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Biomedical subjects

G Majori

Publications and source records attributed to G Majori.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Permethrin-impregnated curtains against phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae): laboratory and field studies.

The efficacy of permethrin-impregnated nets against vectors of leishmaniases was evaluated in laboratory and field studies. Permethrin-impregnated curtains were tested at different dosages in experimental tunnel against Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. papatasi. The influence on feeding behaviour and the mortality rate post contact with the impregnated curtain were investigated. The vapour effect of permethrin on P. perniciosus adults confined less than 1 cm away from a treated net was also evaluated. From laboratory studies it seems that permethrin shows low or any barrier effect against sandfly species tested, and that the high insecticidal activity (mortality rate greater than 90%, 24 hours after the contact with treated net, 1 g/m2) and the reduction of biting rate observed (between 53.56% and 85.24%) are the main effects that make permethrin-impregnated nets very effective for sandfly control. In field studies carried out in cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of Italy, it was demonstrated that permethrin-impregnated curtains around windows and around CDC light traps, reduce the number of sandflies entering the stables and traps. In Burkina Faso, indoor use of wide-mesh cotton curtains impregnated with permethrin 1 g/m2 almost completely eliminate the occurrence of endophilic sandfly species. In conclusion the use of permethrin-impregnated curtains could be an alternative to residual house-spraying for the control of endophilic vectors of leishmaniases.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Imported malaria in Italy from 1986 to 1988.

The trend of imported malaria cases in Italy from 1960 to 1988 is discussed. Comparative analysis of malaria incidence in the last three years is also presented. Since 1985, a rapid increase was recorded with 191 cases in 1986, 287 in 1987 and 350 in 1988. In 1986-1988 Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 74% cases of the total number, followed by P. vivax (21%), P. malariae (2.2%) and P. ovale (1%). 86% of the imported cases was acquired in African countries, 8% in Asia and 3% in South America. As far as travellers categories are concerned, workers represented 46% of the total population, tourists 37%, seamen and aircrew 2% and strangers coming from endemic malaria areas and travelling to Italy 16%. In 1986, 1987 and 1988 three, four and two deaths respectively, due to malaria, were reported.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Two imported malaria cases from Switzerland.

Two cases of falciparum malaria diagnosed in Italy, are described. The two patients, father and son, live in Geneva 3 kilometers away from the International airport. In July 1989, they left Switzerland for a short visit to Italy. Seven days after their arrival in Italy, they developed symptoms of malaria, subsequently microscopically confirmed. They had not been abroad for the past 25 years and therefore they had probably contracted the infection from an imported tropical mosquito carried to Geneva from the airport to or nearby their house.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Imported malaria in Italy: retrospective analysis from 1960 and update for 1986-1988].

The trend of imported malaria cases in Italy from 1960 to 1988 is discussed. Comparative analysis of its incidence in the last three years is also presented. Since 1985, a rapid increase has been recorded with 191 cases in 1986, 287 in 1987 and 350 in 1988. In 1986-88 Plasmodium falciparum has been responsible for 74% of the total number, followed by P. vivax (21%), P. malariae (2%) and P. ovale (1%). 86% of the imported cases have been acquired in African countries, 8% in Asia and 3% in South America. As far as travelers categories are concerned workers represent 45.6% of the total population, tourists 36.6%, seamen and aircrew 2.1% and strangers coming from endemic malaria areas and traveling to Italy 15.7%. In 1986, 1987, and 1988 one, two and two deaths, respectively, due to malaria, are reported.

Europe↗
PubMed1989

Recent acquisitions on chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of malaria.

