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The development and reproduction of Raoiella indica on Areca catechu were studied under laboratory conditions at 25,42±1,21°C and 57,54±6,54% HR. The experimental units were leaf discs of A. catechu in Petri dishes (10,5 cm diameter) with water-saturated cotton. Gravid females were transferred to experimental unit and allowed to lay eggs for five hours. The duration of each life cycle stages were registered. The larvae that emerged were transferred to individual arenas and observed until adult appearance. The average duration of the life cycle was 31 days. The egg stage was the longest, while that of protonymphs was the shortest. The preoviposition period averaged 4 days, while the oviposition period can last 17 days, with an average of 11 days and a female longevity of 30 days. Sex ratio was 56% females. The mortality of immature stages was: 14,6% for larvae; 7,3% for protonymphs, and 17,1% for deutonymphs, with 39% total mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding behavior of Amblyseius largoensis on Raoiella indica was determined on excised Areca catechu leaves infested with all the stages of the prey. The studies were carried out under laboratory conditions at 25,42±1,21 °C and 57,54±6,54% RH. Gravid females of the predatory mites were previously kept in starvation in hermetic plastic boxes for 24 hr. The starving females were then placed on experimental arena: A. catechu leaves infested with all the stages of R. indica were placed on water-saturated cotton layer in Petri dishes. The leaves were surrounded with wet cotton. The activity of the phytoseiid mite was observed continuously under a dissecting microscope for 30 min. The number of prey killed was 1,30; the percentage of successful attacks, 39,39%; and the mean time spent on feeding on each prey was 74,65 seg. A. largoensis fed on egg, larva, nymph and female stages. Most of the time was spent on prey foraging, grooming and resting. Results showed, for the first time, that A. largoensis can feed on R. indica, what supports its possible use in the management of this exotic mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Arboviruses represent the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viruses worldwide. In Mozambique, arboviroses have been heavily neglected and for this reason they are never considered in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness. A recent dengue outbreak was reported in Pemba, situated in northern Mozambique in 2014, and during the outbreak more than half of dengue suspected cases had their dengue results negative, suggesting other causes of fever of unknown origin. The aim of the study was to investigate the circulation of dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), west nile virus (WNV) and rift valley fever (RVF) in febrile and non febrile patients in Pemba, during the outbreak of dengue in 2014. Methods & Materials: A total of 398 individuals were identified, of which, 300 were non febrile and 98 were dengue suspected cases (febrile) attending the outpatient appointment visit at Pemba Provincial Hospital, between March and April 2014 were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from each participant and initially tested for dengue using IgM anti-dengue commercial ELISA and by real time PCR. All dengue negative samples were then tested for chikungunya, RVFV, WNV using the PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for IgG detection. Results: Of the 398 participants 37.7% (37/98) were DENV positive using PCR and all were negative for CHIKV, RVF andWNVwhen tested by PCR.Amongfebrile patients, IgG antibodies against CHIKV were detected in 27.5% (27/98) of febrile participants by IFA, 10.2% (10/98) were dual positive for IgG anti-DENV and IgG anti-CHIKV and 3.06% (3/98) were positive for IgG anti-RVF. The percentage of positive results for IgG antibodies against DENV, CHIKV, RVFV among non febrile participants were 26% (78/300), 45.3% (136/300) and 1% (3/300), respectively. No sample was positive for IgG anti- WNV antibody among non febrile patients. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that DENV, CHIKV and RVF co-circulate in northern Mozambique, suggesting that not only DENV but CHIKV and RVFV, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile syndrome in northern Mozambique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]