Search Results (6)

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) significantly impact human, domestic animal, and wildlife health. While most arboviruses are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by blood-feeding mosquitoes and ticks, a growing body of evidence highlights the importance of other hematophagous arthropods in arboviral transmission. These lesser-known vectors, while often overlooked, can play crucial roles in the maintenance, amplification, and spread of arboviruses. This review summarizes our understanding of hematophagous arthropods, other than mosquitoes and ticks, in arboviral transmission, as well as their associations with non-arboviral viruses. Thirteen arthropod groups are discussed: bat flies, blackflies, cimicids (bat bugs, bed bugs, and bird bugs), Culicoides midges, fleas, hippoboscid flies, lice, mites, muscid flies (including horn flies and stable flies), phlebotomine sandflies, tabanids (including deer flies and horse flies), triatomines, and tsetse flies. Some of these arthropods are regarded as known or likely arboviral vectors, while others have no known role in arbovirus transmission. Particular attention is given to species associated with arboviruses of medical and veterinary significance. As the burden of arboviruses continues to grow, it is critical not to overlook the potential contribution of these lesser-known vectors. Full article

Trypanosoma dionisii, for which only bat bugs (Cimicidae) had previously been demonstrated as vectors, was, for the first time, detected in the gamasine mite Steatonyssus periblepharus in Russia. The molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that trypanosomes found in these mites belong to the “clade A” of T. dionisii, which, based on genetic distances, can be considered as a species separate from the sister clade B, and according to available data also has a distinct geographic distribution. The presence of developmental forms of T. dionisii resembling those previously described during the development of this trypanosome in cimicids suggests that S. periblepharus is a novel vector of the studied trypanosome. Full article

Members of the Cimicidae family are significant pests for mammals and birds, and they have attracted medical and veterinary interest. A number of recent studies have investigated bed bugs, due to their dramatic resurgence all over the world. Indeed, bed bugs are of significant public health and socioeconomic importance since they lead to financial burdens and dermatological complications and may have mental and psychological consequences. It is important to note that certain cimicids with a preference for specific hosts (birds and bats) use humans as an alternative host, and some cimicids have been reported to willingly feed on human blood. In addition, members of the Cimicidae family can lead to economic burdens and certain species are the vectors for pathogens responsible for diseases. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide an update on the species within the Cimicidae family that have varying medical and veterinary impacts, including their distribution and their associated microorganisms. Various microbes have been documented in bed bugs and certain important pathogens have been experimentally documented to be passively transmitted by bed bugs, although no conclusive evidence has yet associated them with epidemiological outbreaks. Additionally, among the studied cimicids (bat bugs, chicken bugs, and swallow bugs), only the American swallow bug has been considered to be a vector of several arboviruses, although there is no proven evidence of transmission to humans or animals. Further studies are needed to elucidate the reason that certain species in the Cimicidae family cannot be biologically involved in transmission to humans or animals. Additional investigations are also required to better understand the roles of Cimicidae family members in the transmission of human pathogens in the field. Full article

Kaeng Khoi virus (KKV; Order: Bunyavirales, Family: Peribunyaviridae, Genus: Orthobunyavirus), is an endemic viral infection of the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat (Chaerephon plicatus; also known as Tadarida plicata plicata). Viral isolates from bat bugs (Family: Cimicidae) suggest vector-borne transmission, but in general little is known about the ecology of KKV and seroprevalence in the local human and animal populations. Transmission studies and a serosurvey were carried out in Kaeng Khoi cave, Saraburi province, Thailand, during 1973–1974. Experimental transmission studies were performed with bat bugs captured within the cave to determine the potential for vector-borne transmission, and sentinel laboratory mice placed inside arthropod-proof cages within the cave to assess the potential for aerosolized transmission. Antibodies to KKV were detected in roof rats (Rattus rattus) inhabiting the cave, in dogs living in the valley, and in humans. Freshly collected cimicids were positive for KKV, but the virus did not replicate in laboratory-inoculated bugs. Sentinel mice placed in Kaeng Khoi cave in open cages consistently became infected with KKV, as determined by the development of neutralizing antibodies. Mice placed in arthropod-proof cages also developed antibodies, indicating the possibility of airborne transmission of KKV. Full article

Arthropod-borne viral diseases (arboviruses) are a public-health concern in many regions of the world, including Thailand. This review describes the potential vectors and important human and/or veterinary arboviruses in Thailand. The medically important arboviruses affect humans, while veterinary arboviruses affect livestock and the economy. The main vectors described are mosquitoes, but other arthropods have been reported. Important mosquito-borne arboviruses are transmitted mainly by members of the genus Aedes (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, and Zika virus) and Culex (e.g., Japanese encephalitis, Tembusu and West Nile virus). While mosquitoes are important vectors, arboviruses are transmitted via other vectors, such as sand flies, ticks, cimicids (Family Cimicidae) and Culicoides. Veterinary arboviruses are reported in this review, e.g., duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV), Kaeng Khoi virus (KKV), and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). During arbovirus outbreaks, to target control interventions appropriately, it is critical to identify the vector(s) involved and their ecology. Knowledge of the prevalence of these viruses, and the potential for viral infections to co-circulate in mosquitoes, is also important for outbreak prediction. Full article

The bed bugs (Cimex lectularius and C. hemipterus) have undergone a significant resurgence worldwide since the 1990s. A compilation of findings from a database, including 2650 scientific publications from seven major medical databases, allowed us to document main evolutionary events, from fossil evidence, dating from 11,000 years ago, until the present that has led to the current worldwide expansion of Cimicid species. We present the hypotheses on the possible dispersion pathways of bed bugs in light of the major historical and evolutionary events. A detailed classification of the Cimicidae family and finally, an illustrative map displaying the current distribution of known Cimex species in each geographical ecozone of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia are presented. Full article