Abstract:The genus Simulium, black fly (Diptera), comprises 41800 species worldwide, of which 67 species under six subgenera have been well studied in India. While at the extreme, black fly bites can cause onchocerciasis or river blindness, the majority of clinical observations indicate mainly severe pain and continuous itching at bite sites. This investigation experimentally observed that black fly salivary extract (BFSE) causes unique biologic effects including immunomodulation, anti-coagulation, and hypersensitivity… Show more
“…As vectors of disease agents (leucocytozoonosis, human onchocerciasis, mansonellosis, bovine onchocerciasis and the virus that causes vesicular stomatitis) [1], they also cause intolerable nuisances because of their abundance and habit of swarming and biting [1]. Blackflies introduce salivary molecules into the biting lesion, which are responsible for severe allergic reactions [2, 3]. In Spain, blackfly populations have expanded recently.…”
Background
Simulium (Boophthora) erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) is one of the blackfly species responsible for major public health problems in Europe. Blackfly outbreaks of this species are becoming more frequent, threatening public health in Spain. In the present study, bionomic parameters of S. erythrocephalum in northeastern Spain were estimated.Methods
Simulium erythrocephalum was collected from May through June 2015 in Zaragoza, Spain, using the human-landing-collection (HLC) method. Daily pattern of total and parous landing activity was estimated, as was the gonotrophic cycle (GC) length and survivorship (S) rate, using time series analysis.ResultsHost-seeking females of S. erythrocephalum showed a bimodal human-landing activity pattern, with a minor and major peak at dawn and dusk, respectively; there was a significant negative association between human daily landing rate and temperature (P = 0.003) and solar radiation (P < 0.001). Overall, a daily landing rate (DLR) of 34 lands/person/day was estimated. Series of sequential data analysis on parity showed the highest significant (P < 0.001) correlation indices (r = 0.45 and r = 0.39 for raw and filtered data) for a 2-day time lag, indicating that the GC length corresponded to 2 days. Daily survivorship and parity rate were 0.85 and 0.72, respectively.Conclusions
Simulium erythrocephalum was confirmed as a nuisance species in Zaragoza, using the HLC method for the first time in Spain. The data offer insights into the ecology of S. erythrocephalum, which can improve management strategies of this pest in Spain.
“…As vectors of disease agents (leucocytozoonosis, human onchocerciasis, mansonellosis, bovine onchocerciasis and the virus that causes vesicular stomatitis) [1], they also cause intolerable nuisances because of their abundance and habit of swarming and biting [1]. Blackflies introduce salivary molecules into the biting lesion, which are responsible for severe allergic reactions [2, 3]. In Spain, blackfly populations have expanded recently.…”
Background
Simulium (Boophthora) erythrocephalum (De Geer, 1776) is one of the blackfly species responsible for major public health problems in Europe. Blackfly outbreaks of this species are becoming more frequent, threatening public health in Spain. In the present study, bionomic parameters of S. erythrocephalum in northeastern Spain were estimated.Methods
Simulium erythrocephalum was collected from May through June 2015 in Zaragoza, Spain, using the human-landing-collection (HLC) method. Daily pattern of total and parous landing activity was estimated, as was the gonotrophic cycle (GC) length and survivorship (S) rate, using time series analysis.ResultsHost-seeking females of S. erythrocephalum showed a bimodal human-landing activity pattern, with a minor and major peak at dawn and dusk, respectively; there was a significant negative association between human daily landing rate and temperature (P = 0.003) and solar radiation (P < 0.001). Overall, a daily landing rate (DLR) of 34 lands/person/day was estimated. Series of sequential data analysis on parity showed the highest significant (P < 0.001) correlation indices (r = 0.45 and r = 0.39 for raw and filtered data) for a 2-day time lag, indicating that the GC length corresponded to 2 days. Daily survivorship and parity rate were 0.85 and 0.72, respectively.Conclusions
Simulium erythrocephalum was confirmed as a nuisance species in Zaragoza, using the HLC method for the first time in Spain. The data offer insights into the ecology of S. erythrocephalum, which can improve management strategies of this pest in Spain.
“…A blackfly bite usually causes local pain, swelling, and redness; however, the bite can also cause a systemic reaction (blackfly fever) that precipitates headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, malaise, and generalized lymphadenopathy [ 11 , 12 ]. Blackfly salivary secretions contain a wide range of physiologically active molecules that can induce local immunomodulation and anticoagulation and local and systemic hypersensitivity reactions in humans [ 13 ]; however, patients with severe blackfly hypersensitivity reactions have rarely been reported. Orange et al [ 14 ] reported a patient with recurrent episodes of presumed cellulitis after blackfly bites who subsequently developed two episodes of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to these bites, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and nephrotic syndrome (NS).…”
We describe a patient with Kawasaki disease (KD) and retropharyngeal edema following a blackfly bite. An 8-year-old boy was referred to our hospital because of a 3-day-history of fever and left neck swelling and redness after a blackfly bite. Computed tomography of the neck revealed left cervical lymph nodes swelling with edema, increased density of the adjacent subcutaneous tissue layer, and low density of the retropharyngeum. The patient was initially presumed to have cervical cellulitis, lymphadenitis, and retropharyngeal abscess. He was administered antibiotics intravenously, which did not improve his condition. The patient subsequently exhibited other signs of KD and was diagnosed with KD and retropharyngeal edema. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy and oral flurbiprofen completely resolved the symptoms and signs. A blackfly bite sometimes incites a systemic reaction in humans due to a hypersensitive reaction to salivary secretions, which may have contributed to the development of KD in our patient.
“…It is accompanied by headache, nausea, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. A severe anaphylactic reaction is a less common manifestation that may require hospitalization [61].…”
Section: Simuliidae (Blackflies)mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Various clinical presentations are described (edematous, erythematous-edematous, erysipeloid, inflammatory-indurative, phlegmonoid, and hemorrhagic), but the itching, localized swelling, inflammation eruptions of pruritic papules, vesicles, intense pruritus, and erythematous wheals are common symptoms, resulting from a hypersensitive reaction to black fly bites [62] (Figure 2, Table 2). The Simulium dermatitis is a concern with a high risk of anaphylaxis and acute cardiotoxicity in hypersensitive individuals [61].…”
Arthropod blood feeders are vectors of several human pathogenic agents, including viruses (e.g., yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue fever), parasites (e.g., malaria, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis), or bacteria (e.g., plague). Besides their role as a vector of pathogens, their biting activities cause a nuisance to humans. Herein, we document clinical symptoms associated with the biting of ten clusters of hematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes, biting midges and sandflies, lice, ticks, tsetse flies, blackflies, horse flies, fleas, triatomine and bed bugs. Within the framework of clinical history and entomo-epidemiological information, we propose a tentative discriminative key that can be helpful for practicing physicians in identifying hematophagous arthropods biting humans and delivering treatment for the associated clinical disorders.
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