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CONTEXT: Erucism, envenomation caused by dermal contact with larval forms of moths, may result in intense local pain, mainly after contact with puss caterpillars (family Megalopygidae). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the response to different treatments for controlling severe pain in a case series of erucism in Campinas, southeastern Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study. A Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS 0-10) was used to assess pain intensity in the Emergency Department (ED). Pain was considered as severe upon ED admission (T0) when the NPRS was ≥8. INCLUSION CRITERIA: age ≥8 years old, severe pain at T0, with continuous assessment of pain intensity in all patients using the NPRS during the ED stay (T5, T15, T30, T60 min and at discharge). RESULTS: Fifty-five patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were divided into three groups according to the initial treatment at T0: local anesthesia alone with 2% lidocaine (group 1, n = 15), local anesthesia and analgesics (group 2, n = 26) and analgesics without local anesthesia (group 3, n = 14). Most patients were admitted within 2 h after dermal contact with the stinging bristles of caterpillars (median =90 min, IQR: 40-125 min). In 22 cases (40%), the caterpillar was brought for identification (Podalia spp., n = 18; Megalopyge spp., n = 4). There was a significant decrease in pain from T5 onwards with all of the treatments. When the short-term response (T5 and T15) was considered, analgesia was more effective in groups 1 and 2 compared to group 3 (p < .01). Additional analgesia (from T5 until discharge) was frequently required (n = 25/55), mainly in group 1 (n = 11/15). The median length of stay in the ED was 120 min (IQR: 80-173 min). CONCLUSIONS: The association of local anesthesia with analgesics was apparently a good combination for the rapid management of severe pain in the ED.
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Analgésicos/administración & dosificación , Anestésicos Locales/administración & dosificación , Venenos de Artrópodos/efectos adversos , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/tratamiento farmacológico , Mariposas Nocturnas/embriología , Dolor/tratamiento farmacológico , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Animales , Niño , Quimioterapia Combinada , Femenino , Humanos , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/diagnóstico , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Larva , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dolor/diagnóstico , Dolor/etiología , Dimensión del Dolor , Estudios Prospectivos , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Factores de Tiempo , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Fire ants are widely studied, invasive and venomous arthropod pests. There is significant biomedical interest in immunotherapy against fire ant stings. However, mainly due to practical reasons, the physiological effects of envenomation has remained poorly characterized. The present study takes advantage of a recently-described venom protein extract to delineate the immunological pathways underlying the allergic reaction to fire ant venom toxins. Mice were injected with controlled doses of venom protein extract. Following sensitization and a second exposure, a marked footpad swelling was observed. Based on eosinophil recruitment and production of Th2 cytokines, we hereby establish that fire ant proteins per se can lead to an allergic response, which casts a new light into the mechanism of action of these toxins.
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Venenos de Hormiga/efectos adversos , Hipersensibilidad/etiología , Proteínas de Insectos/efectos adversos , Animales , Venenos de Hormiga/química , Venenos de Hormiga/inmunología , Hormigas/química , Citocinas/inmunología , Células Dendríticas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Eosinófilos/efectos de los fármacos , Eosinófilos/inmunología , Hipersensibilidad/inmunología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/inmunología , Proteínas de Insectos/química , Proteínas de Insectos/inmunología , Ganglios Linfáticos/efectos de los fármacos , Ganglios Linfáticos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
Sclerodermus Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), are parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae that can co-infest furniture and homes attacked by such larvae. This can result in the human inhabitants receiving stings from adult female wasps as they wander in search of new hosts. Herein, I report the first infestation of Sclerodermus macrogaster (Ashmead, 1887) of a home in North America and provide a review of Sclerodermus biology and clinical signs relevant to their pestiferous nature.
