Medical and Veterinary Entomology最新文献

Chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic patients, represent a major clinical and economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Complementary therapies are increasingly integrated alongside conventional treatments to improve healing outcomes. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT), utilizing the larvae of Lucilia sericata, is a globally recognized method for treating non-healing wounds. These larvae secrete substances with antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal remedies also play a role in chronic wound care, with various Achillea species traditionally used for medicinal purposes. This study investigated the wound healing effects of a pomade combining L. sericata larval secretions and Achillea sintenisii plant extract, compared to Furacin®, a commercial wound healing cream. Excisional wounds were created on diabetic Wistar albino rats, which were divided into four groups: DF (Furacin®), DM (L. sericata secretion), DA (A. sintenisii extract) and DM + DA (combined). Wound area, contraction rates and histological parameters were assessed at Days 0, 4, 8 and 12. Wound area decreased significantly across all groups over time (F = 511.9, p = 0.001), with mean values declining from 11.11 cm² at Day 0 to 7.44 cm² at Day 4, 4.93 cm² at Day 8 and 2.01 cm² at Day 12. Contraction rates rose progressively across all groups (F = 169.3, p = 0.001): at Day 4, contraction rates were 20.41% ± 1.24% (DF), 43.29% ± 3.96% (DM), 27.67% ± 0.94% (DA) and 42.22% ± 1.20% (DM + DA); at Day 8, rates increased to 42.86% ± 1.11% (DF), 63.34 ± 0.92% (DM), 52.97% ± 0.55% (DA) and 63.26% ± 0.52% (DM + DA) and at Day 12, the DM + DA group achieved the highest contraction rate of 92.91% ± 0.40%, significantly surpassing all other groups-DM (84.30% ± 0.88%), DA (79.43 ± 0.61%) and DF (71.77% ± 0.64%)-demonstrating a clear synergistic effect of the combined therapy (p < 0.05). Histological evaluation further corroborated these findings, with the DM + DA group consistently achieving the highest scores across all tissue repair parameters (epithelialization, fibroblast density, collagen deposition, angiogenesis and hair follicle regeneration), significantly superior to all other groups (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results confirm that the combination of L. sericata secretions and A. sintenisii extract exerts a synergistic wound healing effect superior to either agent alone or to Furacin® and could lead to the development of affordable, accessible and effective natural products for chronic wound care. These results may contribute to innovative treatment options in both veterinary and human medicine.

Sarcoptic mange, a contagious skin disease caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is among the most widespread parasitic infections in mammals. Despite its global importance, its effects on wild Neotropical canids have received limited scientific attention. We aimed to compile and analyse all available records of sarcoptic mange in Neotropical canids to assess its geographical distribution, host range and potential conservation implications. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of published and unpublished reports describing cases of sarcoptic mange in wild Neotropical canids across their distribution range. Our synthesis revealed that sarcoptic mange affects more than two-thirds of Neotropical canid species and occurs in at least six countries. Most records originated from areas dominated by dry and open forest formations, suggesting potential environmental associations with disease occurrence. These findings indicate that sarcoptic mange represents a neglected but widespread health issue in Neotropical carnivores. The disease's broad distribution and cross-species occurrence raise concerns about population-level impacts and the potential for interspecific transmission. We propose recognizing sarcoptic mange as an emerging threat to Neotropical canid conservation. To mitigate its effects, we recommend implementing systematic monitoring programmes, including screening of apparently healthy individuals and genetic characterization of mites to trace transmission pathways. Understanding this host-parasite interface is crucial for predicting and managing the broader ecological and epidemiological consequences of mange in the region.

We report the first confirmed case of a human being bitten by the parasitic forest fly Hippobosca equina (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) Linnaeus, in Slovakia. The incident involved atypically aggressive behaviour of the fly toward the human host and suggests a potentially underestimated health risk for humans. A single specimen of H. equina responsible for the bite was identified and subjected to molecular analyses to assess the presence of zoonotic pathogens. DNA of Bartonella schoenbuchensis (Hyphomicrobiales: Bartonellaceae) Dehio et al. was detected in the collected specimen. This case demonstrates that H. equina may present a greater health concern for humans than previously recognised, particularly during hot, windless conditions that enhance its activity. Increased awareness of human exposure risks in natural and recreational environments is warranted.

