Journal of medical entomology最新文献

{"title":"Mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences help identify North American ticks in the genus Argas (Acari: Argasidae).","authors":"Tom G Schwan, Brandi N Williamson, Lance A Durden","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf086","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf086","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Argas (Acari: Argasidae) ticks in the United States include 8 species that parasitize domestic fowl and numerous wild avian species. Ticks infesting a single nest tree of a bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus) in southern Arizona (United States) were received for identification and included 2 species, Argas (Persicargas) radiatus Railliet (Acari: Argasidae) and Argas (Persicargas) ricei Hoogstraal, Kaiser, Clifford & Keirans (Acari: Argasidae). Their identities were based on key morphological characters supported by mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences compared to museum reference specimens. DNA sequences of Argas ticks collected from rocky cliffs in northwestern Arizona identified a novel species most closely related to Argas (Argas) monolakensis Schwan, Corwin & Brown (Acari: Argasidae). Another collection from a communal enclosure containing California condors, Gymnogyps californianus (Shaw) in the San Diego Zoo, California (United States) consisted of all active stages of A. (P.) ricei. The examination of these ticks led to an expanded analysis of other Argas species in the United States with a review of their current status.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1139-1145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12507429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144532037","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":"Toxicity of Spanish needle extract (Asteraceae) on the adult stage of the house fly (Diptera: Muscidae).","authors":"Waranya Ardburai, Duangrat Thongphak, Ubon Tangkawanit","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf090","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The house fly, Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), is a worldwide urban species of insect that is of veterinary and medical interest. Adults of this fly cause nuisance and are common vectors of pathogens that affect both humans and animals. The purpose of this research was to find an environmentally friendly approach to eliminate and repel the adult stage of house flies in urban areas. Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae) extract was tested for insecticidal toxicity against the adult stage in both laboratory and room conditions, using different solvents with varying polarities (hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol, and water). The results indicate that the ethanol extract had strong bait toxicity, while the ethyl acetate extract showed high mortality from contact toxicity. The LC50 and LC90 values of the most effective solvents that killed adult stages were determined. In the repellent test conducted in an experimental cage, acetone extract was found to be the most effective repellent. The RC90 (41.6 mg/ml) from the test was used for testing under room conditions, where it repelled 79% of adult house flies within 30 min. The RT50 and RT90 values of the acetone extract for repelling adult house flies were calculated. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate, acetone, and ethanol extracts identified linolenic acid and 9H-Fluorene, 9-diazo- as the main compounds present. Therefore, B. pilosa extract has the potential as an efficient biopesticide for eliminating and repelling house flies.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1277-1288"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610742","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":"Species versus subspecies: a response to Powell et al.","authors":"Richard C Wilkerson, Ralph E Harbach","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf092","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf092","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1377-1379"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144546668","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":"Flight activity of Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in laboratory conditions.","authors":"Fernanda Cristina de Oliveira Firmino, Maria Beatriz Araújo Silva, Carolina Medeiros, Cleber Galvão, Dayse da Silva Rocha","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Triatoma sordida (Stal 1859) is an indigenous species frequently involved in reinfestation cases. In Brazil, it is the most frequently captured species in peridomestic environments. Despite being classified as a sylvatic species, it exhibits significant mobility between sylvatic and peridomestic environments. Its significant dispersal capacity increases its relevance as a vector of Chagas disease, making the elimination of the vector from domestic environments a challenge. The study aimed to evaluate the flight activity of T. sordida under laboratory conditions. A total of 54 specimens were marked and monitored to observe flight activity, weight variations, and lifespan. More than half of the T. sordida specimens were able to fly. Both sexes began flying at an average of approximately 13 days, with females engaging in more flights than males. Studies of flight activity under laboratory conditions are useful to understanding flight behavior and the dynamics involved in the species' dispersal.