DOCSLIB.ORG

Original Article the Phylogenetic Analysis of Cimex Hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Isolated from Different Regions of Iran Using Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Original Article the Phylogenetic Analysis of Cimex Hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Isolated from Different Regions of Iran Using Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2020, 14(3): 239–249 A Samiei et al.: The Phylogenetic Analysis of … Original Article The Phylogenetic Analysis of Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Isolated from Different Regions of Iran Using Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene Awat Samiei1; *Mousa Tavassoli1; Karim Mardani2 1Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran 2Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran *Corresponding author: Dr Mousa Tavassoli, E-mail: [email protected] (Received 05 Sep 2018; accepted 24 Aug 2020) Abstract Background: Bedbugs are blood feeding ectoparasites of humans and several domesticated animals. There are scar- city of information about the bed bugs population throughout Iran and only very limited and local studies are availa- ble. The aim of this study is to assess the phylogenetic relationships and nucleotide diversity using partial sequences of cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) among the populations of tropical bed bugs inhabiting Iran. Methods: The bedbugs were collected from cities located in different geographical regions of Iran. After DNA ex- traction PCR was performed for COI gene using specific primers. Then DNA sequencing was performed on PCR products for the all 15 examined samples. Results: DNA sequencing analysis showed that the all C. hemipterus samples were similar, despite the minor nu- cleotide variations (within the range of 576 to 697bp) on average between 5 and 10 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Subsequently, the results were compared with the database in gene bank which revealed close similarity and sequence homology with other C. hemipterus from other parts of the world. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the ability of the COI gene to differentiate between the C. hemipterus populations from a few different locations in Iran. The current research is the first report of phylogenetic and genetic species diversity analysis conducted on C. hemipterus in Iran. These results provided basic information for further studies of molecular epidemiology, public health and pest control operators in Iran. Keywords: Bed bug; Cimex hemipterus; COI; Phylogenetic analysis; Iran Introduction “Bed bugs” is a term often applied to the and hide in inaccessible places such as: cracks approximately 90 species within the Cimicidae; and crevices in beds, wooden furniture, floors, of these, only Cimex lectularius, the common and walls and reappear at night to feed from bed bug, and C. hemipterus, the tropical bed their preferred host, humans (7). bug, show a strong host preference for hu- Apart from the discomfort caused by the mans (1). Cimex hemipterus, is considered as bite, bedbugs have been known to cause sec- the common tropical bedbug whereas C. lec- ondary infections and psychological disorders tularius is common in temperate climates (2). (4). Chronic infestation can cause nervousness, It has been well documented that bed bugs lethargy, pallor, diarrhea, and even iron defi- harbor at least 40 human pathogens, but there ciency (8-10). Bedbugs infest any kind of tem- is no tangible evidence regarding the ability porary accommodations, especially hotels, ser- of routine mechanical transmission any of them viced apartments, and cause severe problems. (1, 3-6). All the daytime, bed bugs disappear A resurgence of bed bugs has been reported 239 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: September 30, 2020 Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by- nc/4.0/). Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted, provided the original work is properly cited. J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2020, 14(3): 239–249 A Samiei et al.: The Phylogenetic Analysis of … from the United States, Canada, Australia, portant new insight into the population genet- Europe, and some Asian countries during the ic structure and infestation dynamics of many past 15 years (11-16). The reasons for the ex- insect pest species of public health concern plosion have not yet been clarified; however, (23-25). New molecular tools now make it several factors such as increased rate of in- feasible to not only accurately identify the ternational travel, reduced use of residual in- number of populations actively infesting a secticides indoors, and insecticide resistance building (24, 26) but also to elucidate dynam- may play a role (17). ics and characteristics essential for understand- Few studies have been undertaken on these ing infestation patterns and history, e.g., lev- bugs in Iran. Dehghani et al. examined an out- els of genetic diversity (a measure often as- break of these bugs in 1998 in villages west sociated with population health (27), tem- of Kashan. Out of 495 houses in 10 villages poral stability of populations after pest con- there was 6.7% contamination1 (18). In that trol efforts (28), and the presence or absence year, the National Association of Managing of genetic mutations associated with insecti- World Pests announced the contamination in cide resistance (29). New York at 6.7%. Shahraki