Diversity, distribution and relative abundance of the mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) of Malakand and Dir Lower, Pakistan

The present study was conducted to evaluate the diversity, distribution (C) and relative abundance (RA) of the mosquito fauna (Diptera: Culicidae) of Malakand and Dir Lower, Pakistan. Collection of specimens (n = 1087) was made during September 2018 to July 2019 at six different habitats including freshwater bodies, rice fields, animal sheds, indoors, drains and sewage waters. Specimens were collected through light traps, pyrethrum spray, aspirators and nets and subsequently killed, preserved and then arranged in entomological boxes for identification. Three genera were identified namely Culex, Anopheles and Aedes. A total of fourteen species were identified namely: Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823), An. stephensi (Liston, 1901), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (Giles, 1901), Ae. vittatus (Bigot, 1861), An. maculatus (Theobald, 1901), An. fluviatilis (James, 1902), Cx. vishnui (Theobald, 1901), Ae. aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) An. subpictus (Grassi, 1899), An. dthali (Patton, 1905), An. culicifascies (Giles, 1901), An. pallidus (Theobald, 1901), Ae. albopictus (Skuse, 1894) and An. annularis (van der Wulp, 1884). Cx. quinquefasciatus was found constantly distributed in the study area with RA = 16.5% and C = 100%. An. annularis was found as a satellite species, sporadically distributed in the study area having RA = 0.9% and C = 17%. Diversity indices of mosquitoes in the studied habitats were found as, Shannon-Wiener Index (2.415), Simpson Index (9.919), Fisher’s Index (2.269) and Margalef’s Index (1.859). A statistically significant difference was recorded in mosquito diversity in the six habitats (Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared, H = 17.5, df = 5, P = 0.003 at α = 0.05). The present study encompasses mosquito fauna of Malakand, Pakistan with respect to diversity, relative abundance and distribution in diverse habitats and all seasons of the year. This will assist scientists working in various fields related with epidemiology, medical and veterinary entomology, ecology and allied areas of biological sciences.

First Report of Culicoides Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Attacking People in Italy, With the Description of Extreme Larval Breeding Sites and Diurnal Activity of Culicoides riethi

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play a paramount role in medical and veterinary entomology worldwide, particularly as vectors of pathogens which cause animal diseases. Biting midges are also infamous for the nuisance they provoke to people involved in outdoor activities. Nonetheless, attacks to man by midges from any Culicoides species have not been reported in Italy. An entomological investigation was performed following repeated attacks to man in a nature park near Rome (central Italy). The study area is a natural degassing zone, characterized by widespread hazardous gas emissions of CO2 and H2S, with several water bodies including permanent lakes, ponds, and pools. The biting midge C. riethi Kieffer, 1914 was very active during daytime in the period April–June. The species has been identified as responsible for attacks on people in the area. An in-depth analysis of the extreme environmental conditions revealed the ability of larvae to thrive in several water bodies, characterized by an extremely low pH and a high concentration of sulfates.

Highlights in Veterinary Entomology, 2020: The Importance of the Contributions of Government Scientists to Research in Veterinary Entomology

The field of veterinary entomology is primarily associated with the study of arthropods that impact the health of animals. Papers featured in the compilation of highlighted research from 2020 focused on studies conducted by scientists from the federal government that sought to understand and manage arthropods associated with wild and domesticated animals. The topics of these articles included research from the basic tenets of veterinary entomology: 1) biology and ecology of economically important pests, 2) novel control tactics and resistance management, 3) genomics, and 4) pathogen transmission. Key findings of the highlighted papers are presented and discussed to serve as a presentation record.

