A RANGE-WIDE ECTOPARASITE SURVEY FOR ALLEGHENY WOODRATS (NEOTOMA MAGISTER).

Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) are karst-specializing rodents that are rare or in conservation need in many states within their current range. Parasitism and habitat fragmentation have been suggested as primary reasons for declining populations. The presence, prevalence, and impact of ectoparasites, including fleas, ticks, and bots, is not fully understood rangewide. We collected Allegheny woodrat ectoparasites across 8 states in their range, identifying parasites via morphological and genetic means. Across contributions from 8 states, we discovered 2 woodrat-specific fleas parasitizing Allegheny woodrats: Orchopeas pennsylvanicus (all contributing states, n = 228) and Epitedia cavernicola (Indiana only, n = 9). The former was a new state record in New Jersey and Ohio. Woodrat specialists Ixodes woodi were morphologically identified as the dominant tick species (n = 38), and our contributions to genetic databases may ease confusion in future efforts. Three generalist species of ticks representing 8 individuals were identified as Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis. Only 2 bot fly species were recognized in Allegheny woodrats: 1 squirrel bot (Cuterebra emasculator) and 10 individuals of Cuterebra sp. not genetically conspecific to any known eastern U.S. rodent bot. The host specificity for fleas is not surprising, given that previous small-scale surveys and ticks primarily appear to be a mix of genus-specific (Ixodes woodi) and generalist species. There remains uncertainty with bots via morphological and genetic analyses. Our survey presents a wide-ranging baseline survey for Allegheny woodrats across their range, emphasizing the diversity (or specificity) of parasite groups for this species. An understanding of Allegheny woodrats and the health impact of ectoparasites is imperative because they face myriad challenges rangewide, especially considering the bot-driven demise of 1 woodrat in our study. Ectoparasites can have a marked impact on already-declining woodrat populations across their range and should not be overlooked in future surveys.

SEASONAL AND HOST-ASSOCIATED VARIATION IN BOT FLY (OESTRIDAE: CUTEREBRINAE) PARASITISM OF LAGOMORPHS ACROSS AN ARID-LAND ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.

Bot flies (Oestridae: Cuterebrinae) are obligate mammalian parasites that complete the larval stage of their life cycle under the skin of their host. Most detailed studies of bot fly larval disease ecology have been conducted in temperate deciduous zone rodent systems. To understand the relative importance of seasonal and spatial factors, as well as factors intrinsic to the host, in underpinning the likelihood and extent of parasitism by bot flies in non-rodent hosts as well as in arid-land ecosystems, we examined the dynamic for black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) parasitism by bot fly larvae (Cuterebra spp.) across 7 repeatedly sampled sites spread across approximately 500 km of the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion of southern New Mexico. This environment is characterized by a climate that includes hot dry summers and cool to cold dry winters, as well as strongly seasonal summer monsoonal rains. Lagomorphs are a common mid-sized mammal in these landscapes. Bot fly parasitism was strongly seasonal, with peak prevalence and abundance in the spring, and there was spatial variation in the extent of parasitism between collection sites. Additionally, jackrabbits in better body condition were less likely to be parasitized (as indicated by kidney fat index). We did not find sex-based differences in bot fly parasitism between male and female jackrabbits. Thus, in arid-land ecoregions, abiotic factors are likely the primary driver of the bot fly-host interaction, whereas factors intrinsic to the host were of secondary importance for characterizing the interactions of bot flies and lagomorphs.

Urban biodiversity: Cuterebriasis in free-ranging Robinson's mouse opossum (Marmosa robinsoni) in the suburbs of Barranquilla, Colombia.

The tropical dry forest is one of the world's most threatened ecosystems and is the habitat of the Robinson's Mouse Opossum (Marmosa robinsoni), a small marsupial within the Didelphidae family. This study aimed to describe cases of cuterebriases in free-ranging M. robinsoni by examining individuals caught in live animal traps. Sherman traps were deployed in four different sites over three different periods in five days. All animals passed through biometry, weighing, sampling parasites, and sampling feces. Only animals captured in the study site located close to the city were anesthetized and examined. The evaluation included blood samples and a clinical examination. Animals received anesthesia under physical restraint by intramuscular injections of ketamine and xylazine. For anesthetic reversion, the protocol was Yohimbine administered before release. In total, 8% (5/60) of all captured animals had fly larvae extracted from wounds. The molecular Barcode of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene showed no match with any recognized species of Cuterebra. The animals weighed from 35 to 80 g and had lesions in the scapular region with parasites under their skin in sizes ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 cm. The animals with parasites were in good physical condition without evidence of disturbances in health conditions. This is compatible with literature, reporting little effect on population dynamics of other host species infected with Cuterebra larvae. The study included 24 animals captured in three areas far from any city, which showed no evidence of cuterebrid infection, suggesting that proximity to the city could increase exposure to cuterebriasis. There are reports of cuterebrids in M. robinsoni in Brazil; however, this is the first report of cuterebriasis in M. robinsoni in Colombia.

Cuterebra baeri Infecting Grey-Legged Night Monkeys (Aotus griseimembra) and Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) in Colombia.

