive container types. All productive container types, including those important in the dry season, were identified by pupal surveys executed during the rainy season.ConclusionsA number of findings are relevant for improving vector control: 1) there is a need for complementing larval surveys with occasional pupal surveys (to be conducted during the wet season) for identifying and subsequently targeting productive container types; 2) the need to raise public awareness about useful and effective interventions in productive container types specific to their area; and 3) the motivation for control services that-according to this and similar studies in Asia- dedicated, targeted vector management can make a difference in terms of reducing vector abundance.

BackgroundUruguay is located at the southern border of Aedes aegypti distribution on the South American sub-continent. The reported dengue cases in the country are all imported from surrounding countries. One of the cities at higher risk of local dengue transmission is Salto, a border city with heavy traffic from dengue endemic areas.MethodsWe completed an intervention study using a cluster randomized trial design in 20 randomly selected ‘clusters’ in Salto. The clusters were located in neighborhoods of differing geography and economic, cultural and social aspects.ResultsEntomological surveys were carried out to measure the impact of the intervention on vector densities. Through participatory processes of all stakeholders, an appropriate ecosystem management intervention was defined. Residents collected the abundant small water holding containers and the Ministry of Public Health and the Municipality of Salto were responsible for collecting and eliminating them. Additional vector breeding places were large water tanks; they were either altered so that they could not hold water any more or covered so that oviposition by mosquitoes could not take place.ConclusionsThe response from the community and national programme managers was encouraging. The intervention evidenced opportunities for cost savings and reducing dengue vector densities (although not to statistically significant levels). The observed low vector density limits the potential reduction due to the intervention. A larger sample size is needed to obtain a statistically significant difference.

One of the major threats to biodiversity involves biological invasions with direct consequences on the stability of ecosystems. In this context, the role of parasites is not negligible as it may enhance the success of invaders. The red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, has been globally considered among the worst invasive species. Since its introduction through the pet trade, T. s. elegans is now widespread and represents a threat for indigenous species. Because T. s. elegans coexists with Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa in Europe, it has been suggested it may compete with the native turtle species and transmit pathogens. We examined parasite transfer from American captive to the two native species that co-exist in artificial pools of a Turtle Farm in France. As model parasite species we used platyhelminth worms of the family Polystomatidae (Monogenea) because polystomes have been described from American turtles in their native range. Phylogenetic relationships among polystomes parasitizing chelonian host species that are geographically widespread show patterns of diversification more complex than expected. Using DNA barcoding to identify species from adult and/or polystome eggs, several cases of host switching from exotic to indigenous individuals were illustrated, corroborating that parasite transmission is important when considering the pet trade and in reintroduction programmes to reinforce wild populations of indigenous species.

RESUMO -A antecipação da colheita da soja é possível com uso da prática de dessecação pré-colheita, a qual reduz o tempo de permanência das sementes no campo, após a maturação fisiológica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da época de aplicação do herbicida paraquat, como dessecante na pré-colheita da soja, sobre a produtividade e qualidade fisiológica de sementes. O trabalho constou de duas etapas: um experimento em campo, conduzido no município de Jaboticaba-RS, safra 2010/2011, e uma análise da qualidade fisiológica das sementes. Os tratamentos consistiram de três épocas de aplicação do paraquat (240 g i.a. ha -1 ), R6, R7.1 e R7.3, bem como de um tratamento testemunha (sem dessecação). Foram avaliados a produtividade de grãos e os componentes da produtividade. A análise da qualidade das sementes foi conduzida no Laboratório de Produção e Tecnologia de Sementes da UFSM, Campus de Frederico Westphalen, RS, onde se realizaram os seguintes testes: germinação; primeira contagem de germinação, comprimento de parte aérea e radicular, matéria seca de plântulas, envelhecimento acelerado, condutividade elétrica, emergência em campo e índice de velocidade de emergência. A aplicação de paraquat como dessecante na pré-colheita da soja, nos estádios R6 e R7.1, provoca queda acentuada na produtividade da cultura. A dessecação sem perda de potencial produtivo da soja só é viável a partir do estádio R7.3. Sementes oriundas de plantas com dessecação nos estádios R6 e R7.1 apresentam percentual superior e maior velocidade de germinação. Entretanto, sementes de plantas com dessecação no estádio R6 possuem menor vigor de plântulas. Palavras-chave:Glycine max, paraquat, estádio fenológico, vigor de sementes. Jaboticaba-RS, in 2010/2011 and the analysis of the physiological quality of seeds. The treatments consisted of three times of paraquat (240 g a.i. ha -1 ) application, R6, R7.1 and R7.3, as well as one untreated (without burn-down ABSTRACT -The anticipation of soybean harvest is possible with the use of pre-harvest burn-down practice, which reduces the time of permanence of seeds in the field, after reaching physiological maturation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of time of application of the herbicide paraquat as burn-down during soybean pre harvest on yield and physiological quality of the seeds. The work consisted of two steps: one field experiment, conducted in

Bemisia tabaci adults were collected from pepper and melon at different commercial production greenhouses in Argentina and Uruguay. The biotype status of adults was then established using cytochrome oxidase I gene (mtCOI) as molecular marker. Only the Q biotype was found on all plants sampled. This is the first report of the Q biotype in Argentina and Uruguay.

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Abstract. A study was conducted in the city of Salto, Uruguay, to identify mosquito-producing containers, the spatial distribution of mosquitoes and the relationship between the different population indices of Aedes aegypti. On each of 312 premises visited, water-filled containers and immature Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were identified. The containers were counted and classified into six categories. Pupae per person and Stegomyia indices were calculated. Pupae per person were represented spatially. The number of each type of container and number of mosquitoes in each were analyzed and compared, and their spatial distribution was analyzed. No significant differences in the number of the different types of containers with mosquitoes or in the number of mosquitoes in each were found. The distribution of the containers with mosquito was random and the distribution of mosquitoes by type of container was aggregated or highly aggregated.

Abstract.To contribute to the prevention of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, a process of scaling up an innovative intervention to reduce Aedes aegypti habitats, was carried out in the city of Salto (Uruguay) based on a transdisciplinary analysis of the eco-bio-social determinants. The intervention in one-third of the city included the distributions of plastic bags for all households to collect all discarded water containers that were recollected by the Ministry of Health and the Municipality vector control services. The results were evaluated in 20 randomly assigned clusters of 100 households each, in the intervention and control arm. The intervention resulted in a significantly larger decrease in the number of pupae per person index (as a proxy for adult vector abundance) than the corresponding decrease in the control areas (both areas decreased by winter effects). The reduction of intervention costs (“incremental costs”) in relation to routine vector control activities was 46%. Community participation increased the collaboration with the intervention program considerably (from 48% of bags handed back out of the total of bags delivered to 59% of bags handed back). Although the costs increased by 26% compared with intervention without community participation, the acceptability of actions by residents increased from 66% to 78%.