Effect of environmental conditions and toxic compounds on the locomotor activity of Pediculus humanus capitis (Phthiraptera:Pediculidae)

ORTEGA INSAURRALDE I; A. C. TOLOZA; PAOLA GONZALEZ-AUDINO; G. MOUGABURE-CUETO; ALVAREZ-COSTA A; M PICOLLO

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC AMER

Lugar: Lanham; Año: 2015 vol. 52 p. 1036 - 1042

0022-2585

Inthis work, we evaluated the effect of environmental variables such astemperature, humidity and light on the locomotor activity of Pediculus humanus capitis. In addition,we used selected conditions of temperature, humidity and light to study the effectsof cypermethrin and DEET on the locomotor activity of head lice. Head lice increased theirlocomotor activity in an arena at 30°C compared with activity at 20°C. When wetested the influence of the humidity level, the locomotor activity of head liceshowed no significant differences related to humidity level both at 30°C and20°C. Concerning light influence, we observed that the higher the intensity of lightthe slower the movement of head lice. We also demonstrated that sublethal doses of toxics may alter locomotoractivity in adults of head lice. Sublethal doses of cypermethrin inducedhyperactivated responses in adult head lice. Sublethal doses of DEET evocated hypoactivated responsesin head lice. The observation of stereotyped behavior in head lice elicitedby toxic compounds proved that   measuringlocomotor activity in an experimental set-up where environmental conditions arecontrolled would be appropriate to evaluate compounds of biological importancesuch as molecules involved in the host-parasite interaction and intraspecificrelationships.