Myiases are parasitic infections caused by the larval stages of some fly species. In American nonhuman primates (NHP), three bot fly species causing cutaneous myiasis have been reported: Cuterebra baeri, Cochliomyia hominivorax, and Dermatobia hominis. Studies on myiasis in NHP are scarce and mainly based on morphologic identification of larvae, while molecular approaches have been barely used. This study aimed to molecularly identify bot flies parasitizing two NHP species living sympatrically in central Colombia. Bot fly larvae were collected from two grey-legged night monkeys (Aotus griseimembra) and from a howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus). Larvae were measured and photographed for morphologic evaluation; subsequent molecular characterizations of a partial region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene were performed. Sequence analysis allowed the identification of all specimens as Cuterebra baeri, enabling confirmation of this species parasitizing Alouatta seniculus and Aotus griseimembra in Colombia.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Findings in a Case of Botfly Myiasis Contracted in the United States.

Botfly infiltration is a rare cause of pediatric skin manifestations in the United States, but should be considered in nonhealing wounds even in nontravelers. We describe the case of a healthy 6-y-old female who had never traveled outside of the southeast United States, presenting with a nonhealing skin lesion. The point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) findings suggested subcutaneous parasitic infiltration. This case demonstrates the role of POCUS in identification of subcutaneous parasitic infiltration, and differentiation from other, more common skin lesions.

Botfly Parasitism on Two Primates of the Cebidae Family in Peru.

Botflies (Diptera:Oestridae) are a diverse group of insect parasites that affect various vertebrate species. There are previous reports of myiasis affecting wild primates in Central and South America; however, information about botfly parasitism in Peruvian primates is scarce. We present data from two Cebidae primate specimens: a rescued large-headed capuchin monkey (Sapajus macrocephalus) housed at Taricaya Rescue Center, in Tambopata, Peru, and a free-ranging white-fronted capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons aequatorialis) inhabiting Cerros de Amotape National Park. The first specimen had a larva identified as Dermatobia hominis, whereas Cuterebra baeri larvae infested the second. In both cases we initially identified the parasite species through their morphologic features before confirming the identification with genetic analysis through the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene sequencing of the larvae. Further field studies on the primate-parasite dynamics are needed to understand the impact of botfly myiasis on primate populations.

Fatal cerebral cuterebrosis in a dog.

A 4-year-old intact female Yorkshire Terrier presented an acute onset of hypersalivation and depressed mentation. The owner reported that the dog displayed tremors, right-sided torticollis, right-sided head tilt, and lifting of the left forelimb. The dog appeared restless and confused, and the condition progressed to lethargy and death on the way to an emergency hospital. At necropsy, a single 10 mm long x 1 mm wide, pale gray, botfly larva with black spines was found along the cerebral meninges. Areas of hemorrhage were noted in the right cerebral hemisphere. Microscopically, these areas also had evidence of necrosis and inflammation. Morphology of the larva allowed confirmation of subfamily-level identification as Cuterebrinae, and presumed genus-level identification of Cuterebra. Species-level identification of the larva as C. abdominalis was achieved through DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing at the cytochrome oxidase subunits 1 and 2 (COI and COII), followed by phylogenetic analysis. Aberrant cuterebrosis is a poorly documented condition in dogs that may cause neurologic signs and lead to death.

Rabbit Bot Fly Furuncular, Tracheopulmonary, and Human Bot Fly Infestations in Connecticut (Oestridae: Cuterebrinae).

Endemic and tropical human bot infestations are relatively uncommon or unreported in the United States. We report two cases in Connecticut: an unusual furuncular and respiratory myiasis by the rabbit bot Cuterebra buccata (Fab.) (Diptera: Oestridae) in a 74-yr-old male and a case of human bot fly, Dermatobia hominis (L.) (Diptera: Oestridae), myiasis in a 4-yr-old female with a tropical travel history with her family. Identification of C. buccata was based morphologically, in part, on spinal armature and further corroborated by DNA sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene and comparison to the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank DNA sequence database. The resulting annotated sequence data were deposited into the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank. The unique medical aspects, and limitations and specifics on bot fly larval habits and identification are discussed.

The impact of botfly parasitism on the health of the gracile mouse opossum (Gracilinanus agilis).

Fragmented habitats generally harbour small populations that are potentially more prone to local extinctions caused by biotic factors such as parasites. We evaluated the effects of botflies (Cuterebra apicalis) on naturally fragmented populations of the gracile mouse opossum (Gracilinanus agilis). We examined how sex, food supplementation experiment, season and daily climatic variables affected body condition and haemoglobin concentration in animals that were parasitized or not by botflies. Although parasitism did not affect body condition, haemoglobin concentrations were lower in parasitized animals. Among the non-parasitized individuals, haemoglobin concentration increased with the increase of maximum temperature and the decrease of relative humidity, a climatic pattern found at the peak of the dry season. However, among parasitized animals, the opposite relationship between haemoglobin concentration and relative humidity occurred, as a consequence of parasite-induced anaemia interacting with dehydration as an additional stressor. We conclude that it is critical to assess how climate affects animal health (through blood parameters) to understand the population consequences of parasitism on the survival of individuals and hence of small population viability.

Ophthalmomyiasis interna anterior in a dog: keratotomy and extraction of a Cuterebra sp. larva.

A 1-year-old female spayed mixed-breed dog was presented for evaluation of acute onset of lethargy and blepharospasm OD. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed a segmented larva embedded in the inferonasal iris. Moderate anterior uveitis was present. After pharmacologic dilation, mild vitreal hemorrhage and chorioretinal migration tracks were identified. The dog was treated empirically for uveitis for 5 days, after which a keratotomy and larval foreign body extraction was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully from intraocular surgery and remained visual and comfortable. Parasite evaluation confirmed the larva to be a Cuterebra sp. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of canine ophthalmomyiasis interna anterior, and the first report of successful surgical removal from the anterior segment in a dog with preservation of vision.