Pathogen and Host Associations of Soft Ticks Collected in South Texas.

Soft ticks (Family: Argasidae) are vectors of relapsing fever in the United States and are potential vectors of African swine fever virus, a pathogen that could have a devastating effect on the U.S. swine industry if introduced to the U.

Unveiling candidate genes for metabolic resistance to malathion in Aedes albopictus through RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling.

Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is indigenous to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Ae. albopictus is expanding across the globe at alarming rates, raising concern over the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue, West Nile fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya fever.

Fecundity decline is male derived following transfluthrin exposures in a field strain of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Volatile pyrethroids are effective in reducing mosquito populations and repelling vectors away from hosts. However, many gaps in knowledge exist for the sublethal impacts of volatile pyrethroids on mosquitoes. To that end, transfluthrin exposures were conducted on a field strain of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) held as a laboratory colony.

Effective population size of under insecticide-based vector management and following Hurricane Harvey in Harris County, Texas.

is a mosquito species of significant public health importance due to its ability to transmit multiple pathogens that can cause mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile fever and St. Louis encephalitis. In Harris County, Texas, is a common vector species and is subjected to insecticide-based management by the Harris County Public Health Department.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens from Wild Pigs in Northern and Central Florida.

Invasive wild pigs are distributed across much of the U.S. and are hosts to tick vectors of human disease.

Potential key genes involved in metabolic resistance to malathion in the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, and functional validation of CYP325BC1 and CYP9M12 as candidate genes using RNA interference.

Background: Metabolic detoxification is one of the major mechanisms contributing to the development of resistance in mosquitoes, including the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus. The three major detoxification supergene families, cytochrome P450s, glutathione S-transferases and general esterases, have been demonstrated to play an important role in metabolic resistance. In this study, we performed differential gene expression analysis based on high-throughput transcriptome sequencing on samples from four experimental groups to give insight into key genes involved in metabolic resistance to malathion in Cx.

Using environmental factors to predict Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Acari: Ixodidae) mortality.

Background: Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille, 1806) can establish indoor populations, which increases the risk of pathogen transmission to humans and companion dogs.

Evidence of Permethrin Resistance and Fipronil Tolerance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations From Florida and California.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille), is a vector of multiple disease-causing pathogens to humans and dogs.

Variable Effects of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Acari: Ixodidae) Development.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille, 1806) can establish populations in residences and may lead to severe domestic and peridomestic infestations.

Comparative Virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae and Four Strains of Beauveria bassiana Against House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Adults With Attempted Selection for Faster Mortality.

Entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Metarhizium anisopliae/brunneum (Metchnikoff)/Petch have shown promising results for managing the house fly, Musca domestica L. A primary challenge of using these biological control agents (BCAs) in field situations is the time required to induce high adult house fly mortality, typically 6-7 d post-exposure. In this study, virulence of M.

Adulticidal Efficacy and Sublethal Effects of Metofluthrin in Residual Insecticide Blends Against Wild Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Field development for optimizing the use patterns of spatial repellents are an ongoing research need. To investigate volatile pyrethroids in blends containing multiple active ingredients, metofluthrin was formulated into a vegetation spray for application to foliage and mosquito harborage. Metofluthrin was compared by itself and in combination with Sector (permethrin), Hyperion (sumithrin), Onslaught Fast Cap (s-fenvalerate, prallethrin), and against a benchmark for comparison, OneGuard (λ-cyhalothrin, prallethrin, pyriproxyfen).

Collection and DNA Detection of Dirofilaria immitis (Rhabditida Onchocercidae), Using a Novel Primer Set, in Wild-Caught Mosquitoes From Gainesville, FL.

Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of dog heartworm disease, is an important cause of canine morbidity and mortality, expensive to treat, and severe infections are often fatal. Much is known about the pathogen in the canine host, yet little is known on the basic ecology of the nematode in the mosquito vector. Thus, to evaluate the effectiveness of collection techniques on ability to capture dog heartworm-infected mosquitoes (Diptera Culicidae), we conducted a field study spanning 111 wk.

Prevalence of Field-Collected House Flies and Stable Flies With Bacteria Displaying Cefotaxime and Multidrug Resistance.

Antibiotic use in livestock accounts for 80% of total antibiotic use in the United States and has been described as the driver for resistance evolution and spread. As clinical infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens are rapidly rising, there remains a missing link between agricultural antibiotic use and its impact on human health. In this study, two species of filth flies from a livestock operation were collected over the course of 11 mo: house flies Musca domestica (L.

Exposure Timing and Method Affect Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) Efficacy Against House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae.

House flies, Musca domestica L., are widely recognized for their ability to develop resistance to chemical insecticides so alternative control strategies are desired. The use of entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin to manage house fly populations has shown promising results; however, the success of using this fungus against larval house flies varies widely.

Evidence for both sequential mutations and recombination in the evolution of kdr alleles in Aedes aegypti.

