Journal of medical entomology最新文献

{"title":"Leaf litter characteristic of low-income urban blocks improves population performance of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Culex pipiens mosquitoes.","authors":"Sarah E Rothman, Shannon L LaDeau, Jane Lucas, Paul T Leisnham","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mosquito larvae feed on microbes growing on decomposing organic matter, which in cities is often limited to a finite amount of allochthonous leaf litter in artificial container habitats. Curiously, field surveys in US cities consistently document a mismatch between blocks with the greatest mosquito infestations and blocks where their plant resources are most plentiful, with variation shaped by socioeconomic factors. We gathered leaves characteristic of socioeconomically diverse blocks in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, DC, to create lab mesocosms for two common mosquito species, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex pipiens (Linnaeus). We reared mosquitoes at varying densities to assess the effects of leaf litter composition on survival, development time, and body size, from which we calculated population performance and effects on competition. We also investigated traits of the leaf litter and aquatic environment. Leaf litter containing at least one non-native species, including the mix common on low-income blocks (nonnative trees Ailanthus altissima and Paulownia tomentosa) and the mix common across the region (native tree Juglans nigra and nonnative tree Morus alba) improved mosquito outcomes compared to the native leaf litter common on high-income blocks (native trees Acer rubrum and Ulmus americana) and also alleviated competitive effects on development time, perhaps making coexistence more likely. The three litter types showed significant differences in C:N ratio, decay rate, and tannin/lignin concentration but not in microbial abundance. These results offer a mechanistic explanation for previously observed socioeconomic patterns in urban mosquito populations and point toward novel strategies for mosquito control through vegetation management.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148341586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food availability and larval density-dependent competition differentially impact Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) transinfected Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).","authors":"Chun Jessica Cheng, Sebastián Duran-Ahumada, Abdiel Martin-Park, Yamili Contreras-Perera, Gabriela González-Olvera, Azael Che-Mendoza, Pablo Manrique-Saide, Gonzalo M Vazquez-Prokopec","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag100","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag100","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two Wolbachia pipientis (Hertig, 1936) strains, wAlbB and wMel, are currently used for the biocontrol of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) and urban arboviral diseases. As Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are released into heterogeneous environmental conditions, the ability of Wolbachia to propagate is strongly dependent on external factors potentially influencing mosquito fitness. A fully-factorial laboratory experiment was conducted to comparatively assess the effects of larval food availability and conspecific density on the fitness of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes infected with wAlbB and wMel, compared to an uninfected wild-type mosquito line. Outcomes measured included adult survivorship, wing length, and Wolbachia relative density. Generalized linear and mixed-effects models evaluated overall and interactive effects of food availability and larval density on mosquito performance, fitness, and Wolbachia infection. Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, particularly those infected with the wAlbB strain, were more sensitive to environmental stressors than wild-type mosquitoes. A significant 3-way interaction showed that the combination of high larval density and limited food imposed the greatest fitness costs, especially in wAlbB-infected individuals. While no significant differences in body size were observed between the 2 Wolbachia-infected emerging adults, wAlbB-infected mosquitoes exhibited greater variation in Wolbachia relative density across treatments. These findings suggest that ecological constraints such as limited resources and increased larval competition may differentially impact Wolbachia strains and the outcomes of field releases. These insights are essential for optimizing deployment and predicting the success of such interventions in variable real-world settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148364514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acarological investigation and detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in field-collected chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) and small mammals from scrub typhus positive localities in Pahang, West Malaysia.","authors":"Ernieenor Faraliana Che Lah, Wan Norqariatul Akidah Wan Abdullah, Nurhanani Ibrahim, Fadillah Ahmad, Ariana Ace John, Ellyncia Bd-Bilin, Ernna George, Muhamad Al 'Azim Baharudin, Yoggendran Indiran, Mariana Ahamad","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag060","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Scrub typhus (ST) is an acute febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (Hayashi, 