Molecular identification and prevalence of plerocercoid larvae (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in some commercial fish species from Peru.

Diphyllobothriosis, a fish-borne zoonosis in South America, is mainly caused by the Pacific broad tapeworm Adenocephalus pacificus Nybelin, 1931, a parasite of considerable concern in fishery resources due to its impact on public health. A new diphyllobothrid, Diphyllobothrium sprakeri Hernández-Orts et al. Parasites Vectors 14:219, 2021, was recently described from sea lions from the Pacific Coast, but marine fish acting as intermediate hosts are unknown. The objective of this study was to confirm the presence of plerocercoid larvae of Diphyllobothriidae Lühe, 1910 (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) in nine fish species of commercial importance in Peru. Of a total of 6999 fish (5861 Engraulis ringens, 853 Sciaena deliciosa, 6 Sciaena callaensis, 171 Scomber japonicus, 40 Trachurus murphyi, 40 Ariopsis seemanni, 18 Merluccius peruanus, 5 Sarda chiliensis, and 5 Coryphaena hippurus), 183 were infected with plerocercoid larvae, representing a total prevalence of 2.61% and a mean intensity of 3.2. Based on mtDNA cox1 sequences of 43 plerocercoids, a phylogenetic analysis revealed that 41 belong to A. pacificus and two to D. sprakeri. These findings are first molecular data for D. sprakeri larvae, and the infections of E. ringens and T. murphyi by plerocercoid larvae represent the first records of intermediate/paratenic hosts for this species. Hence, the findings of the current study enhance our understanding of the presence of diphyllobothriid species in commercial fish from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean and their potential impact on seafood safety for local human populations.

Chemical composition, larvicidal and cytotoxic activity of Annona salzmannii (Annonaceae) seed oil

The seed oil of Annona salzmannii A. DC. was analyzed by GC-MS and 1H qNMR, revealing a mixture of unsaturated (80.5%) and saturated (18.7%) fatty acids. Linoleic (45.3%) and oleic (33.5%) acid were the major unsaturated fatty acids identified, while palmitic acid (14.3%) was the major saturated fatty acid. The larvicidal effects of A. salzmannii seed oil were evaluated against third-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (Linn.). The oil exhibited moderate larvicidal activity, with a LC50 of 569.77 ppm (95% CI = 408.11 to 825.88 ppm). However, when the cytotoxic effects of the oil were evaluated, no expressive antiproliferative effects were observed in tumor cell lines B16-F10 (mouse melanoma), HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), K562 (human chronic myelocytic leukemia), HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia), and non-tumor cell line PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), with IC50 values > 50 µg·mL-1. This is the first study to evaluate the chemical composition, larvicidal and cytotoxic activity of A. salzmannii seed oil

El mosquito del dengue en la Ciudad de México. Invasión incipiente de Aedes aegypti y sus potenciales riesgos / Aedes aegypti, the dengue fever mosquito in Mexico City. Early invasion and its potential risks

Resumen Introducción: La Ciudad de México no tiene presencia endémica de Aedes aegypti, por lo que está libre de enfermedades transmitidas por vector como dengue, Zika y chikunguña. Sin embargo, existe evidencia de la presencia de huevecillos en la urbe desde 2015. Objetivo: Reportar la presencia constante y en aumento de huevecillos de Aedes aegypti en la Ciudad de México de 2015 a 2018. Método: Se realizó vigilancia a través de ovitrampas; se contabilizaron y eclosionaron huevecillos para determinar la especie. Resultados: De 2015 a 2018 fueron identificados 378 organismos como Aedes aegypti. En total fueron colectadas 76 ovitrampas positivas a Aedes aegypti en 50 sitios distintos de 11 alcaldías. El noreste de la Ciudad de México fue el área con mayor positividad. Conclusiones: Los resultados pueden estar indicando un periodo de colonización incipiente y la probable la existencia de colonias crípticas del mosquito, por lo que la Ciudad de México podría estar en riesgo de presentar epidemias de enfermedades transmitidas por vector.

Abstract Introduction: Mexico City has no endemic presence of Aedes aegypti, and it is therefore free of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, Zika and chikungunya. However, evidence has shown the presence of Aedes aegypti eggs in the city since 2015. Objective: To report the constant and increasing presence of Aedes aegypti eggs in Mexico City from 2015 to 2018. Methods: Surveillance was carried out using ovitraps. Eggs were counted and hatched in order to determine the species. Results: From 2015 to 2018, 378 organisms were identified as Ae. aegypti. In total, 76 Aedes aegypti-positive ovitraps were collected at 50 different places in 11 boroughs of the city. Northeastern Mexico City was the area with the highest number of positive traps. Conclusions: The results may be indicating a period of early colonization and the probable existence of cryptic colonies of the mosquito, and Mexico City could be therefore at risk of experiencing vector-borne epidemics.