et al. in 2000, Population genetics studies on bed bugs examined an outbreak of bugs in university have been completed using nuclear rRNA, dormitories among 180 boys and 145 girls in mt DNA genes, and microsatellite loci as Yasuj, western Iran. They reported 28.9% con- markers (25, 30-34). The aim of the first of tamination which approximated the current these studies (Szalanski et al. 2008) shed light study after taking into consideration that the on the dispersal patterns of bed bugs during numbers of individuals were not close to our their recent global resurgence. All of the stud- study (19). Haghi et al. reported that in Bah- ies on bed bugs thus far have found genetic man Amir, Mazandaran, Iran most bugs were diversity within human associated population found in bedrooms (56.54%), living rooms to be low, resulting from a great deal of in- (31.25%), and kitchens (8.59%) (17). Also, breeding (25, 30-32). Despite the importance from the 182 examined containers in Polour, of bed bugs in Iran, genetic evaluation has Mazandaran Province, 164 (approximately not yet been studied. Therefore, we aimed at 90.1%) had evidence of contamination by this shortcoming and analyzed DNA se- bed bugs (20). quences of C. hemipterus gathered from dif- Genetic analysis of medically important ferent parts of Iran, using partial sequences insect species is absolutely required, because of cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) and it provides useful information about vector evaluated the genetic relationship between transmission, disease epidemiology and dis- them. ease control (21). There is scarcity of infor- mation about the bed bug population through- Materials and Methods out Iran and only very limited and local stud- ies are available (17, 20). Taxonomic and mor- Sample collection phologic identification of bed bugs require All procedures in this study were carried highly experienced person and appropriate out in accordance with the guidelines of the samples. Nowadays, molecular techniques such Animal Ethics Committee of Faculty of Vet- as nucleotide sequence analysis and phylo- erinary Medicine, Urmia University (AECVU) genetic tree have been developed for taxo- and supervised by authority of Sample col- nomic identification (22). lection Urmia University Research Council In recent years, the application of high- (UURC). resolution molecular markers has provided im- 240 http://jad.tums.ac.ir Published Online: September 30, 2020 J Arthropod-Borne Dis, September 2020, 14(3): 239–249 A Samiei et al.: The Phylogenetic Analysis of … Geographically, there are 4 different zones get a distinct image of the pronotum because in Iran, known as region 1: Caspian Sea (tem- the projecting edge of some were not very perature: 8–26 °C, annual rainfall: 400–1,500 clear dorsally. mm), region 2: Mountainous area (tempera- ture: -5–29 °C, annual rainfall: 200–500mm), DNA extraction region 3: Persian Gulf (temperature: 12.6–35 Genomic DNA from Individual tropical °C, annual rainfall: 200–300mm), and region bed bug of each collection site was extracted 4: the Central Desert (temperature: -4–44 °C, using DNA isolation kit, MBST (Molecular rainfall: less than 100mm). The pattern of bed and Biological system transfer, Tehran, Iran) bug species distribution for the 4 different following the manufacturer’s instructions. areas was determined according to the meth- For this, samples were grinded by pestle and od of Skerman and Hillard (35). Considering placed into 1.5ml micro centrifuge tube and 10% prevalence, 95% confidence level and total DNA was eluted in 100µl of elution 5% error rate, 138 bed bugs collected and buffer. DNA quality and concentration from were used in this study. That way, adult bed each specimen was determined spectrophoto- bugs were collected from various locations metrically using the NanoDrop (Thermo Sci- such as infested hotels, residential houses and entific 2000c, United States) and stored in - industrial buildings during May 2016 to Au- 20 °C for further procedures. We control the gust 2017, with the help of pest control com- contaminations by check the 260/230 ratio be- panies. The following cities were selected cause a poor ratio may be the result of a con- from each region: Region 1: Sari and Rasht, taminant
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Salazar and Others Bed Bugs and Trypanosoma Cruzi
    Accepted for Publication, Published online November 17, 2014; doi:10.4269/ajtmh.14-0483. The latest version is at http://ajtmh.org/cgi/doi/10.4269/ajtmh.14-0483 In order to provide our readers with timely access to new content, papers accepted by the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene are posted online ahead of print publication. Papers that have been accepted for publication are peer-reviewed and copy edited but do not incorporate all corrections or constitute the final versions that will appear in the Journal. Final, corrected papers will be published online concurrent with the release of the print issue. SALAZAR AND OTHERS BED BUGS AND TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius) as Vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi Renzo Salazar, Ricardo Castillo-Neyra, Aaron W. Tustin, Katty Borrini-Mayorí, César Náquira, and Michael Z. Levy* Chagas Disease Field Laboratory, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Arequipa, Peru; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania * Address correspondence to Michael Z. Levy, 819 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Populations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, have recently undergone explosive growth. Bed bugs share many important traits with triatomine insects, but it remains unclear whether these similarities include the ability to transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Here, we show efficient and bidirectional transmission of T. cruzi between hosts and bed bugs in a laboratory environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Stephen L. Doggett 2018.Pdf
    Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs Chapter No.: 1 Title Name: <TITLENAME> ffirs.indd Comp. by: <USER> Date: 11 Jan 2018 Time: 07:15:41 AM Stage: <STAGE> WorkFlow:<WORKFLOW> Page Number: i Caption: “War on the bed bug”. Postcard c. 1916. Clearly humanity’s dislike of the bed bug has not changed through the years! Chapter No.: 1 Title Name: <TITLENAME> ffirs.indd Comp. by: <USER> Date: 11 Jan 2018 Time: 07:15:41 AM Stage: <STAGE> WorkFlow:<WORKFLOW> Page Number: ii Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs Edited by Stephen L. Doggett NSW Health Pathology Westmead Hospital Westmead, Australia Dini M. Miller Department of Entomology Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA Chow‐Yang Lee School of Biological Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia Penang, Malaysia Chapter No.: 1 Title Name: <TITLENAME> ffirs.indd Comp. by: <USER> Date: 11 Jan 2018 Time: 07:15:41 AM Stage: <STAGE> WorkFlow:<WORKFLOW> Page Number: iii This edition first published 2018 © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by law. Advice on how to obtain permission to reuse material from this title is available at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. The right of Stephen L. Doggett, Dini M. Miller, Chow‐Yang Lee to be identified as the author(s) of the editorial material in this work has been asserted in accordance with law. Registered Office(s) John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Office 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, customer services, and more information about Wiley products visit us at www.wiley.com.
    [Show full text]
  • Life History of the Common Bed Bug ( Cimex Lectularius L.) in the U.S
    Life history of the common bed bug ( Cimex lectularius L.) in the U.S. Andrea Marina Polanco-Pinzon Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Life Science In Entomology Dini M. Miller Carlyle C. Brewster Richard D. Fell January 11, 2011 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: bed bugs, life tables, mathematical models, fecundity, starvation, Cimex lectularius Copyright 2011, Andrea M. Polanco Life history of the common bed bug ( Cimex lectularius L.) in the U.S. Andrea Marina Polanco-Pinzon ABSTRACT This study quantifies the rate of bed bug nymphal development, mortality, fecundity and survivorship during starvation for wild caught resistant populations. I then compare some of these characteristics with two susceptible strains. I found that resistant populations develop faster and exhibit less mortality per life stage than susceptible populations. However, there were no significant differences in the total number of eggs produced by the resistant females from the field strains during the 13 feedings/oviposistion cycles ( P = 0.106). On average, resistant females from the field strains produced 0.74 eggs per day. Susceptible strains survived a significantly longer time without feeding (89.2 d and 81.4 d) than the resistant strains (RR, ER). The mean duration of adult life (from the day the female becomes an adult until the day she dies) for (RR) strains was 118.7 d ± 11.8 SE. The intrinsic rate of increase r or average daily output of daughter eggs by female was 0.42.
    [Show full text]
  • Bed Bug Activity During Heat Treatments, and Physiological Effects Among Surviving Individuals
    Master’s Thesis 2018 60 ECTS Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Tone Birkemoe Bed bug activity during heat treatments, and physiological effects among surviving individuals Marius Saunders Biology Faculty of Biosciences 1 Table of contents Preface and acknowledgments 3 Abstract 3 1 Introduction 4 1.1 Bed bugs 4 1.2 Temperature limits for insects 4 1.3 Thermal tolerance for bed bugs 6 1.4 Pest control 6 1.5 Objective of the thesis 7 2 Materials and methods 7 2.1 Experimental animals and feeding 7 2.2 Bioassay 8 2.3 Experimental protocol 10 2.4 Experimental heat treatments 10 2.5 Response variables and collection of data 13 2.6 Statistical analysis 13 3 Results 15 3.1 Behavioral responses to heat 15 3.2 Long-term physiological damage caused to bed bugs by a short heat treatment 19 4 Discussion 21 4.0 Key results for discussion 21 4.1 Bed bugs responses to heat, activity and dispersal during a heat treatment 21 4.2 Possible mechanisms behind the physiological damage 24 4.3 Relevance to bed bug control 25 5 Conclusion and future directions 26 6 References 28 7 Appendix 33 2 Preface and acknowledgments This thesis was written as a part of an ongoing research program on bed bugs at the Department of Pest Control at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH). Thanks to NIPH for use of laboratories, experimental animals and equipment. Especially thanks to my supervisors at NIPH Anders Aak and Bjørn Arne Rukke for guidance throughout the whole thesis, with topic for the thesis, creation of the bioassay, execution of the experiments, and helpful advices on the thesis structure and contents.