A NEW LABORATORY COLONIZATION OF AEDES AEGYPTI AFTER REEMERGENCE AND UNSUCCESSFUL ERADICATION IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

After unsuccessful eradication attempts against Aedes aegypti (L.) following a sudden re-emergence in St. Augustine, Florida in early 2016; a new locally acquired colony strain of Ae. aegypti was established at the Anastasia Mosquito Control District (AMCD) in June 2017. Aedes aegypti adults were maintained in cages at the AMCD insectary. Larval and adult mosquitoes were collected from downtown St. Augustine, Florida. Female mosquitoes at 5-7 days old were fed upon the exposed forearm of human volunteers in the 1 st and 2 nd generations. Mating was observed in a large cage and confirmed with eggs deposited on wet filter paper in ovicups. Over 90% egg hatch was observed in the laboratory. The new colony strain of Ae. aegypti has been cataloged at the USDA, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology facility in Gainesville, FL and is being used to further research and control this species across North Florida.

Checklist of the mosquito fauna (Diptera, Culicidae) of Cambodia

Between 2016 and 2020, the Medical and Veterinary Entomology unit of the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge collected over 230,000 mosquitoes. Based on this sampling effort, a checklist of 290 mosquito species in Cambodia is presented. This is the first attempt to list the Culicidae fauna of the country. We report 49 species for the first time in Cambodia. The 290 species belong to 20 genera: Aedeomyia (1 sp.), Aedes (55 spp.), Anopheles (53 spp.), Armigeres (26 spp.), Coquillettidia (3 spp.), Culex (57 spp.), Culiseta (1 sp.), Ficalbia (1 sp.), Heizmannia (10 spp.), Hodgesia (3 spp.), Lutzia (3 spp.), Malaya (2 spp.), Mansonia (5 spp.), Mimomyia (7 spp.), Orthopodomyia (3 spp.), Topomyia (4 spp.), Toxorhynchites (4 spp.), Tripteroides (6 spp.), Uranotaenia (27 spp.), and Verrallina (19 spp.). The Cambodian Culicidae fauna is discussed in its Southeast Asian context. Forty-three species are reported to be of medical importance, and are involved in the transmission of pathogens.

Acute toxicity of an insecticidal little containing ivermectin and fipronil for white mice

Toxicological assessment is a mandatory research step in the development of new insecticidal drugs. At the All-Russian Research Institute of Veterinary Entomology and Arachnology, a prototype of the insecticidal bait Mukhnet IF was obtained with an active ingredient content of 0.06% ivermectin and 0.015% fipronil, which showed a highly effective effect against houseflies. This work presents the results of the study of acute oral toxicity of the above agent. For this, male white mice with a live weight of 16-26 g were selected. They were kept on a starvation diet for one day in individual houses with water. The drug was given in mg/kg body weight the next day. A total of 33 doses have been tested, ranging from 100 mg/kg to 40,000 mg/kg. The animals were observed for 14 days. According to the research results, it was revealed that at doses up to 20,000 mg/kg there were no signs of intoxication, but when tested at 25,000 mg/kg in some mice, these signs were noted, and at 30,000, 35,000 and 40,000 mg/kg deaths were recorded 20±10, 45±30 and 60±20%, respectively. It was not possible to test the drug over the last above dose due to incomplete eaten by mice. According to the degree of danger for warm-blooded animals, the drug belongs to the 4th class of low-hazard drugs (average lethal dose of 5000 mg/kg or more) in accordance with the classification of GOST 12.1.007-76. When analyzing the literature data on the toxicological characteristics of preparations containing ivermectin and chlorfenapyr, it was revealed that the insecticidal agent in its acute toxicity for warm-blooded animals is comparable to known analogues.

General Considerations for On-Animal Ectoparasiticidal Product Evaluations

Successfully preparing for and conducting on-animal ectoparasiticidal evaluations is key in providing accurate results and inferences on product performance. However, the procedures associated with designing sound-reliable research projects while using animal test subjects can become complex. The current manuscript offers insights towards the characterization of different evaluation types highlighting key considerations and potential problematic barriers that may otherwise be overlooked by researchers new to the area of on-animal product evaluation. Furthermore, recommendations on reporting inferences from findings based on various study designs are discussed. The authors of the current manuscript offer these considerations in the hopes of maintaining harmony in future reports used to develop and evaluate on-animal ectoparsiticidal products in the field of veterinary entomology.