Impact of anti-sandfly saliva antibodies on biological aspects of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Sandflies are the main vectors of Leishmania parasites in tropical and subtropical areas. The immunization of vertebrate hosts with vector components through repeated bites may offer an alternative method for sandfly control. Aliquots of female Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) were weekly blood fed on 12 individual hamsters throughout 18 successive weeks. Significant biological and biochemical changes resulting from antibodies developed by immunized host sera against repeated biting were observed in sandfly females. Blood feeding and fertility rates of females significantly gradually declined to the end of the study period. No appreciable difference was observed in mortality rates among flies repeatedly fed on individual hamsters throughout weeks 9 and 18, compared to flies fed on naïve hamsters. Total salivary gland proteins of female sandflies were compared to proteins in sera of sensitized hamsters. SDS-page revealed bands common to both flies and hosts, indicating the development of anti-saliva antibodies in hamster sera. The importance of anti-sandfly saliva antibodies as a potential tool for vector control leading to the interruption of leishmaniasis is discussed.

Analysis of phoretic relation between chewing lice and hippoboscid flies of Columba livia.

Phoresy is a biologically mechanical phenomena where an immobile organism hitches on a other mobile organism to translocate. This behaviour is not studied very well on the field level especially between two important parasites infesting the same host. Parasite/parasite interaction is rarely studied through most biological host-parasite systems. Here, we evaluated the phoretic relation between parasitic chewing lice and hippoboscid flies (Pseudolynchia canariensis) on rock pigeons. A total of 69 captivated rock pigeons, Columba livia, were examined for the parasitic chewing lice and hippoboscid flies in Giza Zoo and two local farms near Cairo, Egypt. Results indicated that there is a positive correlation between infestation of hippoboscid flies and chewing lice. Also, the analysis of louse/louse interaction using ANOVA indicated a significant difference between the three chewing louse species which were recorded on the rock pigeons with relatively high abundance of two species, Columbicola columbae and Campanulotes compar. The analysis of hippoboscid flies' abundance and its relation with chewing lice infestation indicate a significant increase of lice intensity in case of high infestation with the fly. The level of hygiene of nest may be inversely related to level of parasite infestation. This work forms a step in the process of understanding parasite/parasite and host/parasite interactions using two parasitic species with a characteristic phoretic behaviour in nature.

Efficacy and safety of ethanolic Curcuma longa extract as a treatment for sand tampan ticks in a rabbit model.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The soft tick Ornithodoros savignyi is distributed throughout Africa, including Egypt. It primarily attacks camels, cattle, donkeys, and cows; and rarely affects humans. This study evaluated the acaricidal efficacy of ethanolic Curcuma longa extract (Turmeric) on the second nymphs of O. savignyi and then investigated the safety of this herb in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nymphs were immersed in 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 mg/ml ethanolic C. longa extract. An additional group was immersed in ethanol as a control. On the 1st, 7th, and 15th-day post-treatment, the mortality percentages, LC50, and LC95 were calculated. The ticks exposed to 10mg/ml ethanol C. longa extract were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three male New Zealand White rabbits were orally administered 2ml (two doses) of 10mg/ml ethanolic C. longa extract, and another three rabbits were orally given two doses of 2ml of absolute ethanol as a negative control. Histopathological examination of the kidney and liver hematology and the kidney and liver function was performed. Chemical analysis of the extract was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: The LC50 and LC95 were 1.31 and 15.07, 1.07 and 8.56, and 0.81 and 6.97mg/ml on the 1st, 7th, and 15thday, respectively. SEM revealed that mamillae and spots on the surfaces of the treated ticks were not discriminating except for some clefts on the surfaces. The histological examination, blood profile, and biochemical analyses revealed no significant differences between the treated and untreated rabbits (p>0.05). GC/MS analysis revealed 50 compounds, and curcumene and tumerone were found to be the major constituents of this ethanolic extract. CONCLUSION: The ethanolic C. longa extract produced a strong acaricidal effect on the second nymph of O. savignyi, and it was safe to use in rabbits.

Climate Change Influences on the Global Potential Distribution of the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, Vector of West Nile Virus and Lymphatic Filariasis.

Rapid emergence of most vector-borne diseases (VBDs) may be associated with range expansion of vector populations. Culex quinquefasciatus Say 1823 is a potential vector of West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, and lymphatic filariasis. We estimated the potential distribution of Cx. quinquefasciatus under both current and future climate conditions. The present potential distribution of Cx. quinquefasciatus showed high suitability across low-latitude parts of the world, reflecting the current distribution of the species. Suitable conditions were identified also in narrow zones of North Africa and Western Europe. Model transfers to future conditions showed a potential distribution similar to that under present-day conditions, although with higher suitability in southern Australia. Highest stability with changing climate was between 30°S and 30°N. The areas present high agreement among diverse climate models as regards distributional potential in the future, but differed in anticipating potential for distribution in North and Central Africa, southern Asia, central USA, and southeastern Europe. Highest disparity in model predictions across representative concentration pathways (RCPs) was in Saudi Arabia and Europe. The model predictions allow anticipation of changing distributional potential of the species in coming decades.