1920) that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected chiggers. In recent years, ST has re-emerged as a public health concern in Malaysia. In 2024, more than 50 laboratory-confirmed human cases of ST were reported in Pahang. A collaborative investigation was undertaken on a subset of 26 cases to identify potential vector sources and animal hosts associated with O. tsutsugamushi transmission. Chigger-based sampling was conducted by trapping small mammals in suspected infection hotspots, including residential surroundings, frequently visited locations, and work areas of confirmed cases. A total of 95 small mammals were captured, of which 65.3% infested with chiggers (Chigger index, CI = 40.3). Overall, 3,831 on-host chiggers were collected and identified morphologically, with Leptotrombidium deliense (Walch, 1922) being the most frequently collected species (46.7%), followed by Ascoschoengastia indica (Hirst, 1915) (33.9%), Leptotrombidium spp. (18.4%), and Helenicula mutabilis (Gater, 1932) (1.0%). DNA was extracted from 188 pooled chigger samples (N = 3,450) as well as from blood and spleen tissues of captured animals, and screened for O. tsutsugamushi using nested PCR targeting the 56-kDa TSA gene. Notably, O. tsutsugamushi was detected in 13 (6.9%) chigger pools solely of L. deliense, and in 11 spleens and six blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed high nucleotide similarity (97-100%), with the Karp genotype predominating, followed by Gilliam, Kato, and TA763 genotypes. These findings confirm the presence of O. tsutsugamushi in vectors and animal hosts in Pahang, highlighting the region as a potential ST hotspot, and underscoring the need for continued monitoring and control efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147848046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing antimicrobial peptides to engineer mosquito immunity against emerging vector-borne diseases.","authors":"Yuchen Wang, Jianan Hao, Yixuan Huang, Raghda Nasser, Xiaotian Tang","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag068","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A variety of emerging and re-emerging mosquito-borne infectious diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are expanding their geographic range and imposing an escalating burden on global public health. Effective vaccines or targeted therapeutics remain unavailable for most of these diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of naturally occurring polypeptides, exhibit potent antiparasitic, antiviral, and antibacterial activities. Their unique modes of action, low toxicity, high target specificity, and broad-spectrum activity, make them as promising candidates for therapeutic development. Here, we review AMPs with demonstrated activity against mosquito-borne pathogens and evaluate their translational potential. We further outline next-generation intervention strategies that leverage artificial-intelligence-driven discovery, circular RNA expression platforms, CRISPR-based gene editing, engineered symbionts, and nanotechnology-enabled delivery systems, providing a roadmap for integrating AMP-based approaches into future public-health strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seventy years of hemorrhagic disease research in North America.","authors":"Kristen Hirst, Mark Ruder, Sonja Christensen","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag066","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Culicoides sp. are the primary vectors of two hemorrhagic disease (HD) viruses, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV). In North America, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and Bluetongue disease (BT) cause significant morbidity and mortality in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations and can cause morbidity in farmed animals, resulting in restricted agricultural trade. Originally, HD was limited to southeastern and southcentral North America but has expanded in distribution to the north and west, resulting in severe disease outbreaks in naïve wildlife populations. To better understand these disease systems in North America, we performed a literature review. Of 2,295 peer-reviewed sources, 422 articles were included in our review. We found most research focused on the host species (n = 206), such as disease prevalence, disease progression, and epidemiology in domestic and wildlife hosts. Vector research covered a range of topics (n = 102) but was limited in distribution, with most field studies conducted in California and Florida, and few in the northeast. Viral research consisted of two topics, virus characterization (n = 58) and diagnostic techniques (n = 23). Relative to the existing literature on this disease system in Europe, where climate change is one of the primary drivers of expansion, the effect climate has on this disease system in North America is still uncertain. The information in our review describes what we know of the vector, host, virus, climatological impacts, and other aspects of HD in North America in relation to other countries and can help researchers identify gaps in our understanding of the HD system.