The most recent acquisitions on chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of malaria are reviewed. With regard to chemotherapy, candidate antimalarial compounds have been divided into four groups, according to their stages of development. Mefloquine and the combination of mefloquine with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine belong to the first group: they have completed clinical trials and have been registered in several countries for routine clinical use. The second group is characterized by chemical compounds which are in an advanced stage of development, including clinical trials. The compounds considered in this group are: a) the 9-phenanthrenemethanols, among which halofantrine is the most promising one; b) the sesquiterpene lactones such as Qinghaosu, artemether, artesunate, artesunic acid and arteether which must be further tested in order to find more effective drug regimens capable of eliminating recrudescences and for the completion of toxicity studies; c) pyronaridine, which appears to be a promising antimalarial, effective also against chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum, but still requiring further investigations on resistance and cross-resistance, as well as its pharmacokinetics, tolerability and bioavailability; d) enpiroline, another promising compound, which needs to be further studied in Phase II and Phase III investigations with naturally acquired malaria. The third group is composed of seven chemical classes of compounds that are in an advanced pre-clinical development, namely: the 4-aminoquinolines, such as dabechin, piperaquine, hydroxypiperaquine, tripiperaquine, dichlor-quinazine and the Mannich base compounds, the 8-aminoquinolines, the 4-quinolinemethanols, the quinolones, the naphthoquinones, the quinazolines and the dihydrotriazines. Among the many antimalarial compounds of interest, which can be considered at the moment as leads for further studies, only the acridandione derivatives such as floxacrine, the antibiotics, antifungal agents or their metabolites, plant substances such as Yingzhaosu A and quassinoids have been mentioned. Malaria chemoprophylaxis, especially in chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum areas, has become a real problem. The attempts to secure protection under these circumstances with the utilization of amodiaquine, the combination of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Fansidar), sulfalene/pyrimethamine (Metakelfin), of pyrimethamine/dapsone (Maloprim), with or without chloroquine, had to be abandoned or to be used with caution in view of the severe complications following the weekly administration of these drugs. The combination of chloroquine with proguanil or chlorproguanil, which could be recommended on theoretical bases, did not meet the expectations when tested in the field. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antimalarials↗
PubMed1987

Efficacy of permethrin-impregnated curtains for malaria vector control.

Preliminary results obtained by the use of permethrin-impregnated curtains against the Afrotropical malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae Giles s.l. and An.funestus Giles are reported and discussed. Field trials were carried out in villages near Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Houses were provided with curtains made from 100% cotton netting, impregnated with permethrin at the dose of 1 g a.i./m2, to cover the doorway, the window(s) and the space under the eaves. Entomological data collected during the period 1985-86 showed residual permethrin activity for about a year, and almost complete prevention of indoor-resting mosquitoes. Increased exit-rate and mortality-rate of house-entering malaria vectors were also obtained. Utilization of this malaria vector control method in primary health care programmes is advocated.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Laboratory and field efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. Israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus against Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Culex quinquefasciatus in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Two wettable powders (Bactimos and Vectobac) and one flowable concentrate (Teknar) of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) and primary powders of Bacillus sphaericus isolates 1593 and 2362 were evaluated (laboratory) against field-collected larvae of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Culex quinquefasciatus in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Bactimos, Vectobac and a Corn-cob B.t.i. formulation (ABG-6138G) were field tested against Cx. quinquefasciatus and An. gambiae s.l. The isolates of B. sphaericus were also tested against An. gambiae s.l. in artificial ponds. Both wettable powders of B.t.i. showed superior activity than the flowable concentrate formulation against An. gambiae s.l. in the laboratory. Culex quinquefasciatus was more susceptible (3-4X) to B.t.i. (Bactimos) than An. gambiae s.l. The isolates of B. sphaericus were more effective (2-3X) against both mosquito species than Bactimos. In a ditch and two channels, Bactimos, Vectobac and ABG-6138G at 0.65, 1.5 and 5.6 kg/ha, respectively, gave 91-100% control of Cx. quinquefasciatus within 3 days of treatment. The same formulations at rates ranging from 0.25 to 5.6 kg/ha, produced 82-97% control of An. gambiae s.l. in rainwater pools 24 h after treatment. Isolates 1593 and 2362 at 0.12 and 0.24 kg/ha gave excellent control of An. gambiae s.l. in artificial ponds.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae) from Burkina Faso. A note on the sandfly species collected in domestic resting sites.

