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Potential zoonotic role of the tick Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the bacterial transmission of Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in a deciduous tropical forest in Mexico J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-04-14 Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo, Angel Herrera-Mares, Luis García-Prieto, Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa, Andrés M López-Pérez, Karla Dzul-Rosado
Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a bacterium belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. In Mexico, only 2 species have been recorded in association with tick species and humans. The objective of the present study was to detect the presence of bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia in ticks collected from the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, Mexico. The collected ticks were identified and analyzed individually
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Comparative medical importance of spider bites in Spain over 1997–2020: a retrospective study based on hospital cases coded using ICD J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-04-10 Fernando Cortés-Fossati, Marcos Méndez
Envenomation by terrestrial toxic animals is considered a serious risk to human health worldwide. Snakes, hymenopterans, spiders, and scorpions have mainly attracted the attention of medical literature. However, the relative importance of spiders has been studied only in a few countries. Here, we present the first retrospective study on the incidence of spider bites requiring hospital care in Spain
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First record of a structural infestation by the bird flea Dasypsyllus gallinulae perpinnatus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-04-06 Tara Roth, Arielle Crews
Herein we present the first-known case report of a structural infestation by the bird flea (Dasypsyllus gallinulae perpinnatus) (Dale 1878) in the United States. In March of 2023, the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District was contacted by a resident in South San Francisco, CA who reported the presence of fleas inside their condominium. The resident had 2 dogs who were on oral flea medication
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A scoping review of triatomine control for Chagas disease prevention: current and developing tools in Latin America and the United States J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-04-02 Yuexun Tian, Cassandra Durden, Gabriel L Hamer
Chagas disease is an infectious disease of human and animal health concern, with 6–8 million chronic human infections and over 50,000 deaths throughout the Americas annually. Hematophagous insects of the subfamily Triatominae, also called kissing bugs, vector the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae), that causes Chagas disease. Despite the large human health
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Spatiotemporal distribution of hematophagous flies (Diptera: Muscidae) on beef cattle farms in Bangkok, Thailand J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-31 Ratchadawan Ngoen-Klan, Areerat Khenmee, Nawawan Paramathsakul, Kodchakorn Pitpeng, Kittikhun Moophayak, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap
A spatiotemporal investigation of hematophagous fly prevalence was conducted over a 1-year period on 12 beef cattle farms located in major livestock areas of Bangkok, Thailand, using Vavoua traps. The survey revealed 5,018 hematophagous flies belonging to Muscidae and Tabanidae, with the 3 dominant species identified as Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus) (2,354; 46.91%), Musca crassirostris Stein (1,528;
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Field-Collected Ticks From Benton County, Arkansas, and Prevalence of Associated Pathogens J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-27 Nicholas A Panella, William L Nicholson, Nicholas Komar, Kristen L Burkhalter, Holly R Hughes, David P Theuret, Bessie H Blocher, Christopher Sexton, Roxanne Connelly, Laura Rothfeldt, Joan L Kenney
The recovery of a Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae) tick from a dog in Benton County, Arkansas, in 2018 triggered a significant environmental sampling effort in Hobbs State Park Conservation Area. The objective of the investigation was to assess the tick population density and diversity, as well as identify potential tick-borne pathogens that could pose a risk to public health. During
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Impacts of ground ultra-low volume adulticide applications on Culex pipiens and Culex restuans (Diptera: Culicidae) abundance, age structure, and West Nile virus infection in Cook County, Illinois J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-25 Kristina Lopez, Katie Susong, Patrick Irwin, Susan Paskewitz, Lyric Bartholomay
Since the introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) to the United States over 20 years ago, thousands of cases of human disease and death have been reported. Yearly seasonal outbreaks continue to persist, and the city and suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, is considered a “hot spot” for WNV activity. To interrupt WNV transmission, ground ultra-low volume (ULV) adulticide applications are regularly used to reduce