This study aimed to detect the DNA of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp. and protozoa of the order Piroplasmida in blood samples from 73 coatis captured at three sites in the Iguaçu National Park. PCR assays revealed a high prevalence of Anaplasma spp., with 47.9% (35/73) of animals testing positive for the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes. None of the samples tested positive for Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp. or protozoa of the order Piroplasmida. Sequencing analyses indicated that all positive samples were genetically identical and closely related to Anaplasma platys and lineages previously described in cattle and ticks. Phylogenetic analyses based on multiple loci revealed distinct clades, supporting the circulation of a unique Anaplasma variant in coatis. Comparisons with tick-derived sequences showed genetic divergence, suggesting distinct strains infecting hosts and vectors. These findings provide novel insights into the epidemiology of haemoparasites in wildlife and highlight the role of coatis as potential reservoirs of diverse Anaplasma lineages in the Atlantic Forest.

Blow flies represent one of the most forensically significant insects in legal investigations. Their habitat-specific abundance and temperature-dependent development rates can help estimate a post-mortem interval (PMI), cause of death and post-mortem movement of a deceased body. As the role of forensic entomology expands in human and wildlife criminal investigations, there is a need for updated regional surveys for blow fly species. All recent and previous blow fly surveys in Arizona have been limited to the southern and central ecoregions. The objective of this study was to identify blow fly species between two contrasting habitats in northwestern Arizona-the Black Mountains (Mojave Desert) and the Hualapai Mountains (Arizona/New Mexico Mountains). This research aimed to assess the impacts of food source (game meat (javelina; Tayassu tajacu) compared to chicken (Gallus domesticus) liver), seasonality and elevation on blow fly biodiversity. Each habitat had three site locations at different elevational gradients (low, middle, high) with four bait traps deployed at each site (two of each bait type). This study found a significant difference in the biodiversity of blow flies between and within each habitat seasonally, as well as elevational variation within each habitat. Bait-preference also was statistically significant for overall abundance, and two indicator species for each bait type were identified. Additionally, this research presents the northernmost recorded presence of Chrysomya rufifacies in Arizona, as well as the first records of Cynomya cadaverina and Calliphora alaskensis in the state. The data collected establishes an important baseline for these understudied regions of Arizona and facilitates a wider use of blow flies in forensic investigations for rural areas of Mohave County, AZ.

Amblyomma spp. (Acari, Ixodidae) serve as primary vectors for numerous pathogens affecting humans and animals. Unlike other arthropods, ixodid ticks exhibit notably less susceptibility to entomopathogenic fungi, which are widely used as biological control agents. This study aimed to determine whether the dynamics of the cellular immune response to fungal infection differ between Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma americanum. Engorged female ticks were treated with conidial suspensions of Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 2575 or Beauveria bassiana ARSEF 9588. For the survival assay, ticks were immersed in suspensions of 5 × 10⁸ conidia mL^-1. Inoculation with 5 × 10⁷ conidia mL^-1 was used in assays to evaluate immune responses. Haemolymph was collected 24 h post-treatment, and smears were prepared for microscopy-based characterization of haemocyte responses. Confocal and fluorescence microscopy were used to classify, quantify and visualize the haemocyte types, including granulocytes, plasmatocytes, prohaemocytes, oenocytoids and spherulocytes. Our findings reveal that plasmatocytes dominate the haemocyte population in A. sculptum, whereas granulocytes are predominant in A. americanum, both showing reduced concentrations following B. bassiana exposure. Prohaemocytes and oenocytoids were present in all groups but at lower frequencies. Additionally, B. bassiana was more effective against A. sculptum, whereas M. robertsii exhibited greater efficacy against A. americanum, with phenoloxidase activity of ~29%. This study provides crucial insights into the cellular immune defences of Amblyomma ticks and highlights potential fungal strains that may overcome tick antifungal susceptibility. These findings establish a foundation for future research on haemocyte-mediated immunity in ixodid ticks, a topic with limited existing literature and contribute to the development of targeted biological control strategies.