A total of 1,394 sandflies were collected in the domestic resting sites of Ouagadougou areas and in two villages of the East region of Burkina Faso using pyrethrum spray catch, oiled papers and miniature CDC light traps during the rainy season in 1984 and 1985. Thirteen species were identified, one belonging to the genus Phlebotomus and the others to the genus Sergentomyia. S. antennata (34.94%), S. bedfordi (16.64%), S. clydei (14.42%), S. schwetzi (13.20%), P. duboscqi (8.46%), S. adleri (7.03%) and S. africana (2.87%) were in order of percentage the more abundant species. The abdominal stages of the sandfly species caught in the human habitations are described. P. duboscqi, the suspected vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the area, seems to have a preferential domestic biotope.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Insecticide susceptibility levels of Anopheles gambiae s.l. in the area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Tests to evaluate the susceptibility level in Anopheles gambiae s.1. from Ouagadougou and two nearby villages have been carried out. Anopheles gambiae s.1. larvae from Ouagadougou showed complete susceptibility to organophosphates and carbamates, and adults showed low-level resistance to DDT. Nine percent survival of adult An. gambiae s.1. to one-hour exposure of 4% DDT was observed in samples from Zagtouli village while in those from Koubri village, where dieldrin also was tested, resistance to both organochlorine insecticides was detected.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Studies on insecticide susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae s.1. and Culex quinquefasciatus in the area of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (west Africa).

Tests to evaluate the susceptibility level in Anopheles gambiae s.1. and Culex quinquefasciatus from Ouagadougou and two nearby villages have been carried out. Anopheles gambiae s.1. larvae from Ouagadougou showed complete susceptibility to organophosphates and carbamates, and adults showed low level resistance to DDT. Nine percent survival of adult An. gambiae s.1. to one hour exposure of 4% DDT was observed in samples from Zaghtouli village while in those from Koubri village, where dieldrin also was tested, resistance to both organochlorine insecticides was detected. Culex quinquefasciatus showed susceptibility to fenthion, malathion, fenitrothion, and chlorpyrifos, whereas incipient resistance to temephos was detected. Electrophoretic analysis showed polymorphism of high and low active esterases (Est-2 + Est-3) confirming the association between OP resistance and enhanced esterase activity in this species.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Avermectins, MK-933 and MK-936, for mosquito control.

Two avermectins were shown to be effective as mosquito larvicides or when fed to adult female mosquitoes in sucrose solution or in blood. Larval LC50 values of compounds MK-933 and MK-936, expressed as parts per billion, were found to be 3.94 and 2.42 for Culex pipiens, 5.85 and 2.90 for Anopheles stephensi and 23.4 and 10.4 for Aedes aegypti. When fed to adult females of An. stephensi, Ae. aegypti or Cx quinquefasciatus, MK-933 at 2.8mg active ingredient per litre in sucrose solution caused complete mortality within 60 hours. When female mosquitos engorged blood from mice injected subcutaneously 12 hours previously with MK-933 at 82 mg a.i./kg, mortality rates after 36 hours were 100% for An. stephensi, over 60% for Ae. aegypti and over 50% for Cx quinquefasciatus. Thus the systemic insecticidal effect was greater against anopheline than against culicine female mosquitoes.

Aedes↗
PubMed1985

A chironomid (Diptera: Chironomidae) midge population study and laboratory evaluation of larvicides against midges inhabiting the lagoon of Venice, Italy.

Chironomid larval densities in the saltwater lagoon of Venice, Italy, were assessed in the spring of 1984. Four organophosphates; chlorpyrifos, temephos, fenthion and fenitrothion, and three pyrethroids; cypermethrin, permethrin and deltamethrin, were tested in the laboratory against field-collected larvae. Three industrial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) were also tested as midge larvicides. Only Chironomus salinarius occurred in the benthic samples taken from different sections of the lagoon. The densities of this species ranged from 0 to 38,976 larvae/m2. The highest mean larval density of 15,673/m2 was encountered in a section of the lagoon adjacent to Venice airport and receiving large quantities of raw sewage. The lowest mean density (less than 1 larva/m2) existed in another area of the lagoon receiving discharge from chemical industry. Cypermethrin and permethrin were 21-233X more active against the larvae than the four organophosphates. Chlorpyrifos was the most active organophosphate. Formulations of B.t.i. were economically ineffective against the larvae.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Preliminary studies on levels of sensitivity to phosphoric esters in the Italian population of the Culex pipiens complex].

A preliminary survey of the susceptibility level to organophosphate (OP) insecticides in six populations of Culex pipiens from Central Italy has been carried out. The correlation between OP resistance and highly active esterase electromorphs has also been investigated. The bioassay and electrophoresis results show an association between OP resistance and the highly active esterase allele Est-3A and confirm what it was found in populations of C. pipiens from Southern France. Est-3A appears to be a reliable indicator of OP resistance in mosquitoes of italian C. pipiens.

Animals↗