Deadly and venomous Lonomia caterpillars are more than the two usual suspects.

Caterpillars of the Neotropical genus Lonomia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) are responsible for some fatal envenomation of humans in South America inducing hemostatic disturbances in patients upon skin contact with the caterpillars' spines. Currently, only two species have been reported to cause hemorrhagic syndromes in humans: Lonomia achelous and Lonomia obliqua. However, species identifications have remained largely unchallenged despite improved knowledge of venom diversity and growing evidence that the taxonomy used over past decades misrepresents and underestimates species diversity.

Parasite Burdens of Several Triatomine Species in Colombia.

, the causal agent of Chagas disease, is mainly transmitted by insects of the Triatominae subfamily. In Colombia, there are 26 triatomine species, and 16 of them are naturally infected with the parasite. The parasite loads of naturally infected vectors can be significant in targeting specific species that can affect the epidemiology of the disease.

Multidisciplinary approach for surveillance and risk identification of yellow fever and other arboviruses in Colombia.

Arbovirus, a critical threat to human health, have complex and dynamic life cycles. With reports of Yellow fever virus (YFV) causing spillover from sylvatic transmission cycles, and dengue (DENV), chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV) viruses expanding from urban to rural areas. We explored a multidisciplinary approach to analyze arbovirus transmission through vectors, and identify biological and sociodemographic determinants associated with their transmission risk in urban and rural areas in a Colombian municipality.

Untangling the transmission dynamics of primary and secondary vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in Colombia: parasite infection, feeding sources and discrete typing units.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. Due to its genetic diversity has been classified into six Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) in association with transmission cycles. In Colombia, natural T.

High-Resolution Molecular Typing of Trypanosoma cruzi in 2 Large Outbreaks of Acute Chagas Disease in Colombia.

Oral transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi has gained relevance because of its association with high morbidity and lethality rates. This transmission route is responsible for maintaining the infection of the parasite in sylvatic cycles, and human cases have been associated mainly with the consumption of food contaminated with triatomine feces or didelphid secretions. Several ecological changes allow the intrusion of sylvatic reservoirs and triatomines to the domestic environments with subsequent food contamination.

[Biting behavior of Anopheles darlingi Root, 1926 (Diptera: Culicidae) and its association with malaria transmission in Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia)].

Introduction: Anopheles darlingi is the main malaria vector in the neotropics. This species is recognized by its anthropophilic behavior and its high variability in biting activity throughout its distribution range.

Objective: To characterize the biting behavior of An.

First published record of urban malaria in Puerto Gaitán, Meta, Colombia.

Patterns of malaria cases were compared between the department of Meta and the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, Colombia, to examine temporal change in malaria from 2005-2010. During this time frame in Meta the mean ratio was 2.53; in contrast, in Puerto Gaitán it was 1.

Biting activity and breeding sites of Anopheles species in the municipality Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia.

Villavicencio, the capital city of the Department of Meta, Colombia, is at high risk for the urbanization of malaria because of the region's ecological conditions, as well as the permanent presence of infected human populations arriving from rural areas. From August to November 2002 and in April 2003, anopheline collections were undertaken in the area. Isofamilies were obtained from 331 wild females, which were then recorded according to their abundance as follows: Anopheles marajoara, Anopheles rangeli, Anopheles braziliensis, Anopheles darlingi, and Anopheles apicimacula.