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13161569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fipronil chewable tablets: development, pharmacokinetic profile, and efficacy in treating beagles naturally infested with Cochliomyia hominivorax.","authors":"Isabelle Vilela Bonfim, Debora Azevedo Borges, Fernando Rocha Miranda, Anna Julia Bessa Fernandes, Clara Rodrigues Dutra, Karen Kuhfuss da Silva de Lima, Taynara Monsores E Silva, Thais Paes Ferreira, Guilherme Klafke, Thais Ribeiro Correia Azevedo, Fabio Barbour Scott, Yara Peluso Cid","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjag082","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The New World screwworm (NWS), Cochliomyia hominivorax, is an obligate ectoparasite whose larvae cause severe myiasis, leading to extensive tissue damage and potentially fatal outcomes in dogs if not promptly treated. Dogs play an important epidemiological role in maintaining and disseminating infestations, requiring rapid and effective therapeutic options. Fipronil (FIP) is an insecticide widely used for ectoparasite control with systemic efficacy after oral administration to different species, representing a promising alternative for treating canine myiasis. This study describes the development of molded FIP chewable tablets, the evaluation of its pharmacokinetics, and its clinical efficacy in dogs naturally infested by NWS larvae. For pharmacokinetic assessment, eight healthy dogs received a single dose (6 mg/kg) chewable tablet, and blood samples were collected at selected time points to determine plasma concentrations. To assess efficacy, eight dogs naturally infested with NWS larvae received the same dosage. Larvae expelled from hosts were collected over 24 h, after which remaining larvae were mechanically removed. The tablets met established quality control criteria. Following oral administration, FIP was rapidly absorbed, being detectable 30 min after treatment and reaching a maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 3126.5 ± 1269.5 ng/mL at 2.2 ± 0.94 h (Tmax). Clinically, larval expulsion increased progressively from 2 h onward, reaching 97.8% effectiveness within 24 h. No live larvae were observed in the lesions at the end of evaluation, resulting in 100% overall effectiveness. These findings demonstrate that the FIP chewable tablet is a viable alternative option for treating canine myiasis from NWS larval infestation.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148274121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparison of two Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) genotypes in New York State Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) populations to parse the role of white-tailed deer and forest connectivity in dilution and amplification mechanisms.","authors":"Collin O'Connor, Melissa Prusinski, Jared Aldstadt, Jennifer White, Adam M Wilson, Jamie Sommer, Richard Falco, John Kokas, Vanessa Vinci, Wayne Gall, Keith Tober, Jamie Haight, JoAnne Oliver, Lee Ann Sporn, Dustin Brisson, P Bryon Backenson","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag070","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forest fragmentation and connectivity define how mammalian hosts of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) utilize the landscape, ultimately guiding the spatial spread of associated pathogens. Mammalian hosts also exhibit pathogen-specific reservoir competencies, fueling continued debate as to their role as both drivers of tick density and moderators of pathogens maintained in the environment. This analysis examines the role of forest connectivity as a proxy for species richness and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmermann) density in the spread of the human pathogenic Ap-ha and non-pathogenic Ap-v1 genotypes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie, Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae). The prevalence of each genotype is used to examine the ecological mechanisms of amplification and dilution, as they each utilize specific mammalian hosts with varying reservoir competencies. We calculated patch- and landscape-level forest connectivity using the Sinuous Connection Reduction indices at 808 tick sampling sites located within 88 wildlife management units in New York State. The relationship between connectivity metric values, tick sampling, and genotyping results was then assessed using zero-inflated Poisson and Tweedie distribution generalized linear mixed models. Our analysis revealed that white-tailed deer density was positively related to I. scapularis density, Ap-v1 prevalence, and Ap-v1 entomological risk. Conversely, white-tailed deer density was negatively related to Ap-ha prevalence and exhibited no relation to Ap-ha entomological risk. These results provide evidence that white-tailed deer act as dilution hosts with respect to anaplasmosis risk in New York and support a broader Ap-ha amplification effect where increases in mammalian host biodiversity yield increased anaplasmosis risk and disease spread.