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1344-1348"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144610741","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":"Larval competition between invasive Aedes albopictus and resident Culex pipiens mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Türkiye in the presence of an insect growth regulator.","authors":"Barry Wilmer Alto, Alina Denis Kizgin, Ahsen Meliha Toroslu, Batuhan Askim Arslanhan, Samba Deguene Diop, Gökmen Zafer Pekmezci, Yesenia Sanchez, Osman İbiş, Abdullah Inci, Alparslan Yildirim","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf079","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The spread of the invasive mosquito Aedes albopictus in Türkiye may influence other vectors and traits related to their ability to transmit arboviruses. Interspecific competition between Ae. albopictus and the resident vector of West Nile virus (WNV), Culex pipiens can influence WNV transmission through changes in the abundance of Cx. pipiens and the phenotypic traits of adults. Furthermore, environmental factors can modify interspecific competition, especially if the factor differentially impinges upon the superior competitor. To improve our understanding of competition's influence on traits of mosquitoes that relate to arbovirus transmission, we tested 2 hypotheses: Exposure to the insecticide pyriproxyfen alters interspecific competition among larval Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens, and competitive asymmetry favoring Ae. albopictus over Cx. pipiens alters survival of adult females. Interspecific and intraspecific larval competition were evaluated with 2 detritus types and in the presence or absence of pyriproxyfen. Higher intra- and interspecific competition reduced survivorship to adulthood, lengthened development, and yielded smaller sized adults of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens. The presence of pyriproxyfen had minimal impact on the competitive outcomes. Interspecific interactions exhibited competitive asymmetry with Ae. albopictus being competitively dominant over Cx. pipiens. Survival of adult females was differentially compromised under high competition conditions. Adult survival was lengthened for Ae. albopictus and shortened for Cx. pipiens derived from interspecific conditions relative to intraspecific treatments. These results demonstrate how competitive asymmetry among the larvae of an invasive and resident mosquito can influence recruitment of adults and their survival, factors predicted to be important to transmission of arboviruses.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1146-1161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144532036","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":"Parasitism of a US traveler by a nymphal Amblyomma tapirellum Dunn, 1933 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and review of exotic tick interceptions on humans in the United States.","authors":"Andrea Egizi, Fiona Bezhani, Robert A Jordan, Dana C Price","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf109","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States removed an engorged nymphal tick after returning from travel to Costa Rica. The tick was identified by cox1 barcoding as Amblyomma tapirellum  Dunn, 1933, a Central American species whose immature stages are undescribed. This species is associated with wet, tropical forests, and most host records come from Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), though feeding on other mammalian orders and on humans has been observed. To date, no human pathogens have been detected in A. tapirellum, although very few specimens have been tested. The A. tapirellum reported here was screened for Rickettsia spp. via qPCR and additionally for bacterial pathogens via 16S amplicon sequencing, and no pathogens were detected. However, we report the presence of a Coxiella-like endosymbiont, common among -Amblyomma spp. We also briefly review 29 published records comprising 14 exotic hard tick species removed from US travelers returning from abroad, most commonly Amblyomma spp. from Africa. Due to the near-worldwide distribution of ticks and tick-borne disease as well as the growing frequency of international tourism, travelers are urged to prevent tick bites and physicians are encouraged to be mindful not only of native tick-borne diseases but potential exposure to exotic tick-borne diseases. There is also a need to improve identification resources for ixodids and for existing resources to be made more accessible.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1358-1365"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145002333","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":"Diversity and bioecological characteristics of phlebotominae species (Diptera: Psychodidae) in endemic areas of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis-an update.","authors":"Marcel Miranda de Medeiros Silva, Sarah Elisabeth Araujo Franco, Virgínia Penéllope Macedo Silva, Angelis Maria Falcão, Paulo Ricardo Porfirio do Nascimento, Joanna Gardel Valverde, Selma Maria Bezerra Jerônimo, Maria de Fátima Freire de Melo Ximenes","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf069","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phlebotomine sand flies are responsible for transmitting Leishmania (Ross, 1903) species, the etiological agents of leishmaniases, causing impacts on global public health, especially in northeastern Brazil. The state of Rio Grande do Norte has been recording cases of the disease compulsorily since the 1980s, and the last comprehensive and systematic survey of phlebotomine species was completed in 1997. Since then, new infected species have been identified in the country. Our objectives are to update the inventory of phlebotomine species in Rio Grande do Norte , analyze the natural infection by Leishmania, and detect spatial clusters of leishmaniasis incidence in Rio Grande do Norte . Systematic literature reviews and unpublished surveys were used; for spatial analysis, the calculation of the Local Index of Spatial Association and Moran's Local Index were employed; finally, quantitative PCR targeting the kDNA-7 gene with TaqMan system amplification was used to analyze natural infection. We recorded 30 phlebotomine species, 21 from the literature and 9 newly reported. Three species showed infection with Leishmania infantum (Nicolle, 1908), and we observed the formation of 4 high-incidence clusters of leishmaniases in Rio Grande do Norte . Over 20 yr, there was a significant increase in the number of species recorded in Rio Grande do Norte, since the last survey across the 8 geographic zones of Rio Grande do Norte; additionally, we recorded Psychodopygus wellcomei (Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson, 1971) and Evandromyia walkeri (Newstead, 1914) infected, the latter being the first report of infection with L. infantum. Finally, the cluster formation in the western region of Rio Grande do Norte may be related to local social and economic characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1324-1337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144562372","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":"The impact of deer