[Operational impact of the use of insecticidal products on Aedes aegypti larvae in Havana province].

Abstract

Introduction: In spite of the huge efforts of the Aedes aegypti eradication program in Cuba, there are still certain infestation indexes favoring the development of outbreaks or epidemics in some regions of the country. Havana province holds a leading position in this negative indicator, in which the use of insecticides plays an important role.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the use of insecticides in the development of drug resistance by this species in Havana.

Methods: Fifteen Ae. aegypti strains from the fifteen municipalities of the province were used. They were all collected in 2008. The level of susceptibility to insecticides was measured by means of the WHO-recommended bioassays.

Results: Sixty percent of the strains were susceptible to chlorpirifos; more resistance to pyrethroid cypermethrin was observed followed by lambdacyalothrin and cifluthrin.

Conclusions: The insecticide Chlorpirifos is a good candidate to be used with pyrethroids, on a rotational scheme, to delay the development of resistance to pyrethroids in Ae. aegypti vectors in Havana province.