Journal of Medical Entomology March 2016 - Vol 53 - No 2 - Front Cover
(Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - March 7, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Davis, T. J. Tags: Cover / Standing Material Source Type: research
The Sirens Song: Exploitation of Female Flight Tones to Passively Capture Male Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
The need to capture male mosquitoes has intensified recently as a result of a number of male-based sterile insect technique (SIT) and population-modification programs focused on Aedes aegypti (L.) having initiated field releases. Here, we report the results of the successful exploitation of the attraction of male Ae. aegypti to female flight tones to enhance male collections in nonmechanical passive (nonbattery powered) Gravid Aedes Traps (GAT). Prior to field studies, male attraction to female flight tones of 484 and 560 Hz, as well as to a male flight tone of 715 Hz, were assessed in a series of controlled release–...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Johnson, B. J., Ritchie, S. A. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
The First Record of Aedes (Hulecoeteomyia) japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Its Establishment in Western Canada
The potential disease-carrying mosquito, Aedes japonicus (Theobald) (Diptera: Culicidae), was identified among larvae collected in suburban Vancouver, BC, in July 2014, and over 200 were found at the same site in February 2015 where it presumably had overwintered in the egg stage. In late May 2015, a female was captured taking a bloodmeal 13 km east of the larval site. This population and those in the Washington and Oregon states are clearly disjunct from those in eastern North America, and their origin, probably from one or more different introductions from Asia, is discussed. Key characters of those in British Columbia a...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Jackson, M., Belton, P., McMahon, S., Hart, M., McCann, S., Azevedo, D., Hurteau, L. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Orientation of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) to Plant-Host Volatiles in a Novel Diffusion-Cage Olfactometer
A novel diffusion-cage olfactometer tested the responses of Anopheles gambiae Giles to plant volatiles. Green-leaf volatiles are often released from cut or injured plant tissue and may alter the headspace of plants used in olfactometer assays. The diffusion-cage olfactometer is designed for use with whole, intact plants, hence giving a more realistic behavioral assay. Its simple plastic construction, ease of assembly, and accommodation to whole plants makes it a useful tool for measuring mosquito orientation to plant volatiles within large enclosures. We compared its performance to that of the more commonly used T-tube win...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Otienoburu, P. E., Nikbakhtzadeh, M. R., Foster, W. A. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Decreased Flight Activity in Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) Naturally Infected With Culex flavivirus
Insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFVs) commonly infect vectors of mosquito-borne arboviruses. To investigate whether infection with an ISFV might affect mosquito flight behavior, we quantified flight behavior in Culex pipiens L. naturally infected with Culex flavivirus (CxFV). We observed a significant reduction in the scotophase (dark hours) flight activity of CxFV-positive mosquitoes relative to CxFV-negative mosquitoes, but only a marginal reduction in photophase (light hours) flight activity, and no change in the circadian pattern of flight activity. These results suggest that CxFV infection alters the flight activity of...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Newman, C. M., Anderson, T. K., Goldberg, T. L. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
A Case of Biting Humans by Nabis americoferus (Heteroptera: Nabidae), With Comments on Bites by Other Species of the Genus Nabis in the United States
A case of biting humans by the common damsel bug Nabis americoferus Carayon, 1961 is reported for an adult male in Fargo, ND. The symptoms and evolution of the bite are described. A compilation of cases of other Nabis spp. biting humans in the United States is provided and discussed. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Faundez, E. I. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
The Relationship Between Soil Arthropods and the Overwinter Survival of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Under Manipulated Snow Cover
We explored the relationship between the diversity and abundance of the soil arthropod predator community and the overwinter survival of engorged larval Ixodes scapularis Say under variable snow cover in a hardwood forest. We reduced the snow cover over 30 soil core field microcosms, simulating predicted changes in snow pack in the northeastern United States. An additional 29 microcosms were used as references with no snow pack manipulation. Each microcosm contained 15 engorged larval I. scapularis. We expected lower soil temperature without insulating snow cover to reduce tick survival. However, we observed that reduced s...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Burtis, J. C., Ostfeld, R. S., Yavitt, J. B., Fahey, T. J. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Long-Term Ecological Study of Host-Seeking Adults of Hyalomma lusitanicum (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Meso-Mediterranean Climate
From January 2007 to December 2014, three representative meso-Mediterranean bioclimatic environment types were sampled monthly using blanket-dragging techniques to determine the tick abundance rate. Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch, 1844 was the most prevalent species (96.58%) followed by Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776; Rhipicephalus pusillus Gil Collado, 1936; and Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini and Fanzago, 1878. H. lusitanicum adults begin questing activity around March, numbers rising quickly reaching their peak in May–June and then diminishing until the end of the year, with a small increase in September–Octo...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Valcarcel, F., Gonzalez, J., Sanchez, J. L. P., Jaime, J. M. T., Olmeda, A. S. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
A Preliminary Investigation on Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Birds in Kızılırmak Delta, Turkey