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Evaluating the carnivorous efficacy of Utricularia aurea (Lamiales: Lentibulariaceae) on the larval stages of Anopheles stephensi, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-24 Ajeet Kumar Mohanty, Abhishek Govekar, Charles de Souza, Abhipsa Mohapatra, Malapati Kuppuswamy Janarthanam, Raja Vukanti, Justin J Montemarano, Praveen Balabaskaran Nina
The emergence of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes necessitates the exploration and validation of sustainable biological strategies for controlling mosquitoes in their natural habitats. We assessed the predatory effect of Utricularia aurea Lour (Lamiales: Lentibulariaceae), an aquatic carnivorous plant found in the Indian subcontinent, Japan, and Australia, on 4 instars of Anopheles stephensi Liston
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Forensic investigation of carcass decomposition and dipteran fly composition over the summer and winter: a comparative analysis of indoor versus outdoor at a multi-story building J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-17 Masha’el Y Almutawa, Mohamed S Al-Khalifa, Hathal M Al-Dhafer, Mahmoud S Abdel-Dayem, Hossam Ebaid, Ashraf M Ahmed
This study aimed to explore the rate of decomposition of rabbit carcasses and the succession pattern of the associated dipteran flies outdoor, indoor, and on the roof of a 4-story building during the summer and winter. A total of 6,069 flies were recorded, with 30.91% reported as 2 waves outdoor and on the roof in the summer and 69.09% as 4 waves outdoor in the winter. The roof showed the most flies
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First record of Ixodes keiransi (Acari: Ixodidae) in New Jersey, USA J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-17 Zoe E Narvaez, Andrea M Egizi, Dana C Price
The hard tick, Ixodes keiransi Beati, Nava, Venzal, & Guglielmone, formerly the North American lineage of Ixodes affinis Neumann, is expanding its range northward along the US East Coast. In July 2023, we collected I. keiransi adult female and nymph in a single sampling event, suggesting its range now includes southern New Jersey. In this area, I. keiransi is sympatric with northern populations of
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Cascading impacts of overstory structure in managed forests on understory structure, microclimate conditions, and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) densities J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-16 Stephanie N Hurd, Laura S Kenefic, Jessica E Leahy, Carly C Sponarski, Allison M Gardner
Forest management practices designed to meet varied landowner objectives affect wildlife habitat and may interrupt the life-cycle stages of disease vectors, including the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae). Ixodes scapularis transmits multiple pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, which is the most common tick-borne disease in the United
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Species composition of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the Ridge and Valley region of Tennessee, USA J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Emily E Doub, Stacey L Vigil, Alec T Thompson, Avery L Korns, Michael J Yabsley, Mark G Ruder, Christopher A Cleveland
Biting midges in the genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are known to transmit many pathogens of veterinary and medical concern. Although much work has been done globally and in certain regions of North America, Culicoides spp. research in rural Appalachia is limited. To begin characterizing the distribution and community structure of Culicoides spp. in Appalachia, we surveyed 2 distinct
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Influence of temperature variability on the feeding behavior and blood consumption of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-10 Bárbara Álvarez-Duhart, Grisel Cavieres, Avia González, Pedro E Cattan, Francisco Bozinovic, Sabrina Clavijo-Baquet
The transmission and incidence of vector-borne diseases rely on vector distribution and life history traits such as survival, fecundity, and feeding. Since arthropod disease vectors are ectotherms, these vital rates are strongly influenced by temperature. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is transmitted when the feces of
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Physical integrity and bioefficacy of used long-lasting insecticidal nets in Makenene, Centre Region of Cameroon J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-10 Joel Djoufounna, Laeticia Takougan-Sonfouet, Roland Bamou, Idriss N Ngangue-Siewe, Paulette N Mbiakop, Borel Djiappi-Tchamen, Raymond Tabue, Dorothy Achu-Fosah, Joel M Ateba, Marie P A Mayi, Parfait Awono-Ambene, Christophe Antonio-Nkondjio, Timoléon Tchuinkam
Long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) are the recommended tools against mosquito-borne diseases. However, their physical integrity and bioefficacy in the field could be affected by several factors. This study evaluated the physical integrity and bioefficacy of nets used in Makenene since 2016. Cross-sectional field surveys were carried out after 6 y. A questionnaire was first administered to the heads
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Evaluation of a novel triple-action adulticide containing a pyrethroid, macrocyclic lactone, and fatty acid against pyrethroid-resistant Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-09 Keira J Lucas, Rebecca Heinig, Leanne Lake, Katie Williams, Casey Parker-Crockett, Rachel Bales, Decyo McDuffie
