EXPERIENCE REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF REPELLENT ACTIVITY IN ENTOMOLOGICAL BIOASSAYS WITH AEDES AEGYPTI MOSQUITOES

Abstract

This experience report describes the practical experience and academic learning developed during participation in laboratory repellency assays with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, conducted within the Malaria and Dengue Laboratory (LMD) of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA). The objective is to report the operational challenges, the routine of biological manipulation, and the importance of standardizing protocols in professional development of students in biological sciences and related fields. The experience highlighted the complexity of colony management of insects under controlled conditions, the need for strict control of individual biological variables in entomological research, and the importance of complying with ethical and biosafety guidelines. The laboratory activities ranged from maintaining the Aedes aegypti colony to performing topical repellency bioassays with human volunteers, involving steps of input preparation, procedure standardization, and systematic recording of observations. It is concluded that insertion into the laboratory routine of bioassays substantially qualifies the student's scientific training, allowing a practical understanding of bioethical and methodological guidelines, as well as the development of technical and analytical skills essential for research in medical entomology and public health.