Screening and structure-activity relationships of synthetic juvenile hormone analogues for Panstrongylus megistus, a primary vector of Chagas' disease in Brazil.

As part of the search for new agents and methods for the control of triatomine bugs: 40 compounds were bioassayed for juvenile hormone activity on Panstrongylus megistus (Burmeister), one of the most important transmitters of Chagas’ disease in Brazil. Compounds of several different structural classes were tested, and high levels of activity were observed for some aromatic terpenoid ethers and amines. The most active compound was N -(5-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienylamine; a single topical application of 0.1 μg/insect resulted in a high degree of Juvenilization. From a comparison of the structures of the active compounds, the presence of an electro-negative group, such as alkoxy or chlorine, meta to the terpenoid side chain, is a prerequisite for high juvenile hormone activity on this insect.