Spatial Distribution of Scorpion Sting in a High-Risk Area of Southern Iran
This study aimed to find the spatial distribution of scorpions and their stings in Bandar Abbas County. Monthly scorpion sting cases at the village level were obtained and used for mapping. Scorpions were collected from 14 collection sites using a UV lamp at night and searching under stones during the day time. During the study period, a total of 3,971 cases of scorpion sting were recorded, most of them were found in mountainous areas and affected individuals aged 25–44 yrs. In total, 18 scorpion species belonging to 10 genera were collected and identified. The peak of scorpion sting cases occurred from July to Septe...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Shahi, M., Moosavy, S. H., Hanafi-Bojd, A. A., Navidpour, S., Zare, S., Madani, A., Rafinejad, J. Tags: Vector-Borne Diseases, Surveillance, Prevention Source Type: research
Differential Diptera Succession Patterns on Decomposed Rabbit Carcasses in Three Different Habitats
This study describes for the first time the necrophagous Diptera attracted to rabbit carcasses in three distinct habitats in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A mean number of 1,427 flies belonging to 8 families and 16 species were collected during the decomposition process of the rabbits at the three different sites. Carcasses in the agricultural habitat attracted 1,146 flies from 7 families and 14 species, compared to carcasses in the urban site, which attracted 249 flies from 5 families and 9 species. Carcasses in the desert site attracted the lowest number (28 flies from 4 families and 5 species). In the agricultu...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Mashaly, A. M. A., Al-Mekhlafi, F. A. Tags: Sampling, Distribution, Dispersal Source Type: research
Modeling the Geographic Distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States
In addition to serving as vectors of several other human pathogens, the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, are the primary vectors of the spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Over the past two decades, the geographic range of I. pacificus has changed modestly while, in contrast, the I. scapularis range has expanded substantially, which likely contributes to the concurrent expansion in the distribution of human Lyme disease cases in the Northeastern, North-Central and Mid...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Hahn, M. B., Jarnevich, C. S., Monaghan, A. J., Eisen, R. J. Tags: Sampling, Distribution, Dispersal Source Type: research
Reported Distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in the United States, 1995-2016 (Diptera: Culicidae)
Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) transmit arboviruses that are increasing threats to human health in the Americas, particularly dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Epidemics of the associated arboviral diseases have been limited to South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean in the Western Hemisphere, with only minor localized outbreaks in the United States. Nevertheless, accurate and up-to-date information for the geographical ranges of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in the United States is urgently needed to guide surveillance and enhance control capacity for these mosqu...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Hahn, M. B., Eisen, R. J., Eisen, L., Boegler, K. A., Moore, C. G., McAllister, J., Savage, H. M., Mutebi, J.-P. Tags: Sampling, Distribution, Dispersal Source Type: research
Infestation of Brazilian Peridomiciliary Areas by Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Humid and Semihumid Climates
This study investigates Culicoides infestation in peridomestic environments in two villages in Maranhão, one with hot and humid climate and the other with semihumid climate. We evaluated the composition, richness, abundance, and seasonality of species. We captured insects using CDC light traps installed in animal shelters once a month, from 6 pm to 6 am, for 24 mo (May 2012 to April 2014). In this study, 17 species were found. Of these, 10 occurred simultaneously in two areas; six were found only in hot and humid area, while one occurred only in the semihumid area. Species richness was higher in the hot and humid cl...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Bandeira, M. C. A., Da Penha, A., Moraes, J. L. P., Brito, G. A., Rebelo, J. M. M. Tags: Population and Community Ecology Source Type: research
Interaction of Wolbachia and Bloodmeal Type in Artificially Infected Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)
