Diversity of hard ticks parasitizing farm animals in the Qarabulli region, Northwestern Libya.

Background: There are 26 species of ticks known to exist in Libya. Despite the presence of a number of investigations on ticks in Libya, there are no published studies on ticks in the Al-Qarboulli area.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the tick species infesting farm animals in the Qarabulli region.

Prevalence of mites ( Anderson & Trueman) and bee lice ( Nitzsch) in honey bee ( L.) colonies in Libya.

Background: Primary key pest affecting the apiculture business in many areas of the globe is the ecto parasite mite (), recently, bee lice have become a considerable bee pest.

Aim: In this study, the ecto parasites that infest honey bees, were investigated during the spring of 2013.

Methods: A total of 66 apiaries were investigated from different geographical regions in Libya: 34 apiaries from the southern region, 21 apiaries from the north-eastern region, and 11 apiaries from the north-western region.

Therapeutic potential of vitamin D against bisphenol A-induced spleen injury in Swiss albino mice.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a ubiquitous plasticizer, is capable of producing oxidative splenic injury, and ultimately led to spleen pathology. Further, a link between VitD levels and oxidative stress was reported. Hence the role of VitD in BPA-induced oxidative splenic injury was investigated in this study.

Vitamin D ameliorates liver pathology in mice caused by exposure to endocrine disruptor bisphenol A.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that bisphenol A (BPA) induces liver pathological changes. Further, an association between BPA and circulating vitamin D (VitD) levels were documented.

Aim: The role of VitD in BPA-induced liver pathological changes was explored in this study.

Assessment of expertise in morphological identification of mosquito species (Diptera, Culicidae) using photomicrographs.

Accurate identification of insect species is an indispensable and challenging requirement for every entomologist, particularly if the species is involved in disease outbreaks. The European MediLabSecure project designed an identification (ID) exercise available to any willing participant with the aim of assessing and improving knowledge in mosquito taxonomy. The exercise was based on high-definition photomicrographs of mosquitoes (26 adult females and 12 larvae) collected from the western Palaearctic.

Seroprevalence study of Toscana virus in Yafran area, Libya.

Background & Objectives: In Mediterranean countries, infection of Toscana virus is a public health problem during the summer season, related to sandflies activity; it may cause aseptic meningitis and mild meningoencephalitis. We investigated the presence of antibodies (IgG) against the Toscana virus in the sera of individuals living in the area of Yafran, Libya.

Methods: During the period from December 2013 to February 2014, a total of 232 sera samples were collected from Yefran hospital.

Species diversity of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Tarhuna, Libya.

Background: Twenty-five species of ticks have been recorded in Libya. No systematic studies have been conducted in Tarhuna region regarding tick species that infest livestock.

Aim: To identify the species of ticks that infest livestock in Tarhuna, Libya.

Exposure to low-dose bisphenol A induces spleen damage in a murine model: Potentially through oxidative stress?

Background: During early life, exposure to environmental toxicants, including endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), can be detrimental to the immune system. To our knowledge, a few researches have looked at the effects of developing BPA exposures on the spleen.

Aim: The murine model was developed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms and mode of BPA actions on the spleen subsequent to prolonged early-life exposure to BPA.

Flea infestation on small wild mammals in Gharyan, Northwest Libya.

Background: Fleas play a major role as vectors for many pathogens that affect humans and livestock. Wild animals, especially wild rodents, are the most important hosts, acting as reservoir hosts for many flea species and pathogens.

Aim: This study aimed to identify seasonality and hosts of fleas that parasitize small wild mammals in Gharyan, north-western Libya.

Vitamin D mitigates adult onset diseases in male and female mice induced by early-life exposure to endocrine disruptor BPA.

Background: During early development, environmental compounds can induce adult onset diseases and disrupt the circulating vitamin D (VitD) levels.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the protective role of VitD against the adverse effects of BPA on male and female mice.

