Hymenoptera venom allergy in children.

From a taxonomic point of view, Hymenoptera are subclassified into families: Apidae, including honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumblebees (Bombus), and Vespidae, which, in turn, are divided into the subfamilies of Vespinae (wasps, including hornets, vespules, dolichovespules) and Polistinae (paper wasp). Hypersensitivity to Hymenoptera venom can be linked to immunological (IgE-mediated or non-IgE-mediated) and non-immunological mechanisms. Reactions are classified into local reactions, large local reactions, systemic reactions, toxic reactions, and unusual reactions.

Willingness to pay for a mosquito bite prevention 'forest pack' in Cambodia: results of a discrete choice experiment.

Background: Progress towards malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion has left much of the residual malaria transmission concentrated among forest-exposed populations for whom traditional domicile focused malaria vector control is unlikely to be effective. New tools to protect these populations from vector biting outdoors are needed.

Methods: Alongside implementation research on the deployment of a "forest pack" consisting of a volatile pyrethroid (transfluthrin)-based spatial repellent (VPSR), a picaridin-based topical repellent and etofenprox treatment of clothing, an assessment was made of participant willingness to pay for the forest packs and variants of the packs using a discrete choice experiment.

Impact of nighttime human behavior on exposure to malaria vectors and effectiveness of using long-lasting insecticidal nets in the Ethiopian lowlands and highlands.

Background: Ethiopia continues to grapple with a persistent malaria burden, characterized by ongoing transmission and recurrent outbreaks. Human behavior influences both malaria exposure and the effectiveness of vector interventions, complicating malaria control efforts. Implementing tailored strategies that account for the complex interplay between human activities and vector behavior remains a challenge in both high- and low-transmission areas in Ethiopia, particularly for vulnerable highland populations and temporary labor migrants, due to lack of data.

Risk of Aedes-borne diseases in and around the Tanzanian seaport of Tanga despite community members being more concerned about malaria.

Background: Increased global trade, while beneficial economically, can also increase the spread of vector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes spreading via trade routes. Given the heightened trade-induced activity at ports of entry, it is particularly crucial to assess the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in these settings. This study compared the risks of Aedes-borne disease in and around the eastern Tanzanian seaport of Tanga.

Reliability of wing morphometrics for species identification of human-biting black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand.

Background: Fast and reliable species identification of black flies is essential for research proposes and effective vector control. Besides traditional identification based on morphology, which is usually supplemented with molecular methods, geometric morphometrics (GM) has emerged as a promising tool for identification. Despite its potential, no specific GM techniques have been established for the identification of black fly species.

The effect of novel mosquito bite prevention tools on Anopheles minimus landing and key secondary endpoints: semi-field evaluations in Thailand.

Background: The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) aims to eliminate all human malaria by 2030 and is making substantial progress toward this goal, with malaria increasingly confined to forest foci. These transmission foci are predominantly inhabited by ethnic minorities, local populations, and rural mobile and migrant populations working in mining and agriculture. The recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on malaria elimination states that small population groups which constitute a large proportion of the malaria transmission reservoir should benefit from targeted strategies to reduce transmission overall.

Corneal bee sting injury: a clinical conundrum.

This study outlines the clinical features and comprehensive management of three cases of corneal injury by a bee sting. The stinger removal was attempted, and in two cases, the stinger was successfully removed. In one case, a portion of the stinger broke and was left in situ without inciting any further inflammation.

The role of vector population variation and climate in Zika virus transmission patterns in Africa: a modelling study.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreaks have raised major global health concerns recently, yet reported outbreaks are rare in Africa, where ZIKV was first discovered. Recent studies on Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that transmits ZIKV, might explain this phenomenon. The Ae aegypti subspecies present in Africa shows lower preference for biting humans and reduced susceptibility to ZIKV infection compared with the subspecies distributed outside Africa.

AC-DC Electropenetrography for the Study of Probing and Ingestion Behaviors of Culex tarsalis Mosquitoes on Human Hands.

Mosquitoes transmit pathogens that negatively affect human and animal health. A greater understanding of their blood-feeding biology and interactions with hosts and pathogens could be exploited to develop new targets for controlling mosquito-borne diseases. Unfortunately, probing (i.

Occupational anaphylaxis: A Position Paper of the German Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI).

Background: Anaphylaxis is a systemic allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. Occupational anaphylaxis is an anaphylaxis that occurs in an occupational context. In this position paper, we propose diagnostic criteria for occupational anaphylaxis and provide an overview of the current state of knowledge in terms of prevalence, triggers, prevention, and management.

Effects of Bti on the diversity and community composition of three Chironomidae subfamilies across different micro-habitats.

The mosquito control agent Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) is considered environmentally friendly due to its highly specific mode of action. Nevertheless, adverse effects of Bti have been observed in non-biting midges of the family Chironomidae.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flare Triggered by Mosquito Bite Manifesting as Febrile Targetoid Rash.

Insect bites can trigger disease flare in systemic lupus erythematosus, including atypical targetoid rash. Awareness of such triggers and appropriate preventive measures are crucial for effective SLE management.

The Phylogeny of the Genera of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the World.

A phylogenetic analysis of all extant genera of Ceratopogonidae worldwide indicates there are now 109 valid genera, including two that are unnamed. All potential morphological features were considered, with 364 adult characters surveyed. Of these 146 adult characters were considered informative and these were combined with 40 pupal features previously interpreted by Borkent (2014), 16 larval and two egg characters.

A photographic key to the adult female biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) of Florida, USA.

The biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) are a diverse group of blood-feeding flies that includes numerous pest and vector species. Major gaps exist in our knowledge of the biology and ecology of the majority of Culicoides spp., due in part to a lack of keys for identifying the biting midges of a given region.

Characterization of human exposure to Anopheles and Aedes bites using antibody-based biomarkers in rural zone of Cameroon.

Malaria and Aedes-borne diseases remain major causes of mortality, morbidity, and disability in most developing countries. Surveillance of transmission patterns associated with vector control remains strategic for combating these diseases. Due to the limitions of current surveillance tools used to assess human exposure to mosquito bites, human antibody (Ab) responses to salivary peptides from Anopheles (gSG6-P1) and Aedes (Nterm-34kDa) are increasingly being used to measure direct human-Anopheles or Aedes contact.

Copy number variants underlie major selective sweeps in insecticide resistance genes in Anopheles arabiensis.

To keep ahead of the evolution of resistance to insecticides in mosquitoes, national malaria control programmes must make use of a range of insecticides, both old and new, while monitoring resistance mechanisms. The outdoor-biting malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis is of increasing concern for malaria transmission because it is apparently less susceptible to many indoor control interventions, yet knowledge of its mechanisms of resistance remains limited. Furthermore, comparatively little is known in general about resistance to non-pyrethroid insecticides such as pirimiphos-methyl (PM), which are crucial for effective control in the context of globally high resistance to pyrethroids.

From bytes to bites: In-silico creation of a novel multi-epitope vaccine against Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus.

Flaviviruses transmitted by arthropods, including the Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus (MVEV), are RNA viruses capable of causing severe encephalitis in various hosts. The spread of these viruses is closely linked to climatic conditions and the habitats of host and vector species, leading to outbreaks in new geographic regions. Notable encephalitis-causing flaviviruses include Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), and Kunjin virus (KUNV).