Insecticide resistance in mosquito populations has long been recognized as a significant global public health challenge, motivating the development of new control chemistries. ReMoa Tri is a novel triple-action space spray that employs a different mode of action than traditional adult mosquito control formulations. It combines 3 components: fenpropathrin, a mixed-type I/II pyrethroid; abamectin, a
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The use of environmental data in descriptive and predictive models of vector-borne disease in North America J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-03 Hanna D Kiryluk, Charles B Beard, Karen M Holcomb
Vector-borne disease incidence and burden are on the rise. Weather events and climate patterns are known to influence vector populations and disease distribution and incidence. Changes in weather trends and climatic factors can shift seasonal vector activity and host behavior, thus altering pathogen distribution and introducing diseases to new geographic regions. With the upward trend in global temperature
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Blinded by the light: does heat or light enhance wild mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) attraction to CO2-baited traps in the Great Salt Lake area? J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-02 Alexandra Harker, Kelsey Fairbanks, M Andrew Dewsnup, Ary Faraji, Christopher S Bibbs
The New Jersey Light Trap has been among the earliest trap models used for mosquito surveillance in the United States. This trap was modernized in the 1950s to the miniature CDC light trap, with the addition of CO2 following soon after. The incandescent light has the tendency to attract nontarget insects, as well as losing a substantial portion of their energy as heat. Few studies have delineated whether
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Measuring insecticide resistance in a vacuum: exploring next steps to link resistance data with mosquito control efficacy J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Áine Lehane, Casey Parker‑Crockett, Edmund Norris, Sarah S Wheeler, Laura C Harrington
Insecticide resistance is a great challenge facing mosquito operational control agencies across the United States, where few active ingredients with unique modes of action are available for use, increasing resistance pressure and further hampering resistance management strategies. Emergence and expansion of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes can be detected by resistance monitoring programs; however
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Screening and identification of persistent viruses in cell lines derived from medically important arthropods J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Ryo Matsumura, Daisuke Kobayashi, Astri Nur Faizah, Toshinori Sasaki, Kyo Itoyama, Haruhiko Isawa
Arthropod-derived cell lines serve as crucial tools for studying arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). However, it has recently come to light that certain cell lines harbor persistent infections of arthropod-specific viruses, which do not cause any apparent cytopathic effects. Moreover, some of these persistent viral infections either inhibit or promote the growth of arboviruses. Therefore, it is
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Five human pathogens detected by tick surveillance in New York City parks, 2014–2015 J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Waheed Bajwa, Ashley Kennedy, Zachary Vincent, Garrett Heck, Shamim Riaj, Zahir Shah, Kamesan Kanapathipillai, Cory Casal, Scott Haynes, Hannah Cornman, Andrea Egizi, Ellen Stromdahl, Robyn Nadolny
A total of 2,504 ticks of 5 species (Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and H. longicornis) were collected over 2 yr (2014–2015) in New York City parks. Specimens were collected via tick-dragging, identified to species, and tested for pathogens of human diseases. The causative agents of 5 human diseases (Lyme borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis
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Earliest records of the Asian longhorned tick (Acari: Ixodidae) in Staten Island, New York, and subsequent population establishment, with a review of its potential medical and veterinary importance in the United States J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Waheed Bajwa, Ashley Kennedy, Zachary Vincent, Garrett Heck, Shamim Riaj, Zahir Shah, Leonid Tsynman, Cory Casal, Scott Haynes, Hannah Cornman, Andrea Egizi, Ellen Stromdahl, Robyn Nadolny
Three Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis) were collected on Staten Island, Richmond County, New York, in 2014–2015 as part of a tick-borne disease surveillance program conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Defense Centers of Public Health – Aberdeen Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory. These records mark the earliest known occurrence of H. longicornis
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Life-history traits of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) distributed across a latitudinal range of 23 °N–6 °S J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Kok-Boon Neoh, Lee-Jin Bong, Christina Natalina Silalahi, Amonrat Panthawong, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap, Intan Ahmad
The growth and associated traits of Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes may adapt and evolve in response to the costs associated with body size in relation to latitudinal variation. We analyzed the life-history traits and energy reserves of field-collected mosquitoes from Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia along a latitudinal range spanning from 23°N to 6°S. A U-shaped relationship between body size and latitude