    [Show full text]
  • What's Eating You? Bedbugs
    close encounters with the environment What’s Eating You? Bedbugs LTC(P) Dirk M. Elston, MC USA, Fort Sam Houston, Texas MAJ Scott Stockwell, MSC USA, Fort Sam Houston, Texas The order hemiptera contains insects (Figure 1). The forewings have been re- whose wings are half membranous and duced to hemelytral (shoulder) pads. half sclerotic. Two families within the The hindwings are absent. The speci- order, Cimicidae (“bedbugs” and their mens pictured are from a laboratory relatives) and Reduviidae (reduviid colony fed by Scott Stockwell, PhD (aka bugs), include blood-sucking species of dinner, Figure 2). medical importance. All Cimicidae are The genus Cimex parasitizes both blood-sucking ectoparasites of mammals mammals and birds Cimex lectularius and or birds. They have flat, oval bodies and Cimex hemipterus (found in warmer cli- retroverted labium (mouthparts), with mates) affect humans most commonly. three segments, that reaches back as far C. lectularius also parasitizes bats, chick- as coxa (base) of the first pair of legs ens, and other domestic animals. C. lec- tularius ranges in size from 5 to 7 mm. From the Department of Dermatology (MCHE- Females are slightly longer than males. DD), Brooke Army Medical Center, and the C. hemipterus is roughly 25% longer than Medical Zoology Branch, Army Medical C. lecutularius. Interspecies mating oc- Department Center and School, Fort Sam curs in nature.1 The offspring differ from Houston, Texas. either species, often having the narrow REPRINT REQUESTS to Department of Dermatology (MCHE-DD), Brooke Army Medical pronotum and abdomen of C. Center, Army Medical Department Center and hemipterus, but the abdominal bristle School, Fort Sam Houston, TX 74148 (Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphology and Biology of the Bedbug, Cimex Hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in the Laboratory
    Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 21(2): 125-130, 2012 (July) MORPHOLOGY AND BIOLOGY OF THE BEDBUG, CIMEX HEMIPTERUS (HEMIPTERA: CIMICIDAE) IN THE LABORATORY HUMAYUN REZA KHAN* AND MD. MONSUR RAHMAN Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka‐1000, Bangladesh Key words: Bedbug, Cimex hemipterus, Biology, Morphology Abstract Adult bedbugs collected from Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall, University of Dhaka were identified as Cimex hemipterus Fabricius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). The bedbug species was reared and its morphology and biology were studied in the laboratory at room temperature 28 ± 4ºC and 70 ± 10% RH. The average incubation period of the eggs was 7.67 ± 2.08 days. Average nymphal duration was 53.67 ± 2.52 days. The five stadia (stage durations) of the five nymphs were 8.33 ± 0.58, 12.0 ± 1.0, 11.33 ± 0.58, 12.0 ± 1.0 and 10.0 ± 1.0 days, respectively. Average time required from egg laying to adult emergence was 61.67 ± 3.21 days. Introduction Bedbugs are blood feeding ecto‐parasites of humans, chickens, bats, and occasionally domesticated animals(1). There are two common species of bedbugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus and C. hemipterus Fabricius which have a wide distribution in tropical and subtropical countries(2). Cimex hemipterus known as ʹIndian bedbugʹ, is found in both rural and urban conditions in Bangladesh(3). The bedbugs are gregarious and are frequently found in large numbers. They live under crowded and uncared for living conditions and often associated with army barracks, labour and prison camps and similar situations where they may readily contact a variety of hosts(4).
