The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse 1894), which is native to Southeast Asia, is among the top 100 invasive species worldwide and one of the most troubling vector species. It has become ...established in more than 20 European countries. Since its arrival in Italy in the 1990s, the species has colonized all the regions of the country, up to an altitude of 600 m. Nevertheless, no thorough investigation has ever been performed to confirm or extend its elevation limit (EL) in Italy.
To define the EL of Ae. albopictus and analyse its phenology along an altitudinal gradient, we carried out an investigation by means of ovitraps placed in Lazio region, central Italy. Sampling was performed on a weekly basis in 13 villages within five 200-m altitudinal ranges 0-1000 m above sea level (asl), with the addition of higher localities to the species range whenever the species was recorded in the highest range.
Aedes albopictus has colonized sites well beyond its known EL, with established populations at 900 m asl and positive ovitraps recorded at 1193 m asl. The relationship between egg abundance and elevation was described by an exponential decay regression, which predicted an EL for oviposition at 1015 m asl. In the active season, egg-laying started earlier at low altitude and ended earlier within the highest altitudinal range. Aedes albopictus abundance and activity period (number of days active) decreased, respectively, by 95% and 34% from the lowest to the highest altitudinal range.
Using data from the present study, the altitudinal limit of Ae. albopictus in central Italy was updated from 600 to 900 m asl. In addition, established populations were predicted to exist up to 1015 m asl. Considering that up to 99.5% of Lazio region's inhabitants could potentially be affected by Aedes-borne virus outbreaks, the surveillance area for Ae. albopictus should be expanded accordingly. However, our results also indicate that Ae. albopictus surveillance programs need to be revised in order to harmonize the resources earmarked for these with the altitudinal changes in the phenology of this species.
The Asian tiger mosquito,
, competent vector of several arboviruses, poses significant impact on human health worldwide. Although global warming is a driver of
range expansion, few studies focused on ...its effects on homodynamicity (i.e. the ability to breed all-year-round), a key factor of vectorial capacity and a primary condition for an
-borne disease to become endemic in temperate areas. Data from a 4-year monitoring network set in Central Italy and records from weather stations were used to assess winter adult activity and weekly minimum temperatures. Winter oviposition occurred in 38 localities with a seasonal mean photoperiod of 9.7 : 14.3 (L : D) h. Positive collections (87) occurred with an average minimum temperature of the two and three weeks before sampling of approximately 4°C. According to these evidences and considering the climate projections of three global climate models and three shared socio-economic pathways for the next three 20-year periods (from 2021 to 2080), the minimum temperature of January will increase enough to allow an all-year-round oviposition of
in several areas of the Mediterranean Basin. Due to vector homodynamicity,
-borne diseases could become endemic in Southern Europe by the end of the twenty-first century, worsening the burden on human health.
Scalp Eschar and Neck LymphAdenopathy after Tick bite is a zoonotic non-pathogen-specific disease most commonly due to Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii. Diagnosis is mostly based only on ...epidemiological and clinical findings, without serological or molecular corroboration. We presented a clinical case in which diagnosis was supported by entomological identification and by R. slovaca DNA amplifications from the tick vector.
A 6-year-old child presented with asthenia, scalp eschar and supraclavicular and lateral-cervical lymphadenopathy. Scalp Eschar and Neck LymphAdenopathy After Tick bite syndrome following a Dermacentor marginatus bite was diagnosed. Serological test on serum revealed an IgG titer of 1:1024 against spotted fever group rickettsiae, polymerase chain reaction assays on tick identified Rickettsia slovaca. Patient was successfully treated with doxycycline for 10 days.
A multidisciplinary approach including epidemiological information, clinical evaluations, entomological identification and molecular investigations on tick, enabled proper diagnosis and therapy.
West Nile (WNV) and Usutu (USUV) are emerging vector-borne zoonotic flaviviruses. They are antigenically very similar, sharing the same life cycle with birds as amplification host, Culicidae as ...vector, and man/horse as dead-end host. They can co-circulate in an overlapping geographic range. In Europe, surveillance plans annually detect several outbreaks.
In Italy, a WNV/USUV surveillance plan is in place through passive and active surveillance. After a 2018 WNV outbreak, a reinforced integrated risk-based surveillance was performed in four municipalities through clinical and serological surveillance in horses, Culicidae catches, and testing on human blood-based products for transfusion.
Eight WNV cases in eight equine holdings were detected. Twenty-three mosquitoe catches were performed and 2367 specimens of Culex pipiens caught; 17 pools were USUV positive. A total of 8889 human blood donations were tested, and two asymptomatic donors were USUV positive.