Application of DNA barcoding and morphometric analysis in differentiating cystacanths of Polymorphus species (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) from central Alberta, Canada.

Acanthocephalans are multi-host endoparasites, many of which use freshwater amphipods as intermediate hosts for their larval stages (e.g., cystacanths) while adults live in the intestines of vertebrates, including waterfowl. In central Alberta, Canada, several co-occurring species of the acanthocephalan genus Polymorphus use the amphipod Gammarus lacustris Sars, 1863 as an intermediate host. We applied DNA barcoding and morphometric analysis to differentiate cystacanth larvae from G. lacustris sampled from 17 Albertan water bodies. We slide-mounted specimens and measured morphological traits relating to proboscis hooks. We sequenced the standard DNA barcoding region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). Morphometric analysis suggested that the acanthocephalans we collected belonged to four morphologically different groups that keyed to Polymorphus contortus (Bremser, 1821) Travassos, 1926; P. marilis Van Cleave, 1939; P. paradoxus Connel et Corner, 1957; and P. strumosoides (Lundström, 1942) Amin, 2013. Our Bayesian tree based on COI sequences generally corroborated the morphological results and supported that the specimens assigned to P. cf. contortus and P. cf. strumosoides belong to two distinct species. In contrast, the Bayesian tree showed that specimens of P. cf. marilis were nested as a cluster within the P. cf. paradoxus clade. Similarly, small pairwise genetic distance (< 2%) between specimens identified as P. cf. contortus and P. cf. strumosoides suggests that they are conspecific. Future studies should use morphology and sequence data from adult acanthocephalans to assess the taxonomic identity of the cystacanth-based Polymorphus taxa. Our study is the first to provide genetic information for the four Polymorphus taxa and emphasizes the importance of applying multiple approaches to differentiate parasite species.

Exploring parasites in extreme environments of high conservational importance: Artemia franciscana (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) as intermediate host of avian cestodes in Andean hypersaline lagoons from Salar de Atacama, Chile.

The hypersaline lagoons located in evaporation basins or salars (salt flats) in the Atacama Desert are extreme environments harbouring a specialised biota able to survive harsh conditions for life. The knowledge of the parasitic biodiversity of these extreme habitats is still scarce despite their functional importance in regulating relevant non-economic services like habitats of waterbirds. The present study is the first report on the cestode infection of Artemia franciscana Kellogg in Salar de Atacama lagoons in northern Chile. A total of 23 parasite larvae were isolated and identified as belonging to five cestode taxa of the order Cyclophyllidea: two species of the family Hymenolepididae, i.e. Flamingolepis sp. 1 and Flamingolepis sp. 2 (adults parasitic in flamingos); two species of Dilepididae, i.e. Fuhrmannolepis averini (adults parasitic in phalaropes) and Eurycestus avoceti (adult parasitic in charadriforms birds); and one species of Progynotaeniidae, i.e. Gynandrotaenia (?) stammeri (adult parasitic in flamingos). The cysticercoids of each species are described and figured. The study represents the first geographical record of the genera Eurycestus, Gynandrotaenia and Fuhrmannolepis in South America and the first report of Gynandrotaenia and Flamingolepis in A. franciscana in its native range. This survey also contributes to the knowledge of cestodes of Phoenicopteriformes and Charadriiformes and their life cycles in the Neotropical Region. A review of cestodes recorded in brine shrimps of the genus Artemia in the world is provided. Further studies on cestode fauna of aquatic birds and their intermediate hosts in hypersaline habitats of the Neotropical Region are needed to understand their functional role in such extreme and unique ecosystems.

On the geographic genetic variants of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis with reference to the original descriptions from Bowles et al. (1992) and Bowles and McManus (1993), and their use.

Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by the larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis (Leuckart, 1863), is of increasing concern in the northern hemisphere. Most cases of alveolar echinococcosis (excluding Alaska) appear to be linked with European and Asian genotypes that highlight the need for a more precise delimiting of their actual distribution and tracing historical episodes of their translocations and introductions into new areas. We have herein summarized previous available research studies, which mentioned firstly described geographic M1/M2 variants of E. multilocularis using molecular tools (established by sequencing of mitochondrial genes cox1, 366 bp and nad1, 471 bp), in an attempt to consolidate their correct affiliations with the geographic origin in sense of the original description from the early 1990´s. Since 2009, inverted designations (M1 named as M2 and vice versa) are being prevailing in research literature (we found ten erroneous vs. three correct classifications) that might bias genetic interpretation of comparative data in specific cases. When comparing M1/M2 profiles to those obtained from mitochondrial evidences over the last decades, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the M1 strain (originally described from China, Alaska, North America) grouped with the Asian clade of E. multilocularis more recently established, whereas the M2 strain (described from the German vole) had a specific structure, in cox1 clustering with the North American clade. It is presumed that events of intercontinental expansion and isolation covering glacial and interglacial periods during the late Pleistocene have likely accounted for the transmission of this discrete genotype from Beringia into endemic area of western and central Europe via circumpolar movements of foxes.

Molecular Identification of Anisakis Larvae Extracted by Gastrointestinal Endoscopy from Health Check-up Patients in Korea.

Anisakiasis is a zoonotic disease induced by anisakid nematodes, and endoscopic inspection is used for a diagnosis or remedy for it. Anisakis simplex, Anisakis physeteris, and Pseudoterranova decipiens had been reported to be the major species causing human infections, particularly, in Japan. However, in Korea, recent studies strongly suggested that Anisakis pegreffii is the major species of human infections. To support this suggestion, we collected anisakid larvae (n=20) from 20 human patients who were undergone gastrointestinal endoscopy at a health check-up center in Korea, and molecular identification was performed on the larvae using PCR-RFLP analysis and gene sequencing of rDNA ITS regions and mtDNA cox2. In addition, anisakid larvae (n=53) collected from the sea eel (Astroconger myriaster) were also examined for comparison with those extracted from humans. The results showed that all human samples (100%) were identified as A. pegreffii, whereas 90.7% of the samples from the sea eel were A. pegreffii with the remaining 9.3% being Hysterothylacium aduncum. Our study confirmed that A. pegreffii is the predominant species causing human anisakiasis in Korea, and this seems to be due to the predominance of this larval type in the fish (sea eels) popularly consumed by the Korean people. The possibility of human infection with H. aduncum in Korea is also suggested.

Contracaecum larvae: morphological and morphometric retrospective analysis, biogeography and zoonotic risk in the amazon / Larva de Contracaecum: análise retrospectiva morfológica e morfométrica, biogeografia e risco zoonótico na amazônia

Abstract In Brazil there are several records of parasitic nematodes of fish with zoonotic potential, especially those belonging to the family Anisakidae. This study considers the morphology, morphometry and prevalence of Contracaecum in Astronotus ocellatus , fish consumed in the Amazon and sold as ornamental and it also performs a retrospective analysis of the diversity of fish with larvae of Contracaecum, in studies carried out in Brazil over a period of 90 years. 40 specimens of A. ocellatus were necropsied, and the nematodes were collected and fixed in 93 parts 70% ethyl alcohol, 5 parts formaldehyde, and 2 parts glacial acetic acid (AFA) for morphological analysis under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Of the 40 fish collected during this work, 27 were parasitized by Contracaecum larvae with a total intensity of 150 larvae. Retrospective analysis of intermediate host diversity for Contracaecum larvae resulted in 16 orders, 49 families, 96 genera, 140 species and a hybrid morphotype. In the retrospective study, half of the fish were from freshwater, with the order Perciformes being the most representative, with 16 families, 30 genera and 37 species. In Brazil, the occurrence of larvae of Contracaecum in fish was reported in 15 of the 26 states, with Rio de Janeiro presenting the most information regarding fish harboring Contracaecum larvae.

Resumo No Brasil existem vários registros de nematóides parasitos de peixes com potencial zoonótico, especialmente aqueles pertencentes à família Anisakidae. Este estudo considera a morfologia, morfometria e prevalência de Contracaecum em Astronotus ocellatus, peixe consumido na Amazônia e vendido como ornamental, e também realiza uma análise retrospectiva da ictiofauna parasitada com larvas de Contracaecum, em estudos realizados no Brasil, durante um período de 90 anos. 40 espécimes de A. ocellatus foram necropsiados, e os nematóides foram coletados e fixados em 93 partes de álcool etílico 70%, 5 partes de formaldeído e 2 partes de ácido acético glacial (AFA) para análise morfológica em microscopia de luz e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Dos 40 peixes coletados durante este trabalho, 27 estavam parasitados por Contracaecum, com intensidade total de 150 larvas. Análises retrospectivas da diversidade de hospedeiros intermediários para larvas de Contracaecum resultaram em 16 ordens, 49 famílias, 96 gêneros,140 espécies e um morfotipo híbrido. No estudo retrospectivo, metade dos peixes eram de água doce, sendo a ordem Perciformes a mais representativa, com 16 famílias, 30 gêneros e 37 espécies. No Brasil, a ocorrência de larvas de Contracaecum em peixes foi relatada em 15 dos 26 estados, com o Rio de Janeiro apresentando mais informações sobre peixes portadores de larvas de Contracaecum.