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Noninvasive detection of Zika virus in mosquito excreta sampled from wild mosquito populations in French Guiana J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Amandine Guidez, Albin Fontaine, Léna Yousfi, Sara Moutailler, Romuald Carinci, Jean Issaly, Pascal Gaborit, Arnaud Cannet, Franck de Laval, Séverine Matheus, Dominique Rousset, Isabelle Dusfour, Romain Girod, Sébastien Briolant
Arboviruses can be difficult to detect in the field due to relatively low prevalence in mosquito populations. The discovery that infected mosquitoes can release viruses in both their saliva and excreta gave rise to low-cost methods for the detection of arboviruses during entomological surveillance. We implemented both saliva and excreta-based entomological surveillance during the emergence of Zika
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Rickettsia species identified in adult, host-seeking Dermacentor occidentalis (Acari: Ixodidae) from Baja California, Mexico, and Oregon and Washington, United States J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Christopher D Paddock, Maria L Zambrano, James R Clover, Stephen Ladd-Wilson, Elizabeth A Dykstra, Amy Salamone, David Kangiser, Bryan N Ayres, Savannah L Shooter, Sandor E Karpathy, Anne M Kjemtrup, Lorenza Beati, Michael L Levin, Robert S Lane, Oscar E Zazueta
The Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis Marx, 1892) is a frequently encountered and commonly reported human-biting tick species that has been recorded from most of California and parts of southwestern Oregon, southcentral Washington, and northwestern Mexico. Although previous investigators have surveyed populations of D. occidentalis for the presence of Rickettsia species across several regions
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Morphological changes of larvae and pupae of Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reared at two temperatures and on three food types J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 Tharindu Bandara Bambaradeniya, Paola Annarosa Magni, Ian Robert Dadour
Determining the minimum postmortem interval (minPMI) from an entomological perspective relies mainly on development data recorded for various species of flies collected from a crime scene or suspicious death. This study focused on the larval and pupal development of Lucilia sericata (Meigen), with an emphasis on the changes of the external morphology of the puparium and its pupal content throughout
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Finding unveiled: Culex thalassius (Diptera: Culicidae), a new mosquito species emerges in the Cabo Verde archipelago J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Adéritow Augusto Lopes Macedo Gonçalves, Luís Filipe Vieira da Silva Lopes, Davidson Daniel Sousa Monteiro, Aires Januário Fernandes da Moura, Carla Alexandra Gama Carrilho da Costa Sousa, Silvânia da Veiga Leal
Mosquito-borne diseases can pose significant burdens. In many countries, they pose a risk to national economies and the well-being of humans and animals. To mitigate this, mosquito surveillance is crucial to assess the real and potential transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Between 2020 and 2023, mosquito larvae were collected from both indoor and outdoor breeding sites in urban and rural areas
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Methods of sampling malaria vectors and their reliability in estimating entomological indices in Africa J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Teshome Degefa, Delenasaw Yewhalaw, Guiyun Yan
In efforts to intensify malaria control through vector control and hasten the progress towards elimination, the impact of control interventions needs to be evaluated. This requires sampling vector population using appropriate trapping methods. The aim of this article is to critically review methods of sampling malaria vectors and their reliability in estimating entomological indicators of malaria transmission
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Composition and transstadial retention of the salivary glands in Ornithodoros hermsi (Acari: Argasidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Tom G Schwan, Elizabeth R Fischer, Daniel Long
Following several days of blood feeding by larval and nymphal ixodid (hard) ticks, the salivary glands degenerate and are completely replaced in the next life stage. Yet, what happens during the molt of immature argasid (soft) ticks after their rapid and small bloodmeal has remained a mystery. Multiple studies of nymphal Ornithodoros hermsi Wheeler (Acari: Argasidae) ticks infected with the relapsing
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Characterizing the seasonal abundance and reproductive activity of overwintering Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Hannah Dehus, Alden Siperstein, Laura W Pomeroy, Megan E Meuti
In temperate regions of the United States, female Anopheles mosquitoes respond to low temperatures and short photoperiods by entering an overwintering dormancy or diapause. Diapause in Anopheles results in reduced frequency of blood-feeding and reproductive arrest, indicating a period when pathogen transmission by these mosquitoes is unlikely. However, it is unclear precisely how late into the fall
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Experimental demonstration of the transmission of Spiroplasma between different arthropod taxa J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Shohei Ogata, Naoki Hayashi, Yuki Eshita, Yasuha Nagasawa, Nariaki Nonaka, Ryo Nakao