Ticks continue to facilitate the spread of pathogens that affect both humans and domestic animals. Domestic dogs interact with humans and other domestic animals, playing a crucial role in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. This study examined the diversity of tick species infesting domestic dogs and the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in the Upper East region. Domestic dogs were randomly selected and examined for tick infestation. The sampled ticks were morphologically identified, pooled and screened for tick-borne pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. From the 93 dogs examined, all 749 ticks collected were adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Out of the 177 tick pools screened, pathogen DNA was detected in 43 pools (24.29%). The identified pathogens were uncultured Anaplasma sp. (14.12%), Ehrlichia canis (7.34%), Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis (3.95%) and Coxiella burnetii (2.82%). Factors such as dog age or sex, or tick sex, did not influence the occurrence of a tick-borne pathogen (p > 0.05). This study reports the first molecular detection of R. conorii subsp. israelensis in Ghana. The occurrence of zoonotic pathogens suggests an increased risk to dog owners and a need to adopt protective measures to prevent infection spread. These findings highlight the importance of integrated tick control, improved diagnostic capabilities and epidemiological surveillance in Ghana to reduce the burden of tick-borne diseases on animal and human health.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) remain economically important dipteran pests of livestock and other animals worldwide. They are known for their blood-feeding nuisance behaviours, but also serve as biological vectors of several animal pathogens, including bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus. Efforts to limit biting midge access to target hosts such as cattle and sheep have relied predominantly on insecticide use. However, research regarding biting midge insecticide efficacy largely has been focused on animal and barrier treatments using formulated commercial products, with little effort to identify local endemic species level susceptibility to specific active ingredients. This study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of biting midges under laboratory and field conditions, as well as to determine the potential for insecticide resistance development in these pests. Under laboratory conditions, the susceptibility of a laboratory-reared biting midge colony (Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)) was significantly less than wild Culicoides spp. Similarly, wild Culicoides spp. also were significantly more susceptible than wild mosquitoes when exposed to an ultra-low volume permethrin application under field conditions. Additionally, a long-established C. sonorensis colony subjected to permethrin selection under laboratory conditions suggested that insecticide resistance development in this pest could occur in field populations if pressured. This is the first account of the potential for insecticide resistance development in Culicoides. The implications of Culicoides spp. insecticide resistance and the lack thereof in assessed field populations are discussed.

Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758), the stable fly, is a hematophagous pest that affects animal livestock worldwide by lowering productivity and mechanically transmitting pathogens. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Nzi trap and a modified version (with and without bait) for capturing stable flies on two dairy farms in southwestern Uruguay, under conditions of natural infestation by these flies. The study used a 4 × 4 Latin square design with five replicates conducted independently at each dairy farm. Traps at each dairy were emptied daily to identify and count stable flies before being rotated and reset at the next planned location. Among all configurations, standard Nzi traps captured the highest number of S. calcitrans compared to the other trap evaluated, regardless of whether an attractant was used. This study represents the first evaluation in South America of Nzi traps for S. calcitrans used in combination with a commercial bait. Findings indicate that Nzi traps are a potentially effective tool for capturing S. calcitrans at dairy farms.

The blow fly Lucilia sericata is a medically and veterinary important species whose control increasingly requires environmentally safe alternatives to synthetic insecticides. This study evaluated the effects of 2-octenoic acid (C8:1), a medium-chain unsaturated fatty acid, on the survival, development and physiological integrity of L. sericata larvae and adults. Topical application of C8:1 caused significant mortality and developmental delays in a dose-dependent manner, with LD50 and LD100 values indicating greater susceptibility in larvae than in adults. Cuticular lipid profiling revealed profound alterations in free fatty acid (FFA) and sterol composition following treatment. Larvae exhibited progressive accumulation of medium- and long-chain FFAs (notably C16:0, C18:0 and C14:1) and depletion of cholesterol, suggesting weakened barrier integrity. In adults, sublethal exposure (LD50) resulted in marked lipid enrichment and incorporation of exogenous C8:1, followed by almost complete depletion of FFAs and cholesterol at lethal doses (LD100), reflecting metabolic collapse. Ethanol (solvent) treatment had minor effects compared with the strong lipid disruptions caused by C8:1. Haemocyte analyses demonstrated dose-dependent immunotoxicity, including granulocyte depletion, cytoplasmic shrinkage and increased proportions of plasmatocytes and oenocytoids, indicating impaired phagocytic and encapsulation responses. These combined effects-cuticular lipid disorganization, cholesterol depletion and haemocyte damage-suggest that 2-octenoic acid compromises both physical and immune defenses. The findings identify 2-octenoic acid as a promising bio-based insecticidal compound with multiple, non-neurotoxic modes of action, offering potential for integrated management of blow fly infestations while reducing risks associated with conventional insecticides.