Tapeworm larvae in Artemia franciscana (Crustacea: Anostraca) in the Godolphin lakes of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) throughout an annual cycle.

A total of 1840 brine shrimps (Artemia franciscana) were examined for cestode larvae at monthly intervals between November 2015 and June 2016. Of these, 663 (36.03%) specimens were infected with cysticercoids of seven cestode species in numbers between one and sixteen. During the first four months of examination, the percentage of infected shrimps was low but rose significantly with increasing temperatures in March, reaching maximum values in May. Flamingolepis liguloides and Flamingolepis flamingo showed the highest prevalence overall, at 25.3 and 10.7%, respectively. The intensity of infection was 1-10 and 1-4 cysticercoids, respectively. Eurycestus avoceti, Wardium stellorae, Gynandrotaenia stammeri, Anomotaenia tringae and Confluaria podicipina occurred at lower prevalence of 4.5, 3.2, 1.7, 0.3 and 0.05%, respectively. Up to four species were detected in one host.

Cavitary myiasis and its management.

OBJECTIVE: Myiasis is a parasitic disease of humans and vertebrates, caused by fly larvae feeding on the host's necrotic or living tissue. Myiasis is classified into cutaneous and cavitary myiasis. Cavitary myiasis is rare and occurs more frequently in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and America associated with low economic status and poor hygiene. This article reviews current literature, provides general descriptions, and discusses life cycles of each species. It also gives diagnosis, treatment techniques and descriptions of each type of illness that result from interaction / infestation.

A New Gall Midge Species of Asphondylia (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Inducing Flower Galls on Clinopodium nepeta (Lamiaceae) From Europe, Its Phenology, and Associated Fungi.

A new gall midge, Asphondylia nepetae sp. n. Viggiani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), causing flower gall on Clinopodium nepeta (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), is described from Europe. The morphological characteristics of adult, larvae, and pupa are described and illustrated. Molecular approach (by sequencing 28S-D2, ITS2, and COI) confirmed that A. nepetae is a distinct species. The development of the gall is always associated with the presence of the fungus Botryosphaeria dothidea (Moug.: Fr.) Ces. and De Not. (Botryosphaeriales: Botryosphaeriaceae). The new species can complete several generations per year, on the flowers of the same host plant and its adults emerge from late spring to autumn. Pupae overwinter inside peculiar flower galls in a state of quiescence. The impact of the pest is highly variable with a percentage of flowers infested that ranged between 3 and 57.5% in the sampled years. Insect mortality was, at least in part, due to parasitoids that attack the young stages of the midge. Among them, the dominant species was Sigmophora brevicornis (Panzer) (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae).

Using SDS-PAGE gel fingerprinting to identify soft-bodied wood-boring insect larvae to species.

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the progress that we have made in assessing the feasibility of 'fingerprinting' using imaged SDS-PAGE gels of haemolymph proteins, to identify soft-bodied wood-boring insect larvae such as the Asian longhorn beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motscholsky, 1853) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Because of stringent import restrictions and difficulty in obtaining licences to work with these organisms, we opted to work with four species of scarab beetle, Mecynorhina polyphemus (Fabricius, 1781), Pachnoda sinuata (Fabricius, 1775), Eucidella shiratica (Csiki, 1909) and Eucidella shultzeorum (Kolbe, 1906) which have near identical larval morphologies. RESULTS: We show that this technology when combined with an advanced pattern matching system (Digital Automated Identification SYstem - DAISY) can classify soft-bodied insect larvae that are almost identical morphologically to species at a level of accuracy is in excess of 98%. The study also indicates that the technology copes well with noisy data and small training sets. CONCLUSION: The experience gained in undertaking this study gives us confidence that we will be able to develop a field deployable system in the medium term. We believe that as a high-throughput identification tool, this technology is superior to competitor technologies (e.g. fingerprinting of imaged DNA gels) in terms of speed, cost and ease of use; and therefore, is suitable for low-cost deployment in the field. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a new species of gall midge from Brazil associated with Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae) / Lopesia davillae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), uma nova espécie de cecidomiídeo do Brazil associada à Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae)

Abstract Lopesia davillae, a new species of gall midge associated with the reproductive structures of Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), is described and illustrated (larva, pupa, male, female, and damage) based on material collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This new species is compared with its congeneric species. This is the first record of Lopesia on Dilleniaceae.