Spiroplasma (Mycoplasmatales: Spiroplasmataceae) is one of the most widely distributed symbionts of arthropods. Spiroplasma species can infect their hosts via vertical or horizontal transmission. However, the mode of transmission of Spiroplasma between different arthropod taxa has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the potential for the transmission of Spiroplasma to non-native arthropod
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Highly abundant bacteria in the gut of Triatoma dimidiata (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) can inhibit the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Juan Carlos Cambronero-Heinrichs, Diego Rojas-Gätjens, Mónica Baizán, Johan Alvarado-Ocampo, Keilor Rojas-Jimenez, Randall Loaiza, Max Chavarría, Ólger Calderón-Arguedas, Adriana Troyo
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a zoonosis primarily found in rural areas of Latin America. It is considered a neglected tropical disease, and Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of the parasite in Central America. Despite efforts, Chagas disease continues to be a public health concern, and vector control remains a primary tool to reduce transmission. In this study,
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Using artificial odors to optimize attractiveness of host decoy traps to malaria vectors J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Romaric Akoton, Simon P Sawadogo, Eric Tossou, Achille S Nikiema, Genevieve Tchigossou, Pierre M Sovegnon, Luc Djogbenou, Francis Zeukeng, Frances M Hawkes, Rock K Dabire, Rousseau Djouaka, Gabriella Gibson
Malaria vector surveillance tools often incorporate features of hosts that are attractive to blood-seeking females. The recently developed host decoy trap (HDT) combines visual, thermal, and olfactory stimuli associated with human hosts and has shown great efficacy in terms of collecting malaria vectors. Synthetic odors and yeast-produced carbon dioxide (CO2) could prove useful by mimicking the human
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In vitro comparison of two food choice methodologies for necrophagous species of the genus Thanatophilus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Silphinae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Jakub Kadlec, Pavel Jakubec, Petr Šípek
To accurately model the food webs, we need to acquire precise data on food ecology of the interacting species. This allows better understanding of the trophic interactions and for the necrophagous species this information could be used in medico-legal investigations. For this reason, we recently proposed standardized laboratory methodology to assess the foraging strategies based on parallel testing
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Host associations of Culex panocossa (Diptera: Culicidae) in southern Florida and its implications for arbovirus transmission J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Kristin E Sloyer, Lawrence E Reeves, Nathan D Burkett-Cadena
Culex panocossa, Dyar and Knab, an important enzootic vector of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus subtype ID in Central and South America, was found to have invaded and become established in southern Florida in 2016. No information is currently available regarding the ecology of this invasive mosquito in the United States. Here, we use PCR-based blood meal analysis to investigate vertebrate host
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Ecological interactions of Triatoma sanguisuga (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and risk for human infection with Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Illinois and Louisiana J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Eric Dumonteil, Weihong Tu, F Agustín Jiménez, Claudia Herrera
Triatoma sanguisuga (Leconte) is one of the most widely distributed kissing bugs in the United States, associated with an extensive zoonotic circulation of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, in a large part of the country. However, the actual risk for human infection in the United States is poorly understood. Here, we further assessed the ecology of T. sanguisuga bugs collected in residents’
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Highlights of Veterinary Entomology, 2022 J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-19 Caleb B Hubbard
The field of veterinary entomology is dominated by research concerning insects and arthropods that negatively impact the health of domestic animals. A curated selection of peer-reviewed research which was highlighted at the 2022 Joint Meeting between the Entomological Society of America, the Entomological Society of Canada, and the Entomological Society of British Columbia, which prioritized exploring
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Diversity and distribution of sodium channel mutations in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Nancy M Endersby-Harshman, Thomas L Schmidt, Ary A Hoffmann
There is growing interest in insecticide resistance in the mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), as its potential for spreading diseases is increasing as urbanization and control efforts intensify. Here we review the presence and diversity of mutations in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) gene associated with pyrethroid resistance and report on additional surveys of these mutations in new populations
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Fecundity decline is male derived following transfluthrin exposures in a field strain of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-17 Sean A McKay, Conner J McKay, Christopher S Bibbs, Jeffrey R Bloomquist, Phillip E Kaufman
