Medical and Veterinary Entomology最新文献

Lice are very common ectoparasites of humans and other animals. These ectoparasites cause various health problems in the hosts, like alpacas, such as intense itching, skin irritation, hair or wool loss, anaemia, and, in severe cases, reduced milk and meat production due to the stress they cause in the host. Epidemiological studies in alpacas are necessary to determine the magnitude and distribution of lice infestation, which would assist in the implementation of control measures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lice infestation in newborn and young alpacas (crias) from the provinces of Canchis and Espinar, located in the southern Peruvian Andes. Veterinarians examined a total of 383 alpaca crias less than 6 months of age to diagnose lice infestation. Lice were collected and preserved in 80% ethanol for morphological diagnosis. Also, all animal data such as sex, breed, province, and herd size were recorded for analysis. Lice were detected in 352 out of 383 (91.9%; confidence interval (CI_95%) = 88.7%–94.4%) alpaca crias, and three species of lice were identified: two Anoplura from the Microthoraciidae family corresponding to Microthoracius praelongiceps (Neumann, 1909) (91.9%; 353/383) and M. mazzai Werneck, 1932 (18.5%; 71/383), and one Mallophaga from the Trichodectidae family corresponding to Bovicola breviceps (Rudow, 1866) (11.5%; 44/383). The parasite load was very high, especially in the areas of the neck, arms, legs, armpits, and groin in the infested animals. Only the infestation for M. praelongiceps was associated with provinces but not with other variables. M. mazzai and B. breviceps infestations were not associated with any variable. Future epidemiological studies will be necessary to better understand the interactions between the species of lice and risk factors such as local characteristics and livestock husbandry, as well as the negative effect caused by this parasitism in alpacas.

Fleas are important for their role as parasites causing pulicosis or tungiasis, and as vectors of pathogens that can cause diseases in humans and other animals, in tropical and subtropical regions, with a disproportionate effect linked to contexts of structural poverty and social exclusion. This study evaluated the risk factors for flea parasitism in dogs and cats from urban (Ur) and rural (Ru) households in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, through seasonal sampling between March 2017 and February 2018. Prevalence (P), mean intensity, and mean abundance of the host-associated variable were calculated. To identify associations between the presence/pseudoabsence of fleas and the explanatory variables, a generalized linear mixed model was constructed. A total of 1932 fleas, identified as Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), were collected from 402 dogs (P_Ur = 79.8%; P_Ru = 88.4%) and 87 cats (P_Ur = 77.6%; P_Ru = 66.7%). The prevalence was higher in rural dogs. Regarding host species, the prevalence in dogs was higher than in cats in rural areas. Tunga penetrans L. (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) was observed in 195 dogs (P_Ur = 31.97%; P_Ru = 70.48%) and 29 cats (P_Ur = 4.46%; P_Ru = 59.46%), which was also more common in rural areas. Risk factors for C. f. felis presence in dogs included young age, lack of antiparasitic treatment, peridomestic fumigation, bare soil and lower humidity and temperature four weeks prior to sampling (w-4). In cats, infestation was associated with young age, the presence of infested dogs in the same household, and higher vegetation coverage. In both hosts, T. penetrans infestation was positively associated with no antiparasitic treatment, lower humidity in w-3, and higher humidity in w-1 and higher temperature in w-2. The findings indicate that the factors influencing the presence, prevalence and abundance of C. f. felis and T. penetrans may differ according to host, socio-environmental, climatic and soil conditions in each locality. The establishment of institutional policies is imperative to effectively manage flea parasitosis, particularly in regions of socio-environmental heterogeneity.

Dromedary camels Camelus dromedarius Linnaeus (Artiodactyla, Camelidae) are vital to the livelihoods of nomadic and pastoralist communities in the Sahara Desert. However, they are susceptible to ectoparasites, which can significantly impact their health and productivity, as well as their potential role in transmitting zoonotic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, species composition and infestation levels of ectoparasites in dromedaries from different camel herds (CH) across northern Algeria's Sahara Desert. Additionally, we assessed the effects of CH and camel age and sex on parasite loads and infestation patterns regarding the host's affected body region. A total of 68 camels out of 135, randomly selected from four herds CH1–CH4, were surveyed for ectoparasites. Ectoparasites were counted, collected and identified in the laboratory. Pearson correlation tests were employed to analyse the relationship between parasite indices. Similarity analysis was conducted to compare ectoparasite species composition among the sampled CH. The overall infestation level of ectoparasites across the CH was 61.76% with 511 ectoparasite individuals identified. Significant regional variation in tick prevalence was observed: CH1 (88.24%), CH2 (64.71%), CH3 (58.82%) and CH4 (35.29%) (p < 0.001). The most prevalent ectoparasites were ticks, with four species identified: Hyalomma dromedarii Koch (Ixodida, Ixodidae) (45.21%), Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch (Ixodida, Ixodidae) (18%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Ixodida, Ixodidae) (7.63%) and Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus (Ixodida, Ixodidae) (4.9%). In addition, one mite species Sarcoptes scabiei Linnaeus (Sarcoptiformes, Sarcoptidae), one flea species Ctenocephalides arabicus Jordan (Siphonaptera, Pulicidae) and one fly species Wohlfahrtia magnifica Schiner (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) were identified. Similarity analysis showed a 70% overlap in ectoparasite species composition between herds, suggesting common environmental and management-related risk factors. Overall, the abdomen exhibited the highest percentage of ectoparasites at 22.7%, followed by the neck and sternum (17.8%), and the anal and tail area (17.4%). Adults accounted for 86.1% of infestations, with notable contributions from the abdomen (17.0%) and neck/sternum (15.9%), while young camels made up only 13.9%. The high ectoparasite infestation level, particularly ticks, underscores the need for a comprehensive control plan, especially in herds managed under extensive or nomadic systems. Future research should focus on identifying risk factors and exploring ectoparasite control strategies to reduce the burden on camel health and prevent potential zoonotic disease transmission in the region.

