An Ecological Survey of Mosquitoes and the Distribution of Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, between 2010 and 2014.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a flavivirus, responsible for over 30,000 annual cases of encephalitis worldwide, with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. Therefore, it is important to examine the distribution of mosquitos carrying JEV in the fields, even though recently, the number of Japanese encephalitis cases has been approximately 5 per year in Japan. We report the seasonal dynamics of mosquitoes between 2010 and 2014 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

Maxwell superalgebra and superparticles in constant gauge backgrounds.

We present the Maxwell superalgebra, an N=1, D=4 algebra with two Majorana supercharges, obtained as the minimal enlargement of a Poincaré superalgebra containing the Maxwell algebra as a subalgebra. The new superalgebra describes the supersymmetries of generalized N=1, D=4 superspace in the presence of a constant Abelian supersymmetric field strength background. Applying the techniques of nonlinear coset realization to the Maxwell supergroup we propose a new kappa-invariant massless superparticle model providing a dynamical realization of the Maxwell superalgebra.

Possible involvement of 5-lipoxygenase metabolite in itch-associated response of mosquito allergy in mice.

This study investigated endogenous mediators involved in mosquito allergy-associated itching in mice. An intradermal injection of an extract of mosquito salivary gland elicited marked scratching in sensitized mice. The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton (100 mg/kg), the 5-lipoxygenase activating peptide inhibitor MK-886 (10 mg/kg), and the glucocorticoid betamethasone 17-valerate (3 mg/kg) inhibited the scratching.

Landing preference of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) on human skin among ABO blood groups, secretors or nonsecretors, and ABH antigens.

We demonstrated in this study that blood group O subjects attracted more Aedes albopictus than other blood groups (B, AB, and A) but were only significantly more attractive than blood group A subjects in 64 human landing tests. We collected saliva from the subjects and tested it for agglutination inhibition, categorized the subjects into secretors or nonsecretors, and studied mosquitoes' landing preferences for those groups. The mean relative percent landing on blood group O secretors (83.

Inhibitory effect of azelastine on allergic itch-associated response in mice sensitized with mosquito salivary glands extract.

We examined whether azelastine would inhibit itch-associated responses of mice to mosquito allergy. Repeated injections of mosquito salivary gland extract increased scratching and sensory nerve activity. Azelastine inhibited the increased scratching and nerve activity, while terfenadine was without effects.

Landing sites on the human body preferred by Aedes albopictus.

The landing sites on the human body preferred by Aedes albopictus were examined. Five male volunteers wearing only shorts stood in a mosquito net enclosure containing 120 proboscis-amputated Ae. albopitus.

Alcohol ingestion stimulates mosquito attraction.

Mosquito bites should be avoided because of the risk of contracting parasitic and viral diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and several encephalitides. Although humans have been said to suffer more mosquito bites after ingesting liquor, little is known about whether that is true. Thirteen volunteers (12 men from 20 to 58 years old and a 24-year-old woman) were chosen as test hosts and a 30-year-old man was established as a control.