    [Show full text]
  • Genotyping of Tropical Bed Bugs, Cimex Hemipterus F. from Selected
    & Herpeto gy lo lo gy o : h C it u n r r r e O n , t y Majid and Loon, Entomol Ornithol Herpetol 2015, 4:3 R g e o l s o e a m r DOI: 10.4172/2161-0983.1000155 o c t h n E ISSN: 2161-0983 Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology ResearchResearch Article Article OpenOpen Access Access Genotyping of Tropical Bed Bugs, Cimex hemipterus F. from Selected Urban Area in Malaysia Inferred from Microsateelite Marker (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Abdul Hafiz Ab Majid* and Kee Kai Loon Household and Structural Urban Entomology laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia Abstract A total of 9 populations of tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus) collected from urabn area in Penang and other locations in Malaysia. The populations involved in this study included Sungai Ara, Taman Brown, Desa Permai Indah, Tasek Gelugor and Lahar Tembun in Penang, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Pahang and Seremban, Malaysia. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) was extracted from total 5 individual bed bugs each location and used as a template for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify 5 different genomic microsatellite loci. PCR products were resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized with ethidium bromide staining. The genotyping data from the sample sites revealed that PCR-based genotyping reliably separated the samples into genotypic groups corresponded to the location. Keywords: Tropical bed bugs; Cimex hemipterus; Microsatellite Penang and several other locations in Malaysia was genotyped using marker; Genotyping microsatellite marker. Introduction Materials and Methods Bed bugs are insect which small in size, lack of wing, obligate Sample collection hematophagous ectoparasite and have lived in close association In this study, bed bugs were collected from various locations in with humans [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Advances in Molecular Research on Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Sanjay Basnet University of Nebraska - Lincoln
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications: Department of Entomology Entomology, Department of 2019 Advances in Molecular Research on Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) Sanjay Basnet University of Nebraska - Lincoln Shripat T. Kamble Universitiy of Nebraska--Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyfacpub Part of the Entomology Commons Basnet, Sanjay and Kamble, Shripat T., "Advances in Molecular Research on Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)" (2019). Faculty Publications: Department of Entomology. 755. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologyfacpub/755 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Entomology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications: Department of Entomology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Advances in Molecular Research on Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)1 Sanjay Basnet and Shripat T. Kamble2 Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583 USA J. Entomol. Sci. 54(1): 43–53 (January 2019) Abstract With the resurgence and increase in infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), across the world, there has been renewed interest in molecular research on this pest. In this paper, we present current information on the biology, medical importance, management practices, behavior and physiology, and molecular research conducted on bed bugs. The majority of molecular studies are focused towards understanding the molecular mechanism of insecticide resistance. Bed bugs are hematoph- agous insects with no prior record of vectoring any disease organisms. An improved understanding of how bed bugs lack vector competency may provide information to prevent disease transmission in other hematophagous insects.
    [Show full text]
  • Wolbachia in Bedbugs Cimex Lectularius
    Wolbachia in bedbugs Cimex lectularius Louise Lynne Heaton Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, September 2013 Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield To Dora and Elizabeth Lewis who inspired in me a passion to learn and explore and helped set me on the path to where I am today. Abstract The global rise in numbers of bedbug infestations has been facilitated by increased global travel and climate change, and further compounded by widespread pesticide resistance. The resurgence of this blood-sucking pest is costing the hospitality industry millions of pounds each year and non-chemical control strategies are urgently needed. The recent discovery that bedbugs rely on symbiotic Wolbachia bacteria for the B vitamins necessary for normal egg production, growth and development, has highlighted a possible biocontrol strategy through reducing Wolbachia infection loads. The aim of my thesis is to better understand the nature of the Wolbachia-bedbug symbiosis and the mechanisms by which Wolbachia achieve effects in their host in order to determine whether such biocontrol strategies are likely to succeed. I develop protocols to manipulate Wolbachia infection loads using heat or antibiotic treatment to test hypotheses relating to (i) the fitness effects of Wolbachia infection for male hosts; (ii) the fitness effects of Wolbachia infection for female hosts and (iii) the underlying mechanisms through which Wolbachia achieve their effects. My research has revealed that Wolbachia increase the fitness of both male and female hosts via a range of mechanisms. The male’s Wolbachia increase the male host’s fitness through increasing the egg laying rate of the female he has mated with.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic and Ultrastructural Characterization of Bed Bugs in the Southwest of Iran
    Phylogenetic and Ultrastructural Characterization of Bed Bugs in the Southwest of Iran Somayeh Bahrami ( [email protected] ) Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz Ismaeil Alizadeh Kerman University of Medical Sciences Fatemeh Pazhoom Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz Susan Cork University of Calgary Chukwunonso O.Nzelu University of Calgary Ali Reza Alborzi Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz Research Keywords: Bed bug, Cimex hemipterus, Iran, Phylogenetic tree, Scanning electron microscopy Posted Date: November 24th, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-112151/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/21 Abstract Background: Bed bugs belong systematically to Order Hemiptera; Suborder Heteroptera; Family Cimicidae are of public health importance as ectoparasites of mammals and birds, however, only a few species are the putative ectoparasites of humans. Bed bugs are a wingless bloodsucking hemipterous bug (Cimex spp.) sometimes infesting houses and especially beds and feeding on human blood. Correct species identication is very important in order to design targeted strategies for surveillance and control of bed bugs in a given area. Methods: Adult bed bugs were collected from houses located in the southwest of Iran. The specimens were morphologically identied to the species level and then conrmed using molecular methods. Results: The mtDNA 16S rRNA sequences obtained from the specimens, and phylogenetic tree derived, showed that all the sequences belong to Cimex hemipterus. The Disparity Index among results showed that all the specimens were of a heterogeneous population. To the best of our knowledge, the leg structure of this species has not previously been documented and this is the rst report of an open-closed rack system in the legs of C.