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Distribución Animal , Cadena Alimentaria , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Avispas/fisiología , Animales , Florida , HumanosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Quantifying mosquito biting rates for specific locations enables estimation of mosquito-borne disease risk, and can inform intervention efforts. Measuring biting itself is fraught with ethical concerns, so the landing rate of mosquitoes on humans is often used as a proxy measure. Southern coastal Ecuador was historically endemic for malaria (Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax), although successful control efforts in the 2000s eliminated autochthonous transmission (since 2011). This study presents an analysis of data collected during the elimination period. METHODS: Human landing catch (HLC) data for three mosquito taxa: two malaria vectors, Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles punctimacula, and grouped Culex spp. were examined for this study. These data were collected by the National Vector Control Service of the Ministry of Health over a 5-year time span (2007-2012) in five cities in southern coastal Ecuador, at multiple households, in all months of the year, during dusk-dawn (18:00-6:00) hours, often at both indoor and outdoor locations. Hurdle models were used to determine if biting activity was fundamentally different for the three taxa, and to identify spatial and temporal factors influencing bite rate. Due to the many different approaches to studying and quantifying bite rates in the literature, a glossary of terms was created, to facilitate comparative studies in the future. RESULTS: Biting trends varied significantly with species and time. All taxa exhibited exophagic feeding behavior, and outdoor locations increased both the odds and incidence of bites across taxa. Anopheles albimanus was most frequently observed biting, with an average of 4.7 bites/h. The highest and lowest respective months for significant biting activity were March and July for An. albimanus, July and August for An. punctimacula, and February and July for Culex spp. CONCLUSIONS: Fine-scale differences in endophagy and exophagy, and temporal differences among months and hours exist in biting patterns among mosquito taxa in southern coastal Ecuador. This analysis provides detailed information for targeting vector control activities, and household level vector prevention strategies. These data were collected as part of routine vector surveillance conducted by the Ministry of Health, and such data have not been collected since. Reinstating such surveillance measures would provide important information to aid in preventing malaria re-emergence.
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Anopheles/fisiología , Ritmo Circadiano , Culex/fisiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/epidemiología , Mosquitos Vectores/fisiología , Animales , Ecuador/epidemiología , Conducta Alimentaria , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Modelos Biológicos , Estaciones del Año , Especificidad de la Especie , Población Urbana/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Contact with Lonomia caterpillars can cause a hemorrhagic syndrome. In Brazil, Lonomia obliqua and Lonomia achelous are known to cause this venom-induced disease. In the Brazilian Amazon, descriptions of this kind of envenomation are scarce. Herein, we report a severe hemorrhagic syndrome caused by Lonomia envenomation in the Amazonas state, Western Brazilian Amazon. The patient showed signs of hemorrhage lasting 8 days and required Lonomia antivenom administration, which resulted in resolution of hemorrhagic syndrome. Thus, availability of Lonomia antivenom as well as early antivenom therapy administration should be addressed across remote areas in the Amazon.
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Hemorragia/tratamiento farmacológico , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/tratamiento farmacológico , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Mariposas Nocturnas , Animales , Antivenenos/uso terapéutico , Brasil , Hemorragia/inducido químicamente , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , SíndromeRESUMEN
Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis represents a public health problem in many areas of Mexico, especially in the Yucatan Peninsula. An understanding of vector ecology and bionomics is of great importance in evaluations of the transmission dynamics of Leishmania parasites. A field study was conducted in the county of Calakmul, state of Campeche, during the period from November 2006 to March 2007. Phlebotomine sandfly vectors were sampled using Centers for Disease Control light traps, baited Disney traps and Shannon traps. A total of 3374 specimens were captured in the two villages of Once de Mayo (93.8%) and Arroyo Negro (6.1%). In Once de Mayo, the most abundant species were Psathyromyia shannoni, Lutzomyia cruciata, Bichromomyia olmeca olmeca and Psychodopygus panamensis (all: Diptera: Psychodidae). The Shannon trap was by far the most efficient method of collection. The infection rate, as determined by Leishmania mexicana-specific polymerase chain reaction, was 0.3% in Once de Mayo and infected sandflies included Psy. panamensis, B. o. olmeca and Psa. shannoni. There were significant differences in human biting rates across sandfly species and month of sampling. Ecological niche modelling analyses showed an overall overlap of 39.1% for the four species in the whole state of Campeche. In addition, the finding of nine vector-reservoir pairs indicates a potential interaction. The roles of the various sandfly vectors in Calakmul are discussed.
