Evaluación de la susceptibilidad y la resistencia de mosquitos colectados en Bucaramanga al limoneno y a aceites esenciales de cítricos

Abstract

Mosquitoes, particularly the genera Aedes, Anopheles and Culex, are considered the main vectors of human diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and other fevers such as Chikungunya, Zika, and Mayaro. This vector is attributed millions of deaths per year, with the tropical region being the area with the highest risk of contracting any of these diseases. The conventional control method for this vector are chemical insecticides such as malathion, chlorpyrifos, fenthion and fenitrothion. However, they present acute and chronic toxicity in non-objective organisms and can contaminate the ecosystems directly and indirectly affecting the present population. Some international organizations such as the European Union, Greenpeace and Pesticides Action Network suggest not applying this type of compound for the conditions it can cause. Likewise, governmental organizations such as the US EPA recommend avoiding the use of temephos, a larvicide promoted by the WHO, due to the growing presence of resistant vectors.