Resumo Lopesia davillae, uma nova espécie de Cecidomyiidae associada a estruturas reprodutivas de Davilla rugosa (Dilleniaceae), é descrita e ilustrada (larva, pupa, macho, fêmea e dano) com base em material coletado no estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A nova espécie é comparada com as outras espécies conhecidas do mesmo gênero. Este é o primeiro registro de Lopesia em Dilleniaceae.

Neolasioptera pantaneira, a new species of Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) associated with Aeschynomene denticulata (Fabaceae) from Brazil / Neolasioptera pantaneira, uma nova espécie de Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) associada com Aeschynomene denticulata (Fabaceae) do Brasil

Abstract A new species of gall midge that induces stem galls on Aeschynomene denticulata (Fabaceae) is described based on material collected in Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil). This species is unique among the Brazilian congeners in having spatula with three convex teeth, cruciate, with defined anterolateral extensions, four lateral papillae on each side of the spatula, and three pairs of terminal papillae (larva), four-segmented palpi (adult), 17 flagellomeres (female), ovipositor about 11 times length of seventh tergite.

Resumo Uma nova espécie de Cecidomyiidae que induz galhas caulinares em Aeschynomene denticulata (Fabaceae) é descrita com base em material coletado no Pantanal (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil). Esta espécie é única entre as congenéricas brasileiras por possuir espátula com três dentes convexos, com extensões anterolaterais cruzadas e bem definidas, quatro papilas laterais de cada lado da espátula e três pares papilas terminais (larva), palpos com quatro segmentos (adulto), 17 flagelômeres (fêmeas), ovipositor cerca de 11 vezes mais longo que o sétimo tergito.

Miasis cutánea por Cochliomyia hominivorax asociada a dermatitis seborreica: case report / Cutaneous myiasis due to Cochliomyia hominivorax associated with seborrheic dermatitis

Myiasis is an infestation of tissues and organs of humans and animals by Diptera larvae (flies, horseflies, mosquitoes). They are located at different body sites, and classified clinically as cutaneous, visceral and cavitary. We report a 26-year-old woman with a history of seborrheic dermatitis and recent trip to Brazil. She presented with a seven days history of suppurating wounds in the parieto-occipital area of the scalp. At physical examination we found three ulcers of approximately 1.5 cm each, with multiple mobile larvae inside. The obtained larvae were analyzed, identifying Cochliomyia hominivorax larvae at L2 and L3 stages. The patient was managed successfully with oral antimicrobials and local cleansing. The screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax in our country is rare. Known risk factors are wounds, poor personal hygiene, extreme ages, psychiatric disorders, presence of specific dermatosis such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis, among others.

Distribuição espacial e sazonal de Aedes aegypti e Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) no Parque Municipal do Piqueri, São Paulo / Spatial and seasonal distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Piqueri Municipal Park, São Paulo