    [Show full text]
  • Testing the Competence of Cimex Lectularius Bed Bugs for the Transmission of Borrelia Recurrentis, the Agent of Relapsing Fever
    Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 100(6), 2019, pp. 1407–1412 doi:10.4269/ajtmh.18-0804 Copyright © 2019 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Testing the Competence of Cimex lectularius Bed Bugs for the Transmission of Borrelia recurrentis, the Agent of Relapsing Fever Basma El Hamzaoui,1,2 Maureen Laroche,1,2 Yassina Bechah,1,2 Jean Michel Berenger, ´ 1,2 and Philippe Parola1,2* 1Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; 2Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Mediterran ´ ee ´ Infection, Marseille, France Abstract. In recent years, bed bugs have reappeared in greater numbers, more frequently, and are biting humans in many new geographic areas. Infestations by these hematophagous insects are rapidly increasing worldwide. Borrelia recurrentis, a spirochete bacterium, is the etiologic agent of louse-borne relapsing fever. The known vectors are body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus. However, previous studies have suggested that bed bugs might also be able to transmit this bacterium. Adult Cimex lectularius were artificially infected with a blood meal mixed with bacterial suspension of B. recurrentis. They were subsequently fed with pathogen-free human blood until the end of the experiment. Bed bugs and feces were collected every 5 days to evaluate the capacity of bed bugs to acquire and excrete viable B. recurrentis using molecular biology, cultures, fluorescein diacetate and immunofluorescence assays. The feces collected on the day 5 and 10 postinfection contained viable bacteria. Immunofluorescence analysis of exposed bed bugs showed the presence of B. recurrentis in the digestive tract, even in bed bugs collected on day 20 after infection.
    [Show full text]
  • Bed Bug, Cimex Lectularius Linneaus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae)1 Shawn E
    EENY140 Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius Linneaus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cimicidae)1 Shawn E. Brooks2 Introduction Distribution Sometimes referred to as red coats, chinches, or mahogany Human dwellings, bird nests, and bat caves are the most flats (USDA 1976), bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, suitable habitats for bed bugs because they offer warmth, are blood-feeding parasites of humans, chickens, bats and areas to hide, and hosts on which to feed (Dolling 1991). occasionally domesticated animals (Usinger 1966). Bed Bed bugs are not evenly distributed throughout the bugs are suspected to carry leprosy, oriental sore, Q-fever, environment but are concentrated in harborages (Usinger and brucellosis (Krueger 2000) but have never been impli- 1966). Within human dwellings, harborages include cracks cated in the spread of disease to humans (Dolling 1991). and crevices in walls and furniture, behind wallpaper and After the development and use of modern insecticides, such wood paneling, or under carpeting (Krueger 2000). Bed as DDT, bed bug infestations have virtually disappeared. bugs are usually only active during the night but will feed However, since 1995, pest management professionals have during the day when hungry (Usinger 1966). Bed bugs noticed an increase in bed-bug-related complaints (Krueger can be transported on clothing and in luggage, bedding, 2000). and furniture (USDA 1976). Bed bugs lack appendages that allow them to cling to hair, fur, or feathers, so they are rarely found on hosts (Dolling 1991). Description The adult bed bug is a broadly flattened, ovoid insect with greatly reduced wings (Schuh and Slater 1995). The leathery, reduced fore wings (hemelytra) are broader than they are long, with a somewhat rectangular appearance.
    [Show full text]