Host–parasite systems play a key role in biogeography, with parasites influencing the distributions of their hosts and vice versa. The biodiversity of flea species on the subfamily Sigmodontinae is especially valuable for studying parasite–host–environment interactions. This study evaluates the biogeographic relationship between rodents of the Phyllotis xanthopygus complex (Rodentia, Cricetidae) and their flea assemblage, applying the favourability function in the modelling distribution. The aim was to identify the different environmental factors that favour the distribution of both, and to detect areas of greater shared favourability. This is the first study on fleas using a methodology based on fuzzy logic that helps to disentangle the main factors that determine favourable environmental conditions for parasites and hosts. Using the fuzzy logic modelling technique and fuzzy intersection, union, and inclusion as the fuzzy operators, we were able to specify the territories with maximum simultaneous fleas-Phyllotis xanthopygus complex favourability in the study area. The model results showed that climate was the main factor influencing the distributions of fleas and hosts. The variables most relevant to the rodents were the minimum temperatures in the coldest month and the annual temperature range. The most important predictors for fleas were the mean diurnal range temperatures and the precipitation in the coldest quarter. The maximum simultaneous rodent-flea favourability occurred in the Cuyan High Andean and Puna provinces (South American transition zone). This study explores the influence of environmental factors on the distribution of rodent-flea associations, highlighting their ecological and public health implications.

Urdapilleta, M., Pech-May, A., Lamattina, D., Burgos, E.F., Gabriela Giuliani, M., & Cortés M.M. et al. (2025) Prevalence, distribution and phylogenetic relationships of Bartonella in companion animals, wildlife and fleas from the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, Argentina. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 39(3), 445–455. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12801

In the paper by Urdapilleta et al. (2025), the Data Availability Statement was incomplete. The Statement should read:

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/ (OR667538, OR667539, OR667540, OR667541, OR667542, OR667543, OR667544, OR667545).

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In recent decades there has been a huge increase in the export of cut flowers from countries in Africa and elsewhere to European flower markets, with the vast majority first entering the Netherlands for local use or for export. Coincidentally, three significant livestock disease outbreaks caused by viruses associated with Africa or other tropical regions were first detected in the Netherlands (bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8), 2006, and BTV-3, 2023) and in western Germany about 200 km from the Netherlands border (Schmallenberg virus, SBV, 2011). This study aimed to determine whether Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), the vectors of BTV and SBV, are present within flower-packaging plants in East Africa, and therefore whether Culicoides could be unknowingly exported during the shipping of cut flowers. Field sampling was undertaken at a flower-packaging facility in Kenya, East Africa. The facility undertook all stages of cut flower production from maintaining rootstock through to packaging and shipping to an airport for international export. Trapping was undertaken at each stage of production (rootstock, propagation, inside growing greenhouses, in the packing-house, inside cold-storage rooms, during transportation) using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Light Emitting Diode (LED) light traps. Hand-held aspirators were used to obtain individual insects directly from flowers and around composting sites, while emergence traps studied insect emergence from compost, leaf litter and flowers discarded at quality control checkpoints. A maximum nightly catch of 269 Culicoides was identified on a half-acre smallholding, containing 15 ruminants and 40 birds, located 20 m from the nearest greenhouse. The greatest numbers of Culicoides were trapped at a pond (n = 23) and leaf-litter compost site (n = 19) within the curtilage of the flower-packaging plant. Of the seven greenhouses sampled, three had Culicoides trapped overnight (mean = 4, range: 1-9), and no Culicoides were trapped in the propagation units. No Culicoides were trapped in the pack house, cold-store, or during transportation of the flowers to the airport for shipment. No Culicoides emerged from emergence traps or were trapped when aspirating directly from flowers. This is the first study to investigate whether Culicoides are present within flower packaging plants in Africa. The results highlight that although present in small numbers both outside and within greenhouses, the presence of Culicoides declined with each stage of production. Therefore, the risk of exporting Culicoides with packaged cut flowers is non-zero but likely very small.