Introdução: Febre amarela urbana, dengue, chikungunya e Zika vírus são arboviroses transmitidas pela picada das fêmeas de mosquitos do gênero Aedes, principalmente Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus. São espécies simpátricas, que desenvolvem-se nos mesmos criadouros, porém, alguns aspectos biológicos desses vetores, como a distribuição e frequência, são influenciados pelo nível de urbanização do ambiente e pelas variáveis climáticas. Objetivo: Avaliar a distribuição e frequência do Ae. aegypti e Ae. albopictus em três diferentes áreas do Parque Municipal do Piqueri, na zona leste de São Paulo, durante a primavera e o outono. Metodologia: Durante seis semanas consecutivas das primaveras de 2014 e de 2015 e dos outonos de 2015 e de 2016, ovitrampas foram instaladas em três diferentes áreas do parque, delimitadas de acordo com a distância da região habitada e grau de cobertura vegetal: A (interna), B (intermediária) e C (periférica). No laboratório, os ovos eclodiram sob temperatura ambiente e larvas L4 foram identificadas por espécie. Dados de temperatura e pluviosidade foram obtidos junto ao Centro de Gerenciamento de Emergências da Prefeitura de São Paulo. Resultados: Foram coletados 38.561 ovos de Aedes, 23.509 larvas foram identificadas: 5.270 de Ae. aegypti e 18.239 de Ae. albopictus. O maior número de ovos foi coletado nas primaveras (25.457; 66 por cento ) e a maior taxa de eclosão de ovos foi obtida nos outonos (68,3 por cento em 2015; 80,4 por cento em 2016). Utilizando a Razão de Taxas de Incidência (Incidence Rate Ratio, IRR), os modelos da regressão binominal negativa indicaram associação entre a oviposição dos vetores e estação, sendo essa associação explicada pelas temperaturas máximas e mínimas. Os mapas da krigagem evidenciaram a distribuição espacial das espécies com Ae. aegypti concentrado na área C, a qual está fortemente associado e Ae. albopictus distribuindo-se pelas três áreas de estudo, principalmente A e B, sem associação significativa. Conclusão: A presença de Ae. aeypti e Ae. albopictus já foi apontado nos parques da cidade de São Paulo, mostrando o quanto esses culicídeos estão adaptados a essas áreas verde urbanas. Os resultados do estudo corroboram com dados da literatura e demonstram que, o aumento em uma unidade das variáveis temperatura máxima e mínima, incide também no aumento da oviposição de ambas espécies. A distribuição espacial mostrou o padrão de segregação dos vetores com Ae. aegypti, estritamente antropofílico, concentrado na área C, próxima a região habitada, enquanto Ae. albopictus, de comportamento eclético e associado a áreas com determinado grau de cobertura vegetal, concentrado entre as áreas A e B, mas também encontrado na área C. Os parques urbanos podem servir de refúgio para essas espécies vetoras, que encontram abrigo e fonte de alimento nesses locais, podendo estabelecer ciclos de transmissão de arbovírus, portanto, é de grande interesse que a vigilância epidemiológica também atue nessas áreas

Introduction: Urban yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus are arboviruses transmitted by the bite of females of mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, mainly Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. They are sympatric species that develop in the same breeding sites, but some biological aspects of these vectors, such as distribution and frequency, are influenced by the level of urbanization of the environment and by climatic variables. Objective: To evaluate the distribution and frequency of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in three different areas of Piqueri Municipal Park, in the east zone of São Paulo, during spring and autumn. Methodology: During six consecutive weeks of spring of 2014 and 2015 and the autumn of 2015 and 2016, oviposition traps were installed in three different areas of the park, delimited according to the distance of the inhabited region and degree of vegetation coverage: A (internal), B (intermediate ) and C (peripheral). In the laboratory, eggs hatched at room temperature and L4 larvae were identified by species. Temperature and rainfall data were obtained from the Emergency Management Center of the City of São Paulo (CGE/SP). Results: A total of 38.561 Aedes eggs were collected, 23.509 larvae were identified: 5.270 Ae. aegypti and 18.239 from Ae. albopictus. The highest number of eggs was collected in the spring (25.457; 66 per cent ) and the highest egg hatching rate was obtained in the autumn (68,3 per cent in 2015; 80,4 per cent in 2016). Using the Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR), the negative binomial regression models indicated an association between the oviposition of the vectors and the season, being this association explained by the maximum and minimum temperatures. The kriging maps showed the spatial distribution of Ae. aegypti concentrated in area C, which is strongly associated and Ae. albopictus was distributed throughout the three study areas, mainly A and B, without significant association. Conclusion: The presence of Ae. aeypti and Ae. albopictus has already been pointed out in the parks of the city of São Paulo, showing how much these mosquitoes are adapted to these urban green areas. The results of the study corroborate with data from the literature and show that the increase in one unit of the maximum and minimum temperature variables also affects the increase of oviposition of both species. The spatial distribution showed the spatial segregation pattern of the vectors with Ae. aegypti, strictly anthropophilic, concentrated where human contact is greatest (area C), while Ae. albopictus, with eclectic behavior and associated with areas with a certain degree of vegetation coverage, although it has concentrated its distribution between areas A and B, was also found in area C. Urban parks can serve as a refuge for these vectors species that find shelter and source of food in these places, being able establish cycles of arbovirus transmission, therefore, it is of great interest that epidemiological surveillance also act in these areas

Host plant range of a fruit fly community (Diptera: Tephritidae): does fruit composition influence larval performance?

