Fine‐scale distribution modeling of avian malaria vectors in north‐central Kansas
ABSTRACT
Infectious diseases increasingly play a role in the decline of wildlife populations. Vector‐borne diseases, in particular, have been implicated in mass mortality events and localized population declines are threatening some species with extinction. Transmission patterns for vector‐borne diseases are influenced by the spatial distribution of vectors and are therefore not uniform across the landscape. Avian malaria is a globally distributed vector‐borne disease that has been shown to affect endemic bird populations of North America. We evaluated shared habitat use between avian malaria vectors, mosquitoes in t...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Claudia Ganser, Andrew J. Gregory, Lance B. McNew, Lyla A. Hunt, Brett K. Sandercock, Samantha M. Wisely Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Infestation and seasonal activity of Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) on the Maghreb mouse‐eared bat, Myotis punicus Felten, 1977, in northeastern Algeria
ABSTRACT
Infestation of Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, 1844 on Myotis punicus Felten, 1977 from two sites (Trios Tunnel and Sidi Trad cave) in northeastern Algeria was studied. An overall infestation of 41.4% for all stages was found among bats collected from both sites. By stage, a total of eight females, 70 nymphs, and 107 larvae were recovered from both populations. The number of females recovered per bat at Sidi Trad ranged from 0‐1, for nymphs 0‐2, and for larvae 0‐2. While no female ticks were collected at Trios Tunnel, the number of nymphs ranged from 0‐2 and for larvae 0‐2. At Trios Tunnel, the number of nym...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Mohammed Lamine Bendjeddou, Zihad Bouslama, Zuhair S. Amr, Rihan BaniHani Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Spatial distribution of sand fly species (Psychodidae: Phlebtominae), ecological niche, and climatic regionalization in zoonotic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis, southwest of Iran
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a complex vector‐borne disease caused by Leishmania parasites that are transmitted by the bite of several species of infected female phlebotomine sand flies. Monthly factor analysis of climatic variables indicated fundamental variables. Principal component‐based regionalization was used for recognition of climatic zones using a clustering integrated method that identified five climatic zones based on factor analysis. To investigate spatial distribution of the sand fly species, the kriging method was used as an advanced geostatistical procedure in the ArcGIS modeling system that ...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Sahar Ebrahimi, Ali Bordbar, Ahmad R. Esmaeili Rastaghi, Parviz Parvizi Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Invasion of rural houses by wild Triatominae in the arid Chaco
ABSTRACT
Triatomines are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, the main endemic disease affecting five to seven million people in Latin America. Besides Triatoma infestans, the most important T. cruzi vector in the Gran Chaco region, other triatomine species associated with sylvatic birds and mammals are responsible for the maintenance of the wild cycle of T. cruzi. The present study aimed at evaluating the house invasion by sylvatic triatomine species in rural communities of the Los Llanos region (La Rioja, Argentina) and its association with environmental variables. House invasion by fl...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: María J. Cavallo, Ivana Amelotti, David E. Gorla Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Active dispersal of Triatoma infestans and other triatomines in the Argentinean arid Chaco before and after vector control interventions
This study analyzed T. infestans dispersal during vector control interventions in six rural houses of the arid Chaco (La Rioja, Argentina). Flying and walking dispersers were captured during five months of two consecutive warm seasons after insecticide spraying of intra‐ and peridomiciles. These data were compared with previous published data in the same scenario but without insecticide spraying in peridomiciles. Recorded climatic conditions were favorable for active dispersion during the study. Total number of T. infestans dispersers moving among domestic habitats decreased after insecticide spraying. Sylvatic triatomin...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Luciana Abrahan, David Gorla, Silvia Catalá Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Suitability of monotypic and mixed diets for Anopheles hermsi larval development
ABSTRACT
The developmental time and survival to eclosion of Anopheles hermsi Barr & Guptavanij fed monotypic and mixed diets of ten food types were examined in laboratory studies. Larvae fed monotypic diets containing animal detritus (freeze‐dried rotifers, freeze‐dried Daphnia pulicaria, and TetraMin® fish food flakes) and the mixotrophic protistan Cryptomonas ovata developed faster and survived better than larvae that were fed other monotypic diets. Survival to adulthood of larvae fed several concentrations of the diatom Planothidium (=Achnanthes) lanceolatum was poor (<13%) and larval development time was ap...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Donald A. Beasley, William E. Walton Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Population differentiation of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma maculata (Erichson, 1848) from Colombia and Venezuela
ABSTRACT
The emerging vector of Chagas disease, Triatoma maculata (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), is one of the most widely distributed Triatoma species in northern South America. Despite its increasing relevance as a vector, no consistent picture of the magnitude of genetic and phenetic diversity has yet been developed. Here, several populations of T. maculata from eleven Colombia and Venezuela localities were analyzed based on the morphometry of wings and the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) gene sequences. Our results showed clear morphometric and genetic differences among Colombian and Venezuelan populations, ...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Yoman Monsalve, Francisco Panzera, Leidi Herrera, Omar Triana‐Chávez, Andrés Gómez‐Palacio Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Assessment of esterase gene expression as a risk marker for insecticide resistance in Florida Culex nigripalpus (Diptera: Culicidae)
ABSTRACT
