Publications by authors named "Aleksandra Ignjatovic Cupina"

and are the two most widespread and important species of mosquito-borne nematodes, posing a significant threat to veterinary health and particularly affecting canines and felines. While causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis, causes subcutaneous infections in dogs and other carnivores. Despite the extensive knowledge on these parasites, little is known about their natural vectors in Serbia.

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Urban areas are often populated by specific species of insects, some colorful and appealing, such as ladybugs and butterflies, and others irritating as nuisance bitters or as vectors of pathogens of public health importance. Mosquitoes in urban areas often utilize habitats adjacent to human residences, while phytophagous insect species such as stink bugs often colonize ornamental plants and utilize human-made structures including houses as overwintering shelters. This article discusses the early detection and the current distribution of two invasive mosquito species, Skuse 1894 and (Theobald 1901), in Serbia, introduced in 2009 and 2018, respectively.

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the bio-efficacy of two different acaricides against mobile stages of hard ticks Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata in their natural habitats. The study was conducted during 2020 and 2021 at localities populated by I. ricinus as the predominant species, at which the presence of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia lusitaniae was confirmed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The research focuses on the sterile insect technique (SIT) to control an invasive pest species, comparing three larval diet recipes used for rearing sterilized male insects.
  • Among the diets tested, BCWPRL yielded the highest proportion of male pupae, but development was slower compared to the other diets, while MIX-14 resulted in the longest adult survival.
  • Economically, BCWPRL and MIX-14 are significantly cheaper alternatives to the more costly IAEA-BY diet, with MIX-14 being the most cost-effective option for producing sterile males.
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The results of the Serbian national integrated West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance program conducted in 2018 and funded by the Serbian Veterinary Directorate are presented. The WNV surveillance program encompassed the entire territory of Serbia and was conducted by the veterinary service in collaboration with entomologists and ornithologists. The objective of the program was early detection of WNV circulation in the environment and timely reporting to the public health service and local authorities to increase clinical and mosquito control preparedness.

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The Asian bush mosquito, Aedes japonicus japonicus (Theobald, 1901), a potential vector of several pathogens, has recently established in North America and Central Europe. In 2013, it was found on the Slovenian-Croatian border, and during the following years, it emerged in more and more counties of northwestern Croatia. Surveillance of Ae.

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A study on the occurrence of Dirofilaria immitis and its vectors was carried out in order to assess the prevalence of the disease in dogs in previously non-endemic areas of southern Italy. Blood samples (n = 385) and mosquitoes (n = 1540) were collected in two dog shelters and analysed by Knott's test and duplex real-time PCR, respectively. Dirofilaria immitis was the most prevalent filarioid (44.

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Motivated by the One Health paradigm, we found the expected changes in temperature and UV radiation (UVR) to be a common trigger for enhancing the risk that viruses, vectors, and diseases pose to human and animal health. We compared data from the mosquito field collections and medical studies with regional climate model projections to examine the impact of climate change on the spreading of one malaria vector, the circulation of West Nile virus (WNV), and the incidence of melanoma. We analysed data obtained from ten selected years of standardised mosquito vector sampling with 219 unique location-year combinations, and 10 years of melanoma incidence.

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Article Synopsis
  • The genus Culicoides is significant for its role in transmitting bluetongue virus (BTV) to ruminants, which has recently become endemic in parts of Europe, especially the Balkans.
  • This study collected 8,586 specimens from 41 species across several Balkan countries, providing the first faunistic data for FYROM, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia, while also updating historical records for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Croatia.
  • The research highlights the presence of BTV vector species and reveals that 14 species were recorded for the first time in this region, offering new insights into the spread of BTV in the Balkans.
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Background: Blackflies have negative impact on public and animal health due to the haematophagous habit of females. In recent times, in some regions in Spain, blackfly outbreaks are becoming more and more frequent, threatening the public health. However, there is still a paucity of data concerning the Spanish blackfly fauna.

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Studies conducted during the past few years have confirmed active West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in Serbia. Based on these studies and the epidemiological situation, the Veterinary Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection launched national WNV surveillance programmes in 2014 and 2015. The programmes encompassed the territory of Serbia and were conducted by the veterinary service in collaboration with entomologists and ornithologists.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Efforts to monitor West Nile virus (WNV) in Vojvodina, Serbia began in 2005, evolving into a national surveillance program by 2014 that included humans, mosquitoes, horses, and birds.
  • - The surveillance system showcased its effectiveness in detecting virus circulation and identifying risk areas, particularly demonstrating strong correlations between infected mosquitoes and human cases, especially in 2014-2015.
  • - By 2010, WNV was identified across 43 mosquito trapping locations, with multiple detections at several stations over different years, leading to ongoing improvements in surveillance strategies for better public health response.
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The European black fly Simulium (Simulium) colombaschense (Scopoli), once responsible for as many as 22,000 livestock deaths per year, is chromosomally mapped, permitting its evolutionary relationships and pest drivers to be inferred. The species is 12 fixed inversions removed from the standard sequence of the subgenus Simulium. Three of these fixed inversions, 38 autosomal polymorphisms, and a complex set of 12 X and 6 Y chromosomes in 29 zygotic combinations uniquely characterize S.

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Introduction: Flies - by feeding on decaying matter, human waste and food - have been implicated in the spread of numerous animal and human diseases. Excessive fly populations are generally associated with livestock units and domestic waste due to decaying organic matter. A large number of flies cause extreme disturbance in the behavior of the host, resulting in skin irritation, lesions, wounds, and secondary infections are likely to appear.

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Background: Among the arthropod-borne nematodes infesting dogs, Onchocerca lupi (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) is of increasing zoonotic concern, with new human cases of infection diagnosed in Turkey, Tunisia, Iran and the USA. Knowledge of the biology of this nematode is meagre. This study aimed at assessing the distribution and periodicity of O.

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During a hot Mediterranean summer, an expedition brought parasitologists from Brazil, France, Greece, Italy, and Serbia to a wooded area near Xanthi, Thrace, northeastern Greece, near the Turkish border, on the track of the vector of the little-known nematode Onchocerca lupi. The scientific purposes of the expedition blended then with stories of humans, animals, and parasites in this rural area.

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