The Effect of SkitoSnack, an Artificial Blood Meal Replacement, on Aedes aegypti Life History Traits and Gut Microbiota.

Public health research and vector control frequently require the rearing of large numbers of vector mosquitoes. All target vector mosquito species are anautogenous, meaning that females require vertebrate blood for egg production. Vertebrate blood, however, is costly, with a short shelf life. To overcome these constraints, we have developed SkitoSnack, an artificial blood meal replacement for the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue, Zika and chikungunya virus. SkitoSnack contains bovine serum albumin and hemoglobin as protein source as well as egg yolk and a bicarbonate buffer. SkitoSnack-raised females had comparable life history traits as blood-raised females. Mosquitoes reared from SkitoSnack-fed females had similar levels of infection and dissemination when orally challenged with dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) and significantly lower infection with DENV-4. When SkitoSnack was used as a vehicle for DENV-2 delivery, blood-raised and SkitoSnack-raised females were equally susceptible. The midgut microbiota differed significantly between mosquitoes fed on SkitoSnack and mosquitoes fed on blood. By rearing 20 generations of Aedes exclusively on SkitoSnack, we have proven that this artificial diet can replace blood in mosquito mass rearing.

Laparoscopic excision of gastric mass yields intra-abdominal esophageal duplication cyst.

A 69-year-old man with presumed solid gastric mass determined by computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasonography, and fine-needle aspiration underwent videoscopic excision of what resulted in a cystic structure consistent with intra-abdominal esophageal duplication cyst. Esophageal duplication cysts are rare congenital lesions that are difficult to diagnose. They seldom occur entirely below the diaphragm, and occurrence in adults is unusual. Only six such cases are reported in the literature. When diagnosis is made, treatment decisions are not always straight forward, although excision is frequently pursued. The current case describes this unique finding and presents laparoscopic excision as a safe treatment alternative.