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13228133/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148152616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A field-collected intersex Aedes albopictus with female-like blood-feeding and a male genotype.","authors":"Qingdeng Feng, Jehangir Khan, Hui Yao, Zhongdao Wu, Kostas Bourtzis, Dongjing Zhang","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag061","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual dimorphism in Aedes albopictus is typically strict, with blood-feeding restricted to females. Here, we report a rare field-collected intersex Ae. albopictus captured by human-landing catch in Guangzhou, China. Morphological examination revealed a structurally intact piercing-sucking proboscis, intermediate antennal whorled setae, and male-type claspers, although maxillary palp asymmetry and other cephalic traits could not be conclusively assigned to female morphology due to tissue condition. Blood was visible in the abdomen at the time of capture; however, molecular identification of the blood meal was unsuccessful, likely due to limited blood volume and tissue partitioning during DNA extraction. DNA sequencing of the male-determining gene Nix confirmed a genotypic male individual. These observations indicate region-specific disruption of sexual differentiation and suggest that genotypic males may occasionally exhibit female-like blood-feeding under rare circumstances. This study highlights the developmental plasticity of sexually dimorphic traits in mosquitoes and provides insights into the potential limits of rigid sex-specific feeding behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Semifield evaluation of autodissemination systems in Aedes notoscriptus and Culex quinquefasciatus and laboratory analysis of In2Care formulation effects.","authors":"Véronique Paris, Nicholas Bell, Ary A Hoffmann","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag078","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urban mosquito control needs targeted tools that suppress population breeding in cryptic container habitats while reducing reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides. Autodissemination devices exploit oviposition behavior to transfer the insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen to larval sites and may be enhanced by adulticidal agents such as the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. We compared semifield efficacy of In2Care® Mosquito Stations and INZECTO Mosquito OviTraps + INZECTO pyriproxyfen chips against Aedes notoscriptus and Culex quinquefasciatus. We subsequently quantified the adult survival effects of pyriproxyfen, B. bassiana, and their combined formulation (In2Mix) in Ae. notoscriptus. Semifield trials used 4 × 4 m mesh tents in replicate blocks; 50 females per tent were exposed to In2Care stations, INZECTO OviTraps + INZECTO pyriproxyfen chips, or untreated controls with four surrounding oviposition cups. Cup water was bioassayed for emergence inhibition and analyzed with beta-binomial GLMMs. Adult females were force-exposed to treated nettings (pyriproxyfen-only, B. bassiana-only, In2Mix, control) and survival was analyzed with Cox regression. In semifield trials, In2Care reduced adult emergence relative to controls (logit estimate = 1.892, P < 0.0001) and was more effective than INZECTO (estimate = -0.990, P = 0.024); INZECTO also reduced adult emergence compared to controls (estimate = 0.902, P = 0.041). In laboratory assays, B. bassiana substantially increased mortality hazard (HR = 7.26). The In2Mix treatment produced a comparable effect (HR = 8.64), suggesting that most of the observed mortality in the combined treatment is driven by the B. bassiana component. Pyriproxyfen alone also significantly elevated mortality risk relative to the control, although the effect size was more moderate (HR = 2.35).</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13228129/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148152587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbial communities of the Southeast Asian black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) based on multiple hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA.","authors":"Soosai Peranathan Pavitra, Kim-Kee Tan, Tiong Kai Tan, Yi Xian Er, Wei Yin Vinnie-Siow, Zubaidah Ya'cob, Van Lun Low, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjag051","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjag051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are important vectors of disease-causing agents, but little is known about their microbiome in Southeast Asia, highlighting the need for further investigation. In Malaysia, Simulium cheongi, Simulium jeffreyi, and Simulium vanluni are among the most abundant black fly species and are of potential medical importance, making them suitable representatives for microbiome studies. In this study, their bacterial communities were characterized using next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting seven hypervariable regions (V2, V3, V4, V6 to V7, V8, and V9) of the 16S rRNA gene to enable comprehensive community profiling. The alpha diversity of the bacterial community showed the highest values of Shannon and Simpson indices in S. jeffreyi and increased values of observed species and Chao1 indices in S. cheongi. Males showed greater microbial diversity than females in the alpha diversity analysis, with all alpha rarefaction plots reaching a plateau. Moreover, the beta diversity of the microbial communities measured by Bray-Curtis distance indices revealed three PCs coordinates with 63.75% of the total variance. However, no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity indexes were found among the three species. The bacterial composition included six phyla, 15 classes, 37 orders, 78 families, 143 genera, and 216 bacterial species, with the V3 region having the highest taxonomic identification. The V9 region had the least detection at all taxonomic levels, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate hypervariable regions to accurately assess the diversity of black fly bacterial communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":"63 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147876979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}