BACKGROUND: Phytophagous insects differ in their degree of specialisation on host plants, and range from strictly monophagous species that can develop on only one host plant to extremely polyphagous species that can develop on hundreds of plant species in many families. Nutritional compounds in host fruits affect several larval traits that may be related to adult fitness. In this study, we determined the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and the degree of host specialisation of seven of the eight tephritid species present in La Réunion; these species are known to have very different host ranges in natura. In the laboratory, larval survival, larval developmental time, and pupal weight were assessed on 22 fruit species occurring in La Réunion. In addition, data on fruit nutritional composition were obtained from existing databases. RESULTS: For each tephritid, the three larval traits were significantly affected by fruit species and the effects of fruits on larval traits differed among tephritids. As expected, the polyphagous species Bactrocera zonata, Ceratitis catoirii, C. rosa, and C. capitata were able to survive on a larger range of fruits than the oligophagous species Zeugodacus cucurbitae, Dacus demmerezi, and Neoceratitis cyanescens. Pupal weight was positively correlated with larval survival and was negatively correlated with developmental time for polyphagous species. Canonical correspondence analysis of the relationship between fruit nutrient composition and tephritid survival showed that polyphagous species survived better than oligophagous ones in fruits containing higher concentrations of carbohydrate, fibre, and lipid. CONCLUSION: Nutrient composition of host fruit at least partly explains the suitability of host fruits for larvae. Completed with female preferences experiments these results will increase our understanding of factors affecting tephritid host range.

Cryptic species in the nuisance midge Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae) and the status of Tripedilum Kieffer.

Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse, 1889), originally described from Australia, is an apparently widespread species of Chironomidae (Diptera) that can attain nuisance densities in some eutrophic water bodies. Appropriate management depends upon the identity and ability to distinguish from potential cryptic taxa. A morphological study of larvae, pupae and adults of both sexes confirmed P. nubifer as widely distributed and frequently abundant, but also revealed two previously cryptic species of limited distribution in northern Australia. These species are described as new and illustrated in all stages here. Polypedilum quasinubifer Cranston sp. n. is described from north-west Queensland, Australia and also from Thailand and Singapore. Polypedilum paranubifer Cranston sp. n. is known only from retention ponds of a uranium mine in Northern Territory, Australia. Unusual morphological features of P. nubifer including alternate Lauterborn organs on the larval antenna, cephalic tubules on the pupa and frontal tubercles on the adult head are present in both new species as well. Newly slide-mounted types of Polypedilum pelostolum Kieffer, 1912 (lectotype designated here) confirm synonymy to Chironomus nubifer Skuse, 1889, examined also as newly-slide mounted types. Reviewed plus new evidence does not support recognition of Tripedilum Kieffer, 1921 as a separate taxon; therefore, Tripedilum is returned to junior synonymy with Polypedilum s. str.

Early larvae ontogeny of the Neotropical fishes: Prochilodus costatus and P. argenteus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae) / Ontogenia temprana de larvas de peces neotropicales: Prochilodus costatus y P. argenteus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

AbstractEarly development of fish larvae is a highly dynamic process and its study may provide important information about ontogenetic development, bioenergetic growth, behaviour, taxonomic characteristics for identification in natural environments, identification of spawning areas, and population monitoring. With the aim to provide knowledge about their growth and behaviour, to support larval rearing, and also taxonomic purposes, we studied the life history of the Prochilodus argenteus and P. costatus from hatching until the complete absorption of the yolk. Larvae were obtained through artificial reproduction at the Hydrobiology and Aquaculture Station of Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Immediately after hatching, 100 larvae of each species were put in two plastic incubators for conditioning. On a daily basis, larvae behavior was recorded and 14 larvae of each species were collected to analyse body morphology. On the first day after hatching, larvae of P. costatus and P. argenteus showed an elongated and transparent body; the yolk sac was filled with individualized yolk globules. In both species, the embryonic fin rounded the caudal region of the body, the retina was non-pigmented and the gut was obliterated. At the second day post-hatching, larvae of both species dendritic chromatophores had emerged, the mouth was obliterated and the pectoral fin was observed. The larvae showed 38-43 myomeres in P. costatus and 42-43 in P. argenteus. For both species, the gas bladder was inflated and the lumen of the gut was already open. On the third day post-hatching, the mouth of P. costatus and P. argenteus was already open in a sub-terminal position; the retina was pigmented; the gill arches had lamellar protrusions and were partially covered by the operculum. On the fourth day post-hatching, the pigmentation pattern was maintained with greater intensity; the mouth occupied a terminal position, the yolk sac was almost completely reabsorbed, and the pectoral and caudal fins showed mesenchymal rays in both species. The gut showed a broad lumen with folded mucosa and epithelium with striated border. The larvae of both species showed similar swimming behaviour. Our study provided understanding about the morphophysiological aspects, species identification, larval development and growth, and the ontogenic characteristics of two Neotropical fishes with importance for commercial and sports fishing. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (2): 537-546. Epub 2016 June 01.