Maternally inherited Wolbachia bacteria are being introduced into vector mosquito populations, with the goal of reducing the transmission of diseases such as dengue fever. The infection dynamics of Wolbachia depends upon the ability of Wolbachia to manipulate host reproduction as well as any fitness costs imposed upon the host. Some vector mosquito species are opportunistic blood feeders, utilizing both human and nonhuman vertebrate hosts, and the effects of bloodmeal source on Wolbachia phenotype is not well understood. Here we transfer wMelPop Wolbachia from Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) into wild-type Aedes albopictu...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Suh, E., Fu, Y., Mercer, D. R., Dobson, S. L. Tags: Population Biology/Genetics Source Type: research
Electrophysiological Responses of Gustatory Receptor Neurons on the Labella of the Common Malaria Mosquito, Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae)
We recorded electrical responses from sensory cells associated with gustatory sensilla on the labella of female Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say to salt, sucrose, quinine (a feeding deterrent), and the insect repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET). A salt-sensitive cell responded to increasing concentrations of sodium chloride. A second cell was activated by increasing sucrose concentrations, while quinine, DEET, or a mixture of quinine + DEET elicited spike activity from a third cell, an apparent bitter- or deterrent-sensitive cell. Both quinine and DEET suppressed activity of the sugar-sensitive cell; sucrose suppr...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Sparks, J. T., Dickens, J. C. Tags: Neurobiology, Physiology, Biochemistry Source Type: research
On the Synonyms of Psathyromyia (Psathyromyia) shannoni (Dyar, 1929) and Pa. bigeniculata (Floch & Abonnenc, 1941) and the Resuscitation of Pa. pifanoi (Ortiz, 1972) With the Description of Its Female (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)
Psathyromyia shannoni until recently presented several taxa: Phlebotomus limai, Ph. bigeniculatus, Ph. pifanoi, and Ph. microcephalus as its junior synonyms. In a previous study, the two former synonyms were resurrected and here a revision based on morphological characters of the taxonomic status of Ph. microcephalus and Ph. pifanoi is presented. Psathyromyia pifanoi stat. rev.; comb. n. is resurrected from the synonymy of Pa. shannoni and its female is described. Phlebotomus microcephalus is removed from the synonymy of Pa. shannoni and proposed as a new synonym of Pa. bigeniculata. Lutzomyia cuzquena syn. n., occurring i...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Sabio, P. B., Brilhante, A. F., Quintana, M. G., Andrade, A. J., Galati, E. A. B. Tags: Morphology, Systematics, Evolution Source Type: research
Diptera of Medico-Legal Importance Associated With Pig Carrion in a Tropical Dry Forest
The diversity of necrophagous Diptera is largely unknown in seasonally dry tropical forests, despite their medical, veterinary, and forensic relevance. We performed a study in the dry Caatinga forest exclusive to Brazil in order to assess the diversity and temporal pattern of Diptera species using pig carcasses as substrates. Adults were collected daily until complete skeletonization. We collected 17,142 adults from 18 families, 10 of which comprise species with known necrophagous habits. The most abundant families were Calliphoridae (47.3% of specimens), Sarcophagidae (20.8%), and Muscidae (15.5%), whereas Sarcophagidae s...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Vasconcelos, S. D., Salgado, R. L., Barbosa, T. M., Souza, J. R. B. Tags: Direct Injury, Myiasis, Forensics Source Type: research
Forensic Entomology: Evaluating Uncertainty Associated With Postmortem Interval (PMI) Estimates With Ecological Models
Estimates of insect age can be informative in death investigations and, when certain assumptions are met, can be useful for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). Currently, the accuracy and precision of PMI estimates is unknown, as error can arise from sources of variation such as measurement error, environmental variation, or genetic variation. Ecological models are an abstract, mathematical representation of an ecological system that can make predictions about the dynamics of the real system. To quantify the variation associated with the pre-appearance interval (PAI), we developed an ecological model that simulates t...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Faris, A. M., Wang, H.- H., Tarone, A. M., Grant, W. E. Tags: Direct Injury, Myiasis, Forensics Source Type: research
Comparison of In Vivo and In Vitro Methods for Blood Feeding of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Laboratory