Volatile pyrethroids are effective in reducing mosquito populations and repelling vectors away from hosts. However, many gaps in knowledge exist for the sublethal impacts of volatile pyrethroids on mosquitoes. To that end, transfluthrin exposures were conducted on a field strain of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) held as a laboratory colony. Dose–response analysis was conducted on both sexes at either 1–4
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Description of a new species of Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and a key to species of the F. (L.) taiwana species group in China J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-12 Yu Ling Zhang, Xiao Hong Jiang, Xiao Hui Hou
Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) (Meigen, Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) penguin sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on male specimens from China. It is characterized by the approximately rectangular aedeagus, which is longitudinally split in the middle, with the apices slightly bending to the outside, making it into the shape of a hook; bilobed aedeagus is very closely connected. The description is provided
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Current and future potential distribution of Culex (Melanoconion) (Diptera: Culicidae) of public health interest in the Neotropics J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 Magdalena Laurito, Andrés Arias-Alzate
Anthropogenic activities are altering ecosystem stability and climate worldwide, which is disturbing and shifting arbovirus vector distributions. Although the overall geographic range of some epidemiologically important species is recognized, the spatiotemporal variation for other species in the context of climate change remains poorly understood. Here we predict the current potential distribution
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Life history data of a Triatoma protracta nahuatlae, T. sinaloensis, and their laboratory hybrids (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 José Alejandro Martínez-Ibarra, Yunuen Grant-Guillén, Benjamín Nogueda-Torres, Tzintli Meraz-Medina, Diana Monserrat Martínez-Grant
Chagas disease is one of the most significant vector-borne diseases in Mexico. The presence of “sylvatic” triatomine vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas) inside human dwellings necessitates estimating their vectorial capacity. To estimate this capacity in Triatoma protracta nahuatlae (Ryckman), Triatoma sinaloensis (Ryckman), and their laboratory hybrids, 6 biological parameters were examined. Triatoma
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Phenotypic variation in biting behavior associated with differences in expression of olfactory genes in the vector mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-02 Mara Heilig, Samantha L Sturiale, Sarah Marzec, Christina M Holzapfel, William E Bradshaw, Megan E Meuti, Peter A Armbruster
We evaluated miRNA and mRNA expression differences in head tissues between avid-biting vs. reluctant-biting Aedes albopictus (Skuse) females from a single population over a 20-min timescale. We found no differences in miRNA expression between avid vs. reluctant biters, indicating that translational modulation of blood-feeding behavior occurs on a longer timescale than mRNA transcription. In contrast
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Seven-year prospective study on yearly incidence of Orbivirus infection of captive white-tailed deer and potential Culicoides vectors J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-01 Michael Becker, Glen Gentry, Claudia Husseneder, Lane Foil
Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) are arthropod-borne viruses that are transmitted by biting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and can cause hemorrhagic disease in certain ruminants. The objectives of this study were to measure the incidence of BTV and EHDV infections in captive white-tailed deer herd as well as tissues and corresponding presence
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Effects of mosquito age and batch size on knockdown and mortality of laboratory-reared Anopheles dirus, Anopheles minimus, and wild-caught Anopheles harrisoni (Diptera: Culicidae) exposed to transfluthrin using WHO tube and CDC bottle bioassays J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 Manop Saeung, Ratchadawan Ngoen-Klan, Chanly Yan, Jutamas Kerdsawang, Jirod Nararak, Sylvie Manguin, Jeffrey Hii, Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap
WHO tube and CDC bottle bioassays are currently available for insecticide resistance monitoring and malaria transmission research. Multiple parameters including mosquito density, age, and nutritional status may affect the readout in these bioassays’ tests. This study aims to assess the effects of experimental factors on knockdown and mortality measurements in dominant malaria vectors in Thailand following
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Release the hens: a study on the complexities of guinea fowl as tick control J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-27 Alexis L White, Alexandra Cumbie, R Jory Brinkerhoff, Wayne L Hynes, Holly D Gaff
Established tick control strategies often involve methods that can be damaging to existing environmental conditions or natural host ecology. To find more environmentally friendly methods, biological controls, like predators of ticks, have been suggested. There are natural predators of ticks, but most are generalists and not expected to control tick populations. Helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris