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Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/epidemiología , Insectos Vectores/fisiología , Insectos Vectores/parasitología , Leishmania mexicana/aislamiento & purificación , Psychodidae/fisiología , Psychodidae/parasitología , Animales , Biota , Ecosistema , Conducta Alimentaria , Femenino , Humanos , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/transmisión , México/epidemiología , Modelos Biológicos , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Dinámica PoblacionalAsunto(s)
Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Lepidópteros/embriología , Corticoesteroides/uso terapéutico , Adulto , Analgésicos/uso terapéutico , Animales , Quimioterapia Combinada , Guyana Francesa , Antagonistas de los Receptores Histamínicos/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/diagnóstico , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/tratamiento farmacológico , Larva , Lepidópteros/clasificación , Persona de Mediana Edad , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Anopheles calderoni was first recognized in Colombia in 2010 as this species had been misidentified as Anopheles punctimacula due to morphological similarities. An. calderoni is considered a malaria vector in Peru and has been found naturally infected with Plasmodium falciparum in Colombia. However, its biting behaviour, population dynamics and epidemiological importance have not been well described for Colombia. METHODS: To assess the contribution of An. calderoni to malaria transmission and its human biting behaviour and spatial/temporal distribution in the southwest of Colombia, human landing catches (HLC) and larval collections were carried out in a cross-sectional, entomological study in 22 localities between 2011 and 2012, and a longitudinal study was performed in the Boca de Prieta locality in Olaya Herrera municipality between July 2012 and June 2013. All mosquitoes determined as An. calderoni were tested by ELISA to establish infection with Plasmodium spp. RESULTS: Larvae of An. calderoni were found in four localities in 12 out of 244 breeding sites inspected. An. calderoni adults were collected in 14 out of 22 localities during the cross-sectional study and represented 41.3% (459 of 1,111) of the collected adult specimens. Other species found were Anopheles albimanus (54.7%), Anopheles apicimacula (2.1%), Anopheles neivai (1.7%), and Anopheles argyritarsis (0.2%). In the localities that reported the highest malaria Annual Parasite Index (>10/1,000 inhabitants) during the year of sampling, An. calderoni was the predominant species (>90% of the specimens collected). In the longitudinal study, 1,528 An. calderoni were collected by HLC with highest biting rates in February, May and June 2013, periods of high precipitation. In general, the species showed a preference to bite outdoors (p < 0.001). In Boca de Prieta, two specimens of An. calderoni were ELISA positive for Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein: one for P. falciparum and one for Plasmodium vivax VK-210. This represents an overall sporozoite rate of 0.1% and an annual entomological inoculation rate of 2.84 infective bites/human/year. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that An. calderoni is a primary malaria vector in the southwest of Colombia. Its observed preference for outdoor biting is a major challenge for malaria control.
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Anopheles/fisiología , Anopheles/parasitología , Insectos Vectores/fisiología , Insectos Vectores/parasitología , Malaria/epidemiología , Distribución Animal , Animales , Colombia/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Conducta Alimentaria , Humanos , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/epidemiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Estudios Longitudinales , Malaria/parasitología , Plasmodium , Estaciones del Año , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The most important millipede species causing accidents in Brazil is Rhinocricus padbergi (order Spirobolida, family Rhinocricidae), a vegetarian scavenger distributed from Central to South America. Eleven clinical cases of dermal and oral accidental exposures to secretions from Rhinocricus spp. milipedes are described. CASE SERIES: Eleven cases of skin and oral involvement after accidental contact with the secretions of Rhinocricus spp. in patients from 1to 46 years are detailed. Ten of the 11 accidents involved the feet and in 1 child the mouth. Mild pain was reported in two of the cases, and a transient local burning sensation was described by most of the patients. Three reported no pain or any sensation at all. What was observed in all patients was a dark reddish or blackish staining of the skin simulating inflammatory or even necrotic lesions, which resolved naturally after some weeks. CONCLUSION: Despite the necrotic appearance of Rhinocricus spp. skin lesions, only a very mild inflammation and no necrosis occur. Analysis of the content of 50 glands of these animals captured in the southeast region of Brazil identified 2-methil-1,4-benzoquinone and 3,3a,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[2,3-b] pyridine-2,6-dione as the substances responsible for the lesions. Benzoquinones are strongly irritant and persistent compounds, working very well as insect repellents and are toxic to a great variety of other parasites and pathogens. They also have tanning properties. No systemic toxic effects have been described so far after skin contact with benzoquinones or Rhinocricus species.