Ticks are mandatory blood-feeding ectoparasites of mammals, birds, reptiles, and even amphibians. Turkey has a rich bird fauna and is located on the main migration route for many birds. However, information on ticks infesting birds is very limited. In the present study, we aimed to determine ticks infesting birds in Kızılırmak Delta, Turkey. In 2014 autumn bird migration season, a total of 7,452 birds belonging to 79 species, 52 genera, 35 families, and 14 orders were examined for tick infestation. In total, 287 (234 larvae, 47 nymphs, 6) ticks were collected from 54 passerine birds (prevalence = 0.72%...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Keskin, A., Erciyas-Yavuz, K. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Hyaluronidase Activity in Saliva of European Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
In this study, we detected activity of enzyme hyaluronidase in six Culicoides species that commonly occur in Europe and that are putative vectors of arboviruses. Hyaluronidase was present in all species studied, although its molecular size, sensitivity to SDS, and substrate specificity differed between species. Further studies on the potential effect of hyaluronidase activity on the vector competence of Culicoides species for arboviruses would be beneficial. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Radrova, J., Vlkova, M., Volfova, V., Sumova, P., Cetre-Sossah, C., Carpenter, S., Darpel, K., Rakotoarivony, I., Allene, X., Votypka, J., Volf, P. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
First Case of a Human Being Bitten by a Water Boatman (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixidae) from Chile
The first record of a water boatman (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixidae) biting humans is described. The case is from Chile, and the biting species was identified as Sigara trimaculata (Le Guillou, 1841). The possible causes of the bites are discussed. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Faundez, E. I., Rojas-Porras, N. A. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Experimental Infection of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) With Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Etiological Agents of American Tugumentary Leishmaniasis
Leishmania (L.) amazonensis (Lainson & Shaw, 1972) and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (Vianna, 1911) are the principal causative agents of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in Brazil. L. amazonensis also causes diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) vectored principally by Lutzomyia flaviscutellata and secondarily by Lutzomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939). The latter is the most common phlebotomine in the state of Maranhão, and it is the focal species for potential ATL transmission. For this reason, we tested the ability of L. whitmani to become infected with Lutzomyia parasites. Phlebotomine...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Fonteles, R. S., Filho, A. A. P., Moraes, J. L. P., Kuppinger, O., Rebelo, J. M. M. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research
Molecular Survey of Bartonella Species and Yersinia pestis in Rodent Fleas (Siphonaptera) From Chihuahua, Mexico
Rodent fleas from northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico, were analyzed for the presence of Bartonella and Yersinia pestis. In total, 760 fleas belonging to 10 species were tested with multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis targeting the gltA (338-bp) and pla genes (478-bp) of Bartonella and Y. pestis, respectively. Although none was positive for Y. pestis, 307 fleas were infected with Bartonella spp., resulting in an overall prevalence of 40.4%. A logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of Bartonella is more likely to occur in some flea species. From a subset of Bartonella-positive fleas, phylogenetic analy...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Fernandez-Gonzalez, A. M., Kosoy, M. Y., Rubio, A. V., Graham, C. B., Montenieri, J. A., Osikowicz, L. M., Bai, Y., Acosta-Gutierrez, R., Avila-Flores, R., Gage, K. L., Suzan, G. Tags: Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention Source Type: research
Spatial and Temporal Variation in Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Numbers in the Yogyakarta Area of Java, Indonesia, With Implications for Wolbachia Releases
Novel approaches to suppress dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases involve changing the composition of mosquito vector populations, particularly through Wolbachia endosymbionts. The success of these strategies depends on understanding the dynamics of vector populations. In preparation for Wolbachia releases around Yogyakarta, we have studied Aedes populations in five hamlets. Adult monitoring with BioGent-Sentinel (BG-S) traps indicated that hamlet populations had different dynamics across the year; while there was an increase in Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) numbers in the wet season, species abundanc...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Tantowijoyo, W., Arguni, E., Johnson, P., Budiwati, N., Nurhayati, P. I., Fitriana, I., Wardana, S., Ardiansyah, H., Turley, A. P., Ryan, P., ONeill, S. L., Hoffmann, A. A. Tags: Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention Source Type: research
Vector-Borne Diseases in Stray Dogs in Peninsular Malaysia and Molecular Detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. from Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks
This study was designed to determine the occurrence of vector-borne pathogens in Malaysian stray dogs using serological and molecular approaches. In total, 48 dog blood samples were subjected to serological analysis using SNAP 4Dx kit (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME). The presence of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma DNA in the dog blood samples and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) ticks was detected using nested polymerase chain reaction assays. Positive serological findings against Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were obtained in 17 (39.5%) and four (9.3%) of 43 dog samples, respectively. None of the dog blood...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - January 12, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Koh, F. X., Panchadcharam, C., Tay, S. T. Tags: Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention Source Type: research