Different surveillance components simultaneously detected WNV only in horses and USUV only in humans and mosquitoes. While in endemic areas (i.e. northern Italy) entomological surveillance is successfully used as an early detection warning, this method in central Italy seems ineffective. To achieve a high level of sensitivity, the entomological trapping effort should probably exceed a reasonable balance between cost and performance. Besides, WNV/USUV early detection can be addressed by horses and birds. Further research is needed to adapt the surveillance components in different epidemiological contexts.
Pediculus humanus, the human body louse, is widespread where overcrowding and lack of hygiene are present, in areas of the world affected by poverty, war, famine and presence of refugees. It has ...recently been considered re-emerging among homeless populations in developed countries. In Italy, it was last reported in 1945. Pediculus humanus is a vector of highly relevant human pathogens.
In October 2018, a woman found small insects on a T-shirt bought second-hand in a local street market in a village 35 km south of Rome (central Italy). Insects were identified both morphologically and by molecular analysis. Moreover, they were analyzed molecularly for the presence of Rickettsia prowazekii, Borrelia recurrentis, Bartonella quintana, Coxiella burnetii and Yersinia pestis.
Morphological and molecular analyses of the insects identified them as 26 lice (12 females, 10 males and 4 nymphs) of the species P. humanus. Many nits were found on the T-shirt seams. DNA of the investigated pathogens was not detected in any of the lice.
The exceptionality of the described case lies both in the report of P. humanus from a country where it had not been reported since 1945, and in its finding from second-hand clothes for sale in a market, constituting a potential source of infection for people buying this type of goods. The question arises, how did adults and nits of P. humanus infest clothes for sale on a market stall in a country where it had not been reported for decades. Given that the body louse requires frequent blood meals to survive and develop, its arrival on clothes imported from abroad is highly improbable. Hence, it must be presumed that people infected with the human body louse are present in Italy. This report points out a serious regulatory problem regarding the management of second-hand clothes prior to sale and, more generally, of controls in street markets.
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds caused by protozoa belonging to the genus
, within the order Haemosporida. Penguins are considered particularly susceptible, and outbreaks in captive ...populations can lead to high mortality. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the death due to avian malaria, occurred between 2015 and 2019, in eight African penguins (
) kept in two Italian zoos located in central Italy, and situated about 30 km apart. We also provided information about the presence and circulation of
spp. in mosquitoes in central Italy by sampling mosquitoes in both zoos where penguin mortalities occurred. In the eight dead penguins, gross and histopathological lesions were consistent with those previously observed by other authors in avian malaria outbreaks. Organs from dead penguins and mosquitoes collected in both zoos were tested for avian malaria parasites by using a PCR assay targeting the partial mitochondrial conserved region of the
gene. Identification at species level was performed by sequencing analysis.
was detected in both dead penguins and in mosquitoes (
), while
in
only. Parasites were not found in any of the PCR tested
samples. Based on our phylogenetic analysis, we detected three previously characterized lineages:
LINN1 and AFTRU5,
SYAT05. In
we also identified two novel lineages, CXPIP32 (inferred morphospecies
) and CXPIP33 (inferred morphospecies
). Significantly, LINN1 and AFTRU5 were found to be associated to penguin deaths, although only LINN1 was detected both in penguins (along the years of the study) and in
, while AFTRU5 was detected in a single penguin dead in 2017. In conclusion, in our study
was found to cause avian malaria in captive penguins kept in Europe, with
being its most probable vector. Our results are in agreement with previous studies suggesting that
is one of the main vectors of
spp. in Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. Zoos maintaining captive penguins in temperate areas where
is abundant should be well aware of the risks of avian malaria, and should put every effort to prevent outbreaks, in particular during the periods when the number of vectors is higher.
The present study was carried out in Circeo National Park (Lazio region, Central Italy), in order to collect data about mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) fauna in a protected area for biodiversity. From ...2003 to 2004 seasonal surveys allowed to collect and to identify 380 larvae and 713 adult mosquitoes in 6 sites. A total of 15 mosquito species belonging to 6 genera were recorded; the most abundant species were Culex pipens Linnaeus, 1758 known as the main West Nile virus vector, Ochlerotatus detritus (Haliday, 1933) and Culiseta annulata (Dhrank, 1776). Present data show a noteworthy number of other mosquito species, even if less abundant, reflecting the considerable environmental richness. Respect to the past collections of Anophelinae mosquitoes carried out in the same area once affected by malaria, the present research represents the first monitoring of the whole Culicidae Family in Circeo National Park, up to now. This paper reports the collected data as a first base for a future checklist in this protected area.
•U. australis is an effective predator of Ae. albopictus larvae.•All larval stages were captured by the carnivorous plant’s traps (bladders).•The predation efficiency depends on bladder number and ...larval stage.•U. australis predation efficiency did not change over a 2-month period.•The plant might be use to control mosquito larvae in small man-made containers.