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Venenos de Artrópodos/envenenamiento , Artrópodos/patogenicidad , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Mucosa Bucal/efectos de los fármacos , Piel/efectos de los fármacos , Accidentes , Adolescente , Adulto , Animales , Venenos de Artrópodos/química , Artrópodos/metabolismo , Benzoquinonas/análisis , Secreciones Corporales/química , Secreciones Corporales/inmunología , Niño , Preescolar , Pie , Humanos , Lactante , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/patología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Glándulas Salivales/metabolismoRESUMEN
Bee stings are a health concern in the Americas, where fatal envenomings due to massive attacks by Africanized honeybees have been documented in the last decades. Most studies on the toxic effects of honeybee venom in experimental animals have been performed using the intravenous or intraperitoneal injection routes. The aim of this study was to develop a mouse model that would better resemble a massive honeybee attack by using the subcutaneous (s.c.) route to induce a severe, sublethal systemic envenoming. An array of acute venom effects were characterized, including biochemical, hematological, histological, and inflammatory alterations, after the s.c. injection of 0.5 median lethal dose of venom. Rapid increases in serum alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) transaminases, creatinine, urea nitrogen, uric acid, sodium and chloride electrolytes, and creatine kinase (CK) were recorded, indicating damage to liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscle. Also, coagulation disturbances (fibrinogen decrease, and moderate delay in prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times) were demonstrated. Circulating platelet and leukocyte numbers remained unaltered, but a hemoconcentration effect (hematocrit and hemoglobin increase) was observed. This effect might be related to the marked edema induced by the venom. In addition, this inflammatory response included a systemic increase in cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha), together with an elevation of serum malondialdehyde and nitric oxide. The myotoxic effects of venom, melittin, and phospholipase A(2) were demonstrated after injection by s.c. route. No synergistic myotoxicity between melittin and PLA(2) was observed. Moreover, these two components, when injected at equivalent concentrations to those present in venom, induced a lower increase in serum CK than venom, suggesting that other components also contribute to its strong systemic toxicity towards skeletal muscle. The model here presented may be useful in preclinical studies to assess therapeutic antivenoms developed to cope with the problem of massive bee attacks.
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Venenos de Abeja/toxicidad , Abejas/fisiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/fisiopatología , Alanina Transaminasa/sangre , Animales , Aspartato Aminotransferasas/sangre , Biomarcadores/sangre , Coagulación Sanguínea/efectos de los fármacos , Coagulación Sanguínea/fisiología , Citocinas/sangre , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Femenino , Inyecciones Subcutáneas , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/sangre , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiología , Dosificación Letal Mediana , Masculino , Meliteno/toxicidad , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos , Miositis/inducido químicamente , Miositis/patología , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Fosfolipasas A2/toxicidadRESUMEN
Anafilaxia e bastante frequente, particularmente em criancas e adultos jovens. As causas mais comuns de anafilaxia sao alergias a alimentos, drogas, latex e picadas de insetos. A principais manifestacoes clinicas sao...
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Humanos , Corticoesteroides/uso terapéutico , Anafilaxia/terapia , Epinefrina/uso terapéutico , Hipersensibilidad al Látex/etiología , Hipersensibilidad a los Alimentos/etiología , Hipersensibilidad/etiología , Mordeduras y Picaduras de Insectos/etiologíaRESUMEN
Collections and dissections of black flies from human subjects were carried out over a 13-month period at two onchocerciasis-endemic sites in Guatemala. Simulium ochraceum comprised 87% of all flies collected. Populations of this species peaked during the first part of the dry season in November, while populations of S. metallicum, S. callidum and S. downsi were highest during the rainy season from June-October. Diurnal patterns of host-seeking activity were most pronounced for S. ochraceum, with a sharp peak occurring between 0700 and 0900 hours each day. Parous ratio was lowest at this time (27%), and rose to a peak of 63% between 1200 and 1400 hours each day. Eighty-eight percent of all parous S. ochraceum collected during 1200-1400 hours had large dilatations in the tunica of the ovarioles resulting from recent oviposition, thus indicating that this species oviposits in the morning and immediately seeks the subsequent blood meal. Parous biting density (the product of the total number of flies biting at a given time and the corresponding parous ratio) showed two distinct diurnal peaks, one in the early morning characterized by low parous ratio and high total number of flies, and the other in the early afternoon characterized by high parous ratio and low total number of flies. Moreover, the diurnal pattern of biting density of filaria-infected S. ochraceum was similar to that of parous biting density.