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Efficient RNAi knockdown at 20 °C in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-23 Mara Heilig, Peter A Armbruster
RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved cellular pathway found in nearly all eukaryotes that leads to the silencing of target mRNAs. Using RNAi as a mechanism to knockdown specific genes has enabled functional and reverse genetics studies in a wide range of eukaryotes. Previous work suggests that RNAi is inhibited at lower temperatures, potentially limiting the possibility to perform knockdown studies
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Two decades of endemic dengue in Bangladesh (2000–2022): trends, seasonality, and impact of temperature and rainfall patterns on transmission dynamics J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-23 Mohammad Nayeem Hasan, Ibrahim Khalil, Muhammad Abdul Baker Chowdhury, Mahbubur Rahman, Md Asaduzzaman, Masum Billah, Laila Arjuman Banu, Mahbub-Ul Alam, Atik Ahsan, Tieble Traore, Md Jamal Uddin, Roberto Galizi, Ilaria Russo, Alimuddin Zumla, Najmul Haider
The objectives of this study were to compare dengue virus (DENV) cases, deaths, case-fatality ratio [CFR], and meteorological parameters between the first and the recent decades of this century (2000–2010 vs. 2011–2022) and to describe the trends, seasonality, and impact of change of temperature and rainfall patterns on transmission dynamics of dengue in Bangladesh. For the period 2000–2022, dengue
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Comparative assessment of a novel fan box trap for collecting Anopheles farauti and culicine mosquitoes alive in tropical north Queensland, Australia J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-18 Weng K Chow, Robert D Cooper, Matthew Lokhorst, Myron P Zalucki, Luke Ambrose, Nigel W Beebe
During preliminary mosquito surveys at Cowley Beach Training Area in north Queensland, Australia, it was found that the utility of the standard encephalitis virus surveillance (EVS) trap for collecting the malaria vector Anopheles farauti (Laveran) adults was compromised by the harsh tropical conditions. With the aim of increasing the survival rate of mosquitoes, we designed a downdraft fan box trap
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Culex erraticus (Diptera: Culicidae) utilizes gopher tortoise burrows for overwintering in North Central Florida J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-13 Timothy D McNamara, Mba-tihssommah Mosore, Alexander Urlaub, Marcus A Lashley, Nathan D Burkett-Cadena, Lawrence E Reeves, Estelle M Martin
Mosquito-borne diseases represent a significant threat to human and animal health in the United States. Several viruses, including West Nile, Saint Louis encephalitis, and Eastern equine encephalitis are endemic. In humans, the disease is typically detected during the summer months, but not during the winter months. The ability of these viruses to reemerge year after year is still not fully understood
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Effect of short photoperiod on the development of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-10 Julia González, Dina M Fonseca, Alvaro Toledo
The invasive tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is now present across most of the mid-Atlantic States in the eastern United States. This tick ends its seasonal activity in late October to early November, with larvae being the last life-stage observed questing. Previous research has revealed that the activity of H. longicornis is influenced by photoperiod: short daylight lengths trigger diapause
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A new species of the Anopheles barbirostris complex (Diptera: Culicidae) from Bhutan J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Pradya Somboon, Atiporn Saeung, Jassada Saingamsook, Rinzin Namgay, Ralph E Harbach
Anopheles sarpangensis Somboon, Namgay & Harbach is described as a new species of the Barbirostris Complex of the subgenus Anopheles Meigen. The adults differ from other species of the complex in having wings with a prehumeral pale spot on the costa, foretarsomere 1 with an apical pale band more than half as long as foretarsomere 5, midtarsomeres 1 and 2, and occasionally 3 and 4, with incomplete apical
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Initial blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) colonization of cats (Felis catus) in Indiana J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Kelly Bagsby, Jason Byrd, Adam Stern, Krystal R Hans
Many disciplines are utilized within the field of veterinary forensic sciences, including forensic entomology. Understanding the initial colonization period by flies of forensic importance can contribute to estimating the minimum postmortem interval. There is limited data regarding the time of colonization of animals with fur, and the interpretation of this data is difficult due to the variation in
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The mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula: a comprehensive review on the use of taxonomic names J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-30 Stanislas Talaga, Gilbert le Goff, Roger Arana-Guardia, Carlos Marcial Baak-Baak, Julián Everardo García-Rejón, Omar García-Suárez, Víctor Manuel Rodríguez-Valencia, María José Tolsá-García, Gerardo Suzán, David Roiz