Methods: A total of 60 male and female Swiss Albino mice (3 weeks old) were randomly divided into 5 groups; each consisted of 12 mice (6 males and 6 females) and was treated as follows: Group I received no treatment (sham control); Group II, sterile corn oil only (vehicle control); Group III, BPA (400 μg/kg); Group IV, VitD (2,195 IU/kg); and Group V, BPA + VitD.

Towards harmonisation of entomological surveillance in the Mediterranean area.

Background: The Mediterranean Basin is historically a hotspot for trade, transport, and migration. As a result, countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea share common public health threats. Among them are vector-borne diseases, and in particular, mosquito-borne viral diseases are prime candidates as (re)emerging diseases and are likely to spread across the area.

Presence of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Tunisia.

In Tunisia, 17 phlebotomine sand fly species are reported, belonging to genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. However, subsequent to faunal studies and outbreaks of leishmaniasis in different regions of the country, unrecognized sand fly species could exist. Indeed, we report in this study the presence of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisiParrot 1948.

Identification of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): an external quality assessment of medical entomology laboratories in the MediLabSecure Network.

Background: Identification of vectors is of prime importance in the field of medical entomology for both operational and research purposes. An external quality assessment of mosquito identification capacities was carried out within the MediLabSecure Network, which is composed of laboratories located in 19 countries close to the European Union around the Mediterranean and Black seas.

Methods: A set of blind samples consisting of 7 or 8 adult mosquitoes and 4 larvae was given to each participant laboratory.

Field Evaluation of Outdoor Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) Applications against Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Al Rabta, North-West of Libya.

Background: Al Rabta is a rural area in the North-West of Libya that represents an important focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ultra Low Volume (ULV) applications in controlling sand flies and its impact on leishmaniasis transmission in this area.

Methods: Two neighboring villages were selected: Al Rabta West (RW) as cypermethrin treated village and Al Rabta East (RE) as check one.

Prevalence of IgG antibodies for the West Nile virus in human population in Tripoli, Libya.

Background & Objectives: West Nile fever (WNF) is a mosquito-borne viral infection, circulated in natural cycles between birds and mosquitoes, particularly Culex species. It is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites, and causes a variety of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic or mild febrile illness to severe men in go encepha- litis with some fatalities observed in older or immunocompromised patients. West Nile virus (WNV) transmission is considerably influenced by environmental conditions; and abundance of avifauna and mosquitoes.

A human case of urogenital myiasis caused by Psychoda sp. larvae in Tripoli, Libya.

Urogenital myiasis caused by Psychoda spp. involving human are very rare and present with unusual symptoms. Larvae belonging to Psychoda sp.

Surveillance of Arthropod-Borne Viruses and Their Vectors in the Mediterranean and Black Sea Regions Within the MediLabSecure Network.

Purpose Of Review: Arboviruses, viruses transmitted by arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, sandflies, and fleas are a significant threat to public health because of their epidemic and zoonotic potential. The geographical distribution of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile (WN), Rift Valley fever (RVF), Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika has expanded over the last decades. Countries of the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions are not spared.

Entomological studies of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in relation to cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in Al Rabta, North West of Libya.

Al Rabta in the North-West of Libya is a rural area where cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic for long time. Few reports are available on sand flies in this area which is an important focus of CL. Therefore, this study aimed at updating the species composition, and monthly fluctuation of sand flies in this area.

External morphological anomalies in ixodid ticks from Thrace, Turkey.

Of 18,667 ticks examined, 33 specimens from species identified as Haemaphysalis parva, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. scupense, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rh. turanicus were found to have external morphological anomalies.

Estimating the density of honeybee colonies across their natural range to fill the gap in pollinator decline censuses.

Although pollinator declines are a global biodiversity threat, the demography of the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) has not been considered by conservationists because it is biased by the activity of beekeepers. To fill this gap in pollinator decline censuses and to provide a broad picture of the current status of honeybees across their natural range, we used microsatellite genetic markers to estimate colony densities and genetic diversity at different locations in Europe, Africa, and central Asia that had different patterns of land use. Genetic diversity and colony densities were highest in South Africa and lowest in Northern Europe and were correlated with mean annual temperature.