CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Aedes aegypti (L.) is the main vector of many arboviral diseases. One of the first lines of defense that is possible to constitute between mosquitoes and humans is the use of repellents. N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) is a synthetic insect repellent used worldwide. δ-dodecalactone is an aliphatic lactone widely found in vegetable tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the repellent effect on Ae. aegypti females of δ-dodecalactone alone and in combination with DEET through different behavioral bioassays. Bioassays in a petri dish were carried out, with a filter paper divided into a treated zone (different concentrations of δ-dodecalactone alone and in combination with DEET) and a control zone. The individual behavior of the females was registered and then analyzed with the Ethovision XT video tracking software, which allowed the automated tracking and quantification of the behavior. We calculate behavioral variables and the repellency index was determined. A decrease in the activity variables was observed for those concentrations that showed a repellent effect with δ-dodecalactone alone and in combination with DEET.Secondly, bioassays on pigeons were conducted with a section of skin impregnated with the effective concentrations of δ-dodecalactone, including a positive and negative control. The percentage of feed inhibition (FI) was calculated. We obtained a 100% FI with δ-dodecalactone alone and in combination with DEET for 20 and 120 min. Resulting in 100% FI with 7% δ-dodecalactone, dose of commercial use for DEET. The results showed an effective repellent effect of the δ-dodecalactone alone and in combination with DEET. These studies can contribute to the production of repellents using natural compounds as the main active ingredient.