Esterases are enzymatic proteins known to play a role in insecticide resistance formation. To further our understanding of the development of insecticide resistance, we tested the gene expression level of a gene implicated in insecticide resistance (Temsha est‐1) from Culex nigripalpus Theobald (Diptera: Culicidae) in field mosquitoes. We found that the level of expression of TE‐1 differed depending on the frequency of exposure to organophosphate insecticide through expression studies. Temsha est‐1 cDNA is 1,808 base pairs and fully sequenced with up to 96% nucleotide sequence identity to esterase B genes of...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Dongyoung Shin, Chelsea T. Smartt Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Desiccation survival time for eggs of a widespread and invasive Australian mosquito species, Aedes (Finlaya) notoscriptus (Skuse)
ABSTRACT
The Australian native mosquito Aedes (Finlaya) notoscriptus (Skuse) is closely associated with natural and artificial water holding receptacles. Eggs are laid in habitats where they are exposed to drying conditions as water levels fluctuate. Withstanding desiccation enables survival in challenging environments and increases the potential for establishment in non‐native habitats. Until now, the desiccation resistance of Ae. notoscriptus eggs has been unknown despite the historical invasive success of this important dog heartworm and arbovirus vector. Viability and mean survival times of eggs from two Ae. notoscri...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: K.J. Faull, C. Webb, C.R. Williams Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Vector capacity of members of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex: The need to extend Chagas disease surveillance to Triatoma melanica
ABSTRACT
We conducted a lab‐based comparative study on vector capacity features of two species of triatomines: Triatoma brasiliensis and T. melanica. Both are members of the T. brasiliensis species complex. The former is the most important Chagas disease vector in the northeastern region of Brazil. To date, no transmission via T. melanica has been recorded. Immature insects exhibited distinct intermoult periods without a direct relationship to a given species. Females of T. brasiliensis consumed an average of 1.9 times more meals (mean = 12.92 vs 6.63) and survived for a shorter period (mean =330.8 days) than T. melanica...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Elaine Folly‐Ramos, L. Lynnette Dornak, Guilherme Orsolon, Teresa Cristina Monte Gonçalves, Mauricio Lilioso, Jane Costa, Carlos Eduardo Almeida Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Diversity of rickettsial pathogens in Columbian black‐tailed deer and their associated keds (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)
ABSTRACT
Cervids host multiple species of ixodid ticks, other ectoparasites, and a variety of rickettsiae. However, diagnostic test cross‐reactivity has precluded understanding the specific role of deer in rickettsial ecology. In our survey of 128 Columbian black‐tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus (Richardson)) and their arthropod parasites from two northern Californian herds, combined with reports from the literature, we identified four distinct Anaplasma spp. and one Ehrlichia species. Two keds, Lipoptena depressa (Say) and Neolipoptena ferrisi Bequaert, and two ixodid ticks, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Koh...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Janet E. Foley, Jeomhee M. Hasty, Robert S. Lane Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Indirect evidence that agricultural pesticides select for insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae
ABSTRACT
We investigated the possible relationship between the agricultural use of insecticides and the emergence of insecticide resistance. Bioassays were conducted using simulated mosquito larval habitats and well known Anopheles gambiae strains. Soil samples were collected from vegetable production areas in Benin, including one site with insecticide use, one site where insecticides had not been used for two months, and a third where insecticides had not been used. Pupation and emergence rates were very low in pyrethroid‐susceptible strains when exposed to soil that had been recently exposed to insecticides. Pupation a...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Djogbénou S. Luc, Assogba Benoit, Djossou Laurette, Makoutode Michel Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
What is the ‘true’ effect of Trypanosoma rangeli on its triatomine bug vector?
ABSTRACT
The phrase, “T. rangeli is pathogenic to its insect vector,” is commonly found in peer‐reviewed publications on the matter, such that it has become the orthodox view of this interaction. In a literature survey, we identified over 20 papers with almost the exact phrase and several others alluding to it. The idea is of particular importance in triatomine population dynamics and the study of vector‐borne T. cruzi transmission, as it could mean that triatomines infected with T. rangeli have lower fitness than uninfected insects. Trypanosoma rangeli pathogenicity was first observed in a series of studies carrie...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Jennifer K. Peterson, Andrea L. Graham Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Vertical oviposition activity of mosquitoes in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil with emphasis on the sylvan vector, Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae)
This study aimed to assess the vertical patterns of oviposition and temporal changes in the distribution of mosquito species in an area of the Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, and in particular, the behavior and oviposition of potential yellow fever virus vectors. Mosquito samples were collected from the Ecological Reserve Guapiaçu (REGUA, Brazil), which includes a somewhat disturbed forest, with a large diversity of plants and animals. In all, 5,458 specimens (ten species from seven genera) were collected. Haemagogus leucocelaenus was the most frequently captured species, representing 73% of the specimens...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Jeronimo Alencar, Cecilia Ferreira de Mello, Hélcio R. Gil‐Santana, Anthony Érico Guimarães, Sergio Antonio Silva de Almeida, Raquel M. Gleiser Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
Assessment of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) clutch size in wild and laboratory populations
ABSTRACT
Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is an invasive mosquito species found across the southern U.S. with range expansion into many northern states. Intra‐ and interspecific larval competition have been evaluated for Ae. albopictus with respect to subsequent adult size, immature and adult survivability, and its capacity to vector pathogens as an adult. However, limited data are available on egg production as related to larval rearing conditions. Because Ae. albopictus is a container‐inhabiting mosquito that oviposits in resource‐limited habitats, it is found under variable density‐dependent conditions. Therefore, we ex...
Source: Journal of Vector Ecology - May 26, 2016 Category: Biology Authors: Timothy J. Davis, Daniel L. Kline, Phillip E. Kaufman Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research