This study suggests that female P. papatasi may use an invitation effect to blood feed and are attracted to blood sources via chemical olfaction cues, both of which have been characterized in other blood-feeding arthropods. Our study demonstrates that a Parafilm membrane or a hog’s gut membrane, in conjunction with the Hemotek or glass feeder system, is potentially a viable alternative to live rodents to blood feed a colony of P. papatasi. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Denlinger, D. S., Li, A. Y., Durham, S. L., Lawyer, P. G., Anderson, J. L., Bernhardt, S. A. Tags: Behavior, Chemical Ecology Source Type: research
Survival Value and Sugar Access of Four East African Plant Species Attractive to a Laboratory Strain of Sympatric Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)
Mosquitoes derive energy from plant sugar, thereby promoting survival and reproduction. Its survival value to females plays a key role in the vectorial capacity of mosquito populations. Previous olfactometry assays of responsiveness demonstrated that Senna didymobotrya Fresenius, Parthenium hysterophorus, L. Senna occidentalis, (L) and Lantana camara L were among the most attractive plants for the Mbita strain of Anopheles gambiae s.s. Giles in eastern Africa. Here, we provide experimental evidence that three of these four species also provide varying but substantial amounts of sugar for mosquito survival, whereas a fourth...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Nikbakhtzadeh, M. R., Terbot, J. W., Foster, W. A. Tags: Behavior, Chemical Ecology Source Type: research
Effects of Preexposure to DEET on the Downstream Blood-Feeding Behaviors of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes
In this study, we investigated the effect of preexposure to DEET on the downstream blood-feeding behavior of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes and the duration of the effect. We exposed mosquitoes to four different DEET concentrations: 0.10, 0.12, 0.14, and 0.16% for 10 min then allowed the mosquitoes to blood-feed on an artificial blood-feeding system either immediately or after being held for 1, 3, 6, or 24 h following DEET exposure. We found that preexposing Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to 0.14 or 0.16% DEET lowered their blood engorgement level, but did not alter their landing and probing behavior when compared to the control test popu...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Sugiharto, V. A., Grieco, J. P., Murphy, J. R., Olsen, C. H., Colacicco-Mayhugh, M. G., Stewart, V. A., Achee, N. L., Turell, M. J. Tags: Behavior, Chemical Ecology Source Type: research
Oviposition of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae) Differs on Water Conditioned by Potential Fish and Insect Predators
The response of egg-laying Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) to water conditioned by three fish species used for mosquito control and three predatory aquatic insect species was examined in laboratory binary choice experiments. Oviposition by Cx. tarsalis was 72% less on water conditioned with the arroyo chub, Gila orcutti (Eigenmann & Eigenmann) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) relative to control cups containing aged tap water, but no significant difference was found in the numbers of egg rafts laid on water conditioned with the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas (Rafinesque), Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) and t...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Why, A. M., Lara, J. R., Walton, W. E. Tags: Behavior, Chemical Ecology Source Type: research
Evidence for Personal Protective Measures to Reduce Human Contact With Blacklegged Ticks and for Environmentally Based Control Methods to Suppress Host-Seeking Blacklegged Ticks and Reduce Infection with Lyme Disease Spirochetes in Tick Vectors and Rodent Reservoirs
In the 1980s, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and rodents were recognized as the principal vector and reservoir hosts of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in the eastern United States, and deer were incriminated as principal hosts for I. scapularis adults. These realizations led to pioneering studies aiming to reduce the risk for transmission of B. burgdorferi to humans by attacking host-seeking ticks with acaricides, interrupting the enzootic transmission cycle by killing immatures infesting rodent reservoirs by means of acaricide-treated nesting material, or reducing deer abundance to suppress...
Source: Journal of Medical Entomology - September 2, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Eisen, L., Dolan, M. C. Tags: Review Source Type: research
