title: [Lepidopterism due to the butterfly Hylesia nigricans. Preventive research-intervention in Buenos Aires].
abstract: A preventive research-intervention against the butterfly Hylesia nigricans was performed after an increase in spontaneous reports of nonspecific dermatitis in El Pato neighbourhood, Berazategui County, Buenos Aires Province. The overall pre-intervention incidence was estimated with a semistructured questionnaire carried out during March 2001. The trees in the street were sprayed with Bacillus thuringiensis, and the insecticide effect was evaluated both in the field and in the laboratory (November 2002). The impact was estimated with a post-intervention questionnaire during March 2002. The age distribution, clinical appearance, persistence (11 days) and seasonality (January-February 2001) of the cases were consistent with dermatitis due to H. nigricans. The mortality of larvae 96 h after the spraying was 100%. The incidence rates before and after the intervention were 10.3% y 1.8% respectively. The coordinated action of National, Provincial and District oficials allowed to identify the problem, to design an operational research, and to perform a preventive control strategy transferable to the community.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Endemo-Epidemias, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina. danielsalomon@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Oscar D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rimoldi
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villaruel
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marchan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009036:Moths; D017678:Sex Distribution