Background: Aedes aegypti is a globally distributed vector of human diseases including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika. Pyrethroid insecticides are the primary means of controlling adult A. aegypti populations to suppress arbovirus outbreaks, but resistance to pyrethroid insecticides has become a global problem.

Evaluation of Fipronil Susceptibility in the Lone Star Tick (Acari: Ixodidae).

The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus, is ubiquitously present in the southeastern United States and will readily parasitize humans and companion animals. Fipronil is the active ingredient in several topically applied products used to manage ticks and fleas on companion animals. Reducing ectoparasite infestations on companion animals decreases the risk that pathogens vectored by these pests are transmitted to these animals and their owners.

Comparative Evaluation of Metofluthrin as an Outdoor Residual Treatment for Barriers and Harborage Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Spatial repellent studies have demonstrated that volatile pyrethroids reduce human contact with mosquitoes, but field trials targeting the volatile qualities of spatial repellent pyrethroids for integrated pest management are lacking. To investigate the stability and utility of volatile pyrethroids in mosquito management, metofluthrin was formulated into a vegetation spray intended for use on foliage and mosquito harborage. A comparative field evaluation was conducted between Onslaught Fast Cap, the experimental metofluthrin formulation, and a blended treatment of Onslaught Fast Cap and metofluthrin.

Olfactometric Comparison of the Volatile Insecticide, Metofluthrin, Through Behavioral Responses of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Testing behavioral response to insecticidal volatiles requires modifications to the existing designs of olfactometers. To create a testing apparatus in which there is no chemical memory to confound tests, we detail the technical aspects of a new tool with design influences from other olfactometry tools. In addition, this new tool was used to evaluate a novel formulation of metofluthrin for use as an outdoor residual treatment.

Gone in 60 seconds: Sub-lethal Effects of Metofluthrin Vapors on Behavior and Fitness of Resistant and Field Strains of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Spatial repellents can reduce fecundity and interrupt oviposition behavior in Aedes aegypti. Yet, it is unclear if short exposure times, resistant phenotypes, and other aspects of spatial repellents can impact these effects on mosquito reproduction. To address these issues, pyrethroid susceptible, pyrethroid resistant, and field strains of Ae.

Identification of permethrin and etofenprox cross-tolerance in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae).

Background: The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille; Acari: Ixodidae), is a peridomestic ectoparasite of dogs and occasionally humans. In some populations, lack of integrated pest management practices and overuse of pesticides has resulted in high levels of resistance to multiple active ingredients. In this study, we established the etofenprox discriminating concentration (DC) and three additional screening concentrations to evaluate resistance status.

Frequency of kdr and kdr-his Alleles in Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Populations From the United States, Costa Rica, France, and Thailand.

Anecdotal evidence of pyrethroid insecticide product failure for the control of stable fly [Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)] populations in the United States and worldwide prompted us to evaluate the frequency of knockdown resistance (kdr)-type polymorphisms within the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) gene of field collected specimens from the United States, France, Costa Rica, and Thailand. The kdr-his allele (L1014H), associated with permethrin resistance, was detected in stable flies from the 10 states sampled in the United States, as well as from Costa Rica and France (Toulouse).

Entomological and sociobehavioral components of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection in two Florida communities with a high or low prevalence of dogs with heartworm infection.

OBJECTIVE To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) and mosquito vectors among residents (dog owners and non-dog owners) in 2 neighborhoods in Florida and to perform entomological surveys of mosquito species in these neighborhoods and identify mosquito species infected with heartworm. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SAMPLE 2,572 mosquitoes and 96 residents of 2 northern Florida communities.

Efficacy of common reagents for killing ticks in the ear canal.

Objective: To determine if widely available solutions can effectively kill ticks that may be found in the human ear canal.

Methods: This study was prospective, controlled and blinded animal study. Lone star ticks (), both nymphal and adult, were submerged in one of four preparations (acetone, isopropyl alcohol 70%, ethanol 95%, or 4% lidocaine) in test tubes (n = 20 per group) for 20 minutes.

Identification of as a specialist of annelids broadens known mosquito host use patterns.

Feeding upon vertebrate blood by mosquitoes permits transmission of diverse pathogens, including viruses, protozoa, and nematodes. Despite over a century of intensive study, no mosquito species is known to specialize on non-vertebrate hosts. Using molecular analyses and field observations, we provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that a mosquito, , specializes on annelid hosts (earthworms and leeches) while its sympatric congener, , feeds only on anurans (frogs and toads).

Barcoding blood meals: New vertebrate-specific primer sets for assigning taxonomic identities to host DNA from mosquito blood meals.

The transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens are, in part, mediated by mosquito host-feeding patterns. These patterns are elucidated using blood meal analysis, a collection of serological and molecular techniques that determine the taxonomic identities of the host animals from which blood meals are derived. Modern blood meal analyses rely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic comparisons of blood meal DNA sequences to reference databases.