ResumenEl desarrollo temprano de las larvas de peces es un proceso altamente dinámico y estudiarlo proporciona información importante sobre su desarrollo ontogénico, su crecimiento bioenergético, su comportamiento, las características taxonómicas para la identificación en entornos naturales, la identificación de las zonas de desove y la vigilancia de la población. Los primeros años de vida de Prochilodus argenteus y Prochilodus costatus fueron estudiados desde la eclosión hasta la completa absorción de la yema, con el fin de proporcionar conocimiento sobre los caracteres taxonómicos y el crecimiento y comportamiento, lo cual puede ser aplicado al desarrollo de la cría de larvas. Las larvas fueron obtenidas junto a la Estación de Hidrobiología y Acuicultura de Três Marias, Minas Gerais, donde fueron reproducidas artificialmente. Inmediatamente después de la eclosión, aproximadamente 100 larvas de cada especie fueron acondicionadas en dos incubadoras de plástico. El comportamiento de las larvas fue registrado diariamente y fueron recolectadas 14 larvas de cada especie para análisis morfológico del cuerpo. En el primer día después de la eclosión las larvas de P. costatus y P. argenteus presentaban cuerpos alargados y transparentes. El saco vitelino se llenó de glóbulos de vitelo individualizados. En las dos especies, la aleta embrionaria circundaba la región caudal del cuerpo, la retina no presentaba pigmentos y el intestino estaba obliterado. En el segundo día, en las larvas de ambas especies habían surgido cromatóforos dendríticos, la boca estaba obliterada y fue registrada una aleta pectoral. Las larvas presentaban 38-43 miómeros en P. costatus y 42-43 en P. argenteus. En las dos ecpecies la vejiga de gas estaba inflada y el lumen del intestino ya estaba abierto. En el tercer día, la boca tanto del P. costatus como del P. argenteus ya estaba abierta en una posición subterminal. La retina estaba pigmentada, los arcos branquiales tenían protuberancias laminares y estaban parcialmente cubiertos por el opérculo. En el cuarto día, el patrón de pigmentación se presentó con mayor intensidad; la boca ocupó una posición terminal, el saco vitelino fue casi completamente reabsorbido y las aletas pectorales y caudales presentaban rayos mesenquimales en ambas especies. El intestino mostró un amplio lumen, con la mucosa plegada y el epitelio con borde estriado. Las larvas de ambas especies mostraron un comportamiento similar de natación durante el periodo de prueba. Nuestro estudio provee conocimiento sobre aspectos morfofisiológicos, identificación de especies, desarrollo y crecimiento larval y características ontogénicas de dos peces subtropicales de importancia para la pesca comercial y deportiva.

A case report: A rare case of infant gastrointestinal canthariasis caused by larvae of Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae).

BACKGROUND: Canthariasis is a disease of humans caused by the infestation of beetle larvae. It is the second important insectal disease after myiasis. Several species of beetles are reported to cause the disease in gastrointestinal tract, urogenital system, nasal sinuses, ears and faces of mammals. The cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne is a widespread and destructive pest that usually feeds on tobacco, tea, beans, cereal grains, and animal and plant specimen. While there was no previous evidence of human infestation by this worm, we report the first case of L. serricorne infestation in a baby girl in China. CASE PRESENTATION: Here the case, an eight-month-old baby girl with irritable feeling, rubbing eyes, history of contact with mud and eating oranges twice during five days before attendance, and having "worms" in her stool was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. The clinical examination revealed that the pulse rate, blood pressure and temperature were regular, and the examination of the head, neck, and chest were unremarkable. The stool specimens containing "worms" were sent to the Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University. The worms were recovered, studied morphologically using naked eyes and anatomical lens, PCR analyzed targeting cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) and 18S rRNA genes, examined by sequence analyses of the PCR products and finally classified by phylogenetic analysis to identify their species. Based on the findings, the worms were diagnosed as the larvae of L. serricorne. CONCLUSION: This report implies that the baby had an infestation with the larvae of L. serricorne in the gastrointestine. During contact with mud or eating oranges by the girl, worm eggs were swallowed into the stomach and resisted gastric acid digestion which eventually hatched into larvae and caused canthariasis. The 8 months girl had underdeveloped immune system which might facilitate the disease. This report implicates that L. serricorne can infest human accidentally and cause canthariasis that may lead to severe damage to infant and older patient upon involvement of important organs of the body. The patients once diagnosed having canthariasis should be treated in time.