Ruiz, M., Alonso, R.J., Rospide, M., Acosta, D.B., Cavia, R., & Sanchez, J.P. (2025) Diversity and eco-epidemiology of ectoparasites and Rickettsia spp. associated with the opossums Didelphis albiventris Lund in livestock farms from the Argentinian Pampas region. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 39(3), 431–444. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12796.

In the paper by Ruiz et al. (2025), the Data Availability Statement was incomplete. The Statement should read:

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available at: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/247755 (Ruiz et al., 2024).

The following reference should also have been included:

Ruiz, M., Alonso, R.J., Rospide, M., Acosta, D.B., Cavia, R. & Sánchez, J.P. (2024): Diversity and eco-epidemiology of ectoparasites and Rickettsia spp. associated with the opossums Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840 in livestock farms from the Argentinian Pampas region. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. http://hdl.handle.net/11336/247755.

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The knowledge of the distribution of viruses and their associated mosquito species is still incomplete in Senegal. Additionally, data on the genetic characterization of these viruses are limited. The aim was to update knowledge on the diversity, distribution and genetic relationships of mosquito-associated viruses in Senegal through entomological and molecular surveillance. Mosquitoes were collected in October 2022 across 10 districts in Senegal. Samples were identified morphologically and processed for virome characterization using qRT-PCR and next-generation sequencing. The most common species were Culex cinereus Theobald, 1901, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, Culex neavei Theobald, 1904, and Culex poicilipes Theobald, 1904 (Diptera: Culicidae). The number of mosquitoes collected varied by habitat and district. We detected 42 isolates of 7 viruses, including Bagaza (BAGV), Barkedji, Sindbis (SINV), Usutu (USUV), Dezidougou, Densovirus and Pestivirus A (PESVA), in 6 mosquito species (Mansonia uniformis, Cx. neavei Theobald, 1901, Anopheles coustani, Cx. cinereus Laveran, 1900, Aedes aegypti Linnaeus, 1762 and Aedes vexans Meigen, 1830) (Diptera: Culicidae). The viruses were mainly detected in mosquitoes collected near ponds (92.9%). BAGV and SINV were detected for the first time in southeastern Senegal. This is also the first association of PESVA with mosquitoes in the field. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that PESVA clustered with strains from Asia and Egypt, BAGV with strains from Senegal and Spain, USUV with strains from Senegal and SINV with strains from Spain and Kenya. This study expands the understanding of mosquito–virus associations in Senegal, revealing new geographic distributions and vectors for several viruses, with implications for arbovirus emergence and surveillance strategies.

The simuliid fauna of Laos is among the most poorly known of any country in the world, only seven species having been recorded. We explored the Laotian simuliid fauna as an opportunity to test reproductive isolation and the minute morphological differences between two of the country's common isomorphic nominal species—Simulium chamlongi Takaoka & Suzuki (Diptera: Simuliidae) and Simulium luculentum Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung (Diptera: Simuliidae). Both are members of the widespread Simulium variegatum group. Using the band patterns of the giant chromosomes in the larval silk glands, we showed that S. chamlongi and S. luculentum are reproductively isolated, no hybrids having been found. Molecular analyses indicated that the two species are genetically distinct, with a minimum genetic divergence of 2.91%. Analysis of a fragment of the vertebrate cytochrome b gene revealed that the blood hosts of S. chamlongi and S. luculentum in Laos include humans and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), respectively. Diagnostic morphological characters provided in the original species descriptions were substantiated for pupae and females but not for larvae or males. Our chromosomal analyses also revealed a third reproductively isolated species, possibly new, with a unique IIS chromosomal sequence. The absence of a uniquely shared inversion among the three species indicates that the S. variegatum group lacks a defining chromosomal synapomorphy.

The blowflies (Calliphoridae) represent a significant portion of schizophoran fly diversity, comprising approximately 2000 known species. Among them, the genus Calliphora Robineau-Desvoidy is one of the largest, with over 100 species primarily distributed in the Holarctic Region and Australasia. Blowflies include several ubiquitous species and are primarily recognised for their medical and veterinary importance. In the Afrotropics, Calliphora was previously known from only two species: the native Calliphora croceipalpis Jaennicke and the introduced Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy. Two new distinctive species of Calliphora collected during recent fieldwork in Ethiopia are described using methods of integrative taxonomy. Calliphora teraramma sp. n. is characterised by peculiar male genitalia, with large cerci and a minute phallus. Calliphora mesay sp. n. is characterised by morphological and molecular traits, a close relative of the cosmopolitan C. vicina. In addition, we developed a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode reference library for Palaearctic and Afrotropical Calliphora species, including 33 newly generated barcodes. Molecular species delimitation analyses using the software Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD) and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), implemented through the recently developed integrative platform Spart Explorer, largely support morphological species concepts.