exclusion fencing on host-seeking blacklegged ticks on suburban residential properties in southern New England.","authors":"Neeta P Connally, Victoria L Hornbostel, Megan C Dyer, Andrias Hojgaard, Lynn M Osikowicz, Dorothy A Christopher, Thomas N Mather","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf070","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recommendations to use deer-excluding fencing as a method to reduce blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) in residential settings are based primarily upon studies excluding deer from large areas (≥3.5 hectares), often in undeveloped woodland settings. Evidence is still needed on the efficacy of deer-excluding fences for tick management at smaller suburban residential properties common to tick-endemic areas of the northeastern United States. We measured I. scapularis abundance at 16 fenced and 16 unfenced properties in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Westchester County, New York, and Washington County, Rhode Island. Overall, adult and nymphal I. scapularis encounter rates (ticks per sampling meter) were slightly higher on unfenced properties compared to within fenced properties, but differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Among fenced properties alone, tick encounter rates were significantly higher in areas immediately outside of fences compared with inside of fences for nymphs (P = 0.005), but not for adults (P > 0.05). Prevalence of tick pathogen infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei, or Anaplasma phagocytophilum did not differ significantly between fenced and unfenced properties (P > 0.05). Irrespective of fencing, adult tick abundance was higher at properties with stonewalls, dense herbaceous ecotone vegetation, and an absence of bird feeders. Nymphal tick encounter rates were associated with stonewalls, an absence of bird feeders, and presence of dense herbaceous understory vegetation. Household survey data revealed that deer were observed within some fenced areas. Our findings do not provide strong evidence that deer-excluding fences at properties smaller than 3.5 hectares surpress blacklegged ticks.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1208-1220"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144532038","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":"The effects of toxic sugar bait on a natural predator, Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Diptera: Culicidae).","authors":"Yi-Ting Liu, Rui-De Xue, Whitney A Qualls, Kok-Boon Neoh","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf074","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Toxic sugar baits with boric acid have emerged as an alternative for reducing mosquito vector populations due to their low toxicity to nontarget organisms. We investigated the effects of boric acid-containing toxic sugar baits (1% w/w) on Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Coquillett), a natural predator of mosquito larvae, and compared it to Aedes aegypti (L.). We determined the lethal dose of boric acid causing mortality in test mosquitoes. Additionally, the survival of Tx. r. rutilus exposed to toxic sugar baits applied to nonflowering and flowering plant foliage were compared. The results showed no significant difference in survival probability between females and males of Tx. r. rutilus after exposure to toxic sugar baits. However, female mortality occurred at a higher rate on days 1 and 2 compared to males. The amount of boric acid in the gut of Ae. aegypti was significantly lower (6×) than that in Tx. r. rutilus. The results may explain the rapid mortality of Ae. aegypti after exposure to toxic sugar bait compared to that of Tx. r. rutilus on day 1 and day 2. The flowering status of the plants to which the toxic sugar bait was applied significantly affected Tx. r. rutilus's survival. The survival in toxic sugar baits-treated flowering shaggy dwarf morning glory was higher than that of the nonflowering counterparts on the first 2 d. The results indicate low toxicity of boric acid toward Tx. r. rutilus compared to target Aedes mosquito. We suggested that the application timing during the flowering season may delay the effect of toxic sugar baits on Tx. r. rutilus.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1229-1234"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144513018","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":"Evaluation of IgG4 response against Chrysops spp. molecules in long-term stocked plasma from humans exposed to Loa loa.","authors":"Roland Dieki, Harissou Djafarou Oussamatou, Guy Roger Ndong Atome, Larson Boudenga, Goetz Wahl, Jean Paul Akue","doi":"10.1093/jme/tjaf093","DOIUrl":"10.1093/jme/tjaf093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chrysops silacea and Chrysops dimidiata are the main vectors of the human filarial disease caused by Loa loa but also a potential carrier of other parasites, bacteria, or viruses. The female feeds on blood from humans and from non-human species. Studies about African Chrysops species are scarce. In this context, we evaluated the detection of IgG4 against Chrysops molecules in samples from humans exposed to Loa loa infection stored for 20 yr. Fresh extracts of proteins from uninfected and unfed C. silacea were analyzed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting for the detection of human IgG4 and IgE. The results of this analysis were compared between non-exposed populations and populations exposed to three different daily biting rates (DBR) of 3, 13, and 106 bites. The level of human IgG4 was significantly elevated in populations exposed to Chrysops bites compared with the non-exposed population (0.751 ± 0.826 vs. 0.209 ± 0.217; P = 0.0052). There was a general trend showing a correlation between the intensity of exposure and the level of IgG4 (r = 0.192, P = 0.044). Identification of Chrysops molecules reactive against IgG4 showed a prominent 13- and 14-kDa band among villagers exposed to a DBR of 13 or 106, while the reactivity was very weak in villagers with a DBR of 3 and was absent in the non-exposed group. The long-lasting response of IgG4 in old stocked samples may be informative.</p>","PeriodicalId":94091,"journal":{"name":"Journal of medical entomology","volume":" ","pages":"1317-1323"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144877642","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}