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, one of the world’s worst invasive animal species and competent vector of many arboviruses, poses a serious threat to human health. An effective and environmentally friendly control strategy is required to mitigate the negative impacts of this pest. The aquatic carnivorous plants of the Utricularia genus, known as bladderworts, feed on invertebrates using their modified leaves as traps (bladders) and could be considered for biological control. The southern bladderwort, U. australis, was used in a no-choice experiment to test its predation ability against Ae. albopictus larvae. Larvae were divided in two size groups: 1st–2nd and 3rd–4th larval instars. Twenty Ae. albopictus larvae were placed inside 1 l plastic cups with a 30 cm long segment of the plant and left for a 7-day period. Twelve segments of U. australis were used, six for each larval size group, counting the number of bladders of each segment at the beginning of the experiment. The 7-day process was repeated five times for each segment/cup over a two-month period. The number of captured larvae and emerged adults was recorded daily. A total of 84 captured larvae were chosen to measure larval length, percentage of larval body trapped within the bladder, bladder perimeter and bladder area, in order to evaluate the ability of the bladders in capturing larvae, by complete or partial suction of the body, depending on the relative sizes of larvae and bladders. Results indicated that U. australis is an effective predator of Ae. albopictus larvae, with a higher efficiency against the 1st–2nd instar group (72%) compared to the 3rd–4th group (39%). The number of captured larvae depended on the number of bladders on each segment and instar group. The percentage of trapped larval body depended on the relationship between bladder size and larval length. Although the bladders effectively captured small larvae by complete suction of the body, they also killed 3rd–4th instar larvae by trapping a small portion of the body within the lumen. The plant segments continuously captured mosquito larvae, with an efficiency that did not decrease during the 2-month period. The use of U. australis as a biocontrol agent against Ae. albopictus larvae could be favoured by its ecological plasticity, broad distribution, its ability to thrive in small containers and the good overlap of the two species regarding phenology and habitat preferences.
•39 delusional parasitosis (DP) cases, reported in 20-yr. in Italy, are described.•Most of the DP sufferers were females aged over 50.•Seven cases of psychological contagion within the same family ...were recorded.•The “Digital pics sign” is described as a modern derivative of the “Matchbox sign”.•Cases of harmful behaviours or even suicidal thoughts are described.
Delusional parasitosis (DP) is psychiatric disorder characterized by the unshakeable belief of being infested by endo– or ectoparasites, without any evidence of infestations. Hence, DP sufferers often consult medical entomologists or dermatologists, rather than seeking help from a mental health practitioner. Here we present 39 cases of suspected DP occurred in twenty years in two Italian public medical entomology laboratories, to highlight their common features and peculiarities, based on the interviews and material brought to our laboratories. Our results confirmed that DP affects both sexes, but is more frequent in females over the age of 50 years. Cases of psychological contagion, mostly affecting elderly people, were reported within seven family units. Some rare or unique features of DP sufferers involved: the fixed belief to be infested by endoparasites, olfactory hallucinations of unpleasant smell, self-harm to get rid of the imaginary parasite and suicidal thoughts. We suggest the term “Digital pics sign” to describe a modern derivative of the “Matchbox sign”, where the DP sufferers showed pictures and videos, in person or sent by email, as proofs of being infested. Medical entomologists, being the most frequently contacted professionals by DP sufferers, may be crucial to raise awareness about this psychological disorder and to encourage a multidisciplinary approach amongst medical professionals and pest control operators.
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Culicoides imicola is the main vector of viral diseases of livestock in Europe such as bluetongue (BT), African horse sickness and epizootic haemorrhagic disease. Climatic factors are the main ...drivers of C. imicola occurrence and its distribution might be subject to rapid shifts due to climate change. Entomological data, collected during BT surveillance, and climatic/environmental variables were used to analyse ecological niche and to model C. imicola distribution and possible future range shifts in Italy. An ensemble technique was used to weigh the performance of machine learning, linear and profile methods. Updated future climate projections from the latest phase of the Climate Model Intercomparison Project were used to generate future distributions for the next three 20-year periods, according to combinations of general circulation models and shared socioeconomic pathways and considering different climate change scenarios. Results indicated the minimum temperature of the coldest month (BIO 6) and precipitation of the driest-warmest months (BIO 14) as the main limiting climatic factors. Indeed, BIO 6 and BIO 14 reported the two highest values of variable importance, respectively, 9.16% (confidence interval CI = 7.99%-10.32%), and 2.01% (CI = 1.57%-2.44%). Under the worst-case scenario of climate change, C. imicola range is expected to expand northward and shift away from the coasts of central Italy, while in some areas of southern Italy, environmental suitability will decrease. Our results provide predictions of C. imicola distribution according to the most up-to-date future climate projections and should be of great use to surveillance management at regional and national scales.
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