The Yucatan Peninsula is a biogeographic province of the Neotropical region which is mostly encompassed by the 3 Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. During the development of the International Joint Laboratory ELDORADO (Ecosystem, bioLogical Diversity, habitat mOdifications and Risk of emerging PAthogens and Diseases in MexicO), a French–Mexican collaboration between the IRD (Institut
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Assessing the impact of areal unit selection and the modifiable areal unit problem on associative statistics between cases of tick-borne disease and entomological indices J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Collin O’Connor, Melissa A Prusinski, Jared Aldstadt, Richard C Falco, JoAnne Oliver, Jamie Haight, Keith Tober, Lee Ann Sporn, Jennifer White, Dustin Brisson, P Bryon Backenson
The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) is a cause of statistical and visual bias when aggregating data according to spatial units, particularly when spatial units may be changed arbitrarily. The MAUP is a concern in vector-borne disease research when entomological metrics gathered from point-level sampling data are related to epidemiological data aggregated to administrative units like counties or
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All insects matter: a review of 160 entomology cases from 1993 to 2007 in Switzerland—part I (Diptera) J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Jiri Hodecek, Luca Fumagalli, Pavel Jakubec
Necrophagous Diptera are the most important group of insects used for the purposes of forensic entomology. While the most utilized fly family in this context is the family Calliphoridae, there are several other families that can be of great importance during real-case investigations. This article analyzes the necrophagous flies of all families recorded from 160 real cases in Switzerland between 1993
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Density predictive model for an outbreak in adult female Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Japan J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Satoru Watanabe, Kunihiko Nakane, Yugo Kitahara, Nanami Nishihara, Hiroshi Nomura, Fumiaki Fukase, Kohei Uno, Takaaki Kondo, Jun Ueyama
We developed a predictive model for activities and outbreaks of female Aedes albopictus Skuse, using meteorological data. The number of Ae. albopictus collected from human bait-sweep net collection (h-BNC) surveillance, conducted by the local government between 2010 and 2019 in Japan, was adopted as a mosquito-activity indicator. The best model was composed of the backward cumulative and backward moving
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Spatial-temporal risk clusters, social vulnerability, and identification of priority areas for surveillance and control of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maranhão, Brazil: an ecological study J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Romário de Sousa Oliveira, Karen Brayner Andrade Pimentel, Rosa Cristina Ribeiro da Silva, Antonia Suely Guimarães-e-Silva, Maria Edileuza Soares Moura, Valéria Cristina Soares Pinheiro
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease widely distributed in Maranhão, Brazil and presents a significant public health problem. However, its transmission dynamics and determining factors are not clearly understood. In this context, geospatial technologies help interpret the process. This study, then, characterized the space–time dynamics and the influence of social vulnerability on CL
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Shifting the paradigm: highlights from 2022 demonstrate broad public health impacts of applied urban entomology J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Sydney E Crawley
In 2022, the dramatic reduction of applied and extension urban entomology positions was highlighted and widely discussed by seasoned and nascent urban entomologists alike. In fact, many urban entomologists are calling for a “paradigm shift” within the discipline given the reduction in niche urban entomology-specific positions. Specifically, many individuals are insisting that movement toward a framework
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Assessment of light-emitting diodes for sampling phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from an urban park of the Brazilian Amazon J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-29 Renan Ney Castro de Souza, Yetsenia del Valle Sánchez Uzcátegui, Fernando Tobias Silveira, Thiago Vasconcelos dos Santos
The present study aimed to assess different light sources for sampling phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Bosque Rodrigues Alves, a forested park surrounded by the urban area of Belém in the Brazilian Amazon. Centers for Disease Control traps, baited with blue, green, and warm white light-emitting diodes (LEDs), as test group, and incandescent light, as control group, were used. The electromagnetic
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Identification of soil-dwelling predators of tick nymphs (Acari: Ixodidae) by stable isotope labeling J. Med. Entomol. (IF 2.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-27 Dmitry D Vinogradov, Alexander S Smagin, Oxana A Belova, Sergey M Tsurikov, Galina G Karganova, Alexei V Tiunov
Ticks (Family Ixodidae) spend most of their life cycle as immature stages in the soil and litter, and as any other soil invertebrates, are likely to be controlled top-down by soil-dwelling predators. To date, the ability of soil invertebrate predators to control ixodid tick population remains little known, partly due to methodological difficulties. In the current study, we developed and successfully