The 1-lashernite Kingdom of Jordan The General Corporation for the C n ted Nations Environment Protection United Nations Development Environment Program me Programme Jordan Country Study on Biological Diversity Arthropods of Medical Importance in Jordan is work was prepared for the The General Corporation for the Environment Protection (GCEP). With chnieal support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funding from the Global wironment Facility (GEF). Project No. GF/6105-92-65, GF/6105-92-02 (2991). (1)i LEuJttI The Hashcmilc Kingdom ol Jordan Ox The Genera] C Orp Ha I On For the I_Jni F Nat iun Environment PlOICLIHII1 Lnitcd Nadun FTk\ c]opmeln Environ ni dl P ianiiie Prograili I1C Jordan Country Study on Biological Diversity Arthropods of Medical Importance in Jordan Zuhair S. Amr (Ph. 1).) Associate Professor of Zoology Department of Biology Jordan University of Science & Technology Irbid, Jordan This work was prepared for the The General Corporation for the Environment Protection (GCEP). With technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Project No, GF/6105-92-65. GF/6105-92-02 (2991). GLf Deposit No. 142/1/2000 Class No. 61443 Author: Zuhair S. Amr Title: Arthropods of Medical lmportane in Jordan Subject Heading: 1. Pest insects Publisher: United Nations Environment Programme Notes: Perpared by the National Library 2000 Table of Contents Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Arthropods and Diseases Chapter 3: Mosquitoes Chapter 4: Phlebotorninae Sandflies Chapter 5: Tabanidae: Horseflies Chapter 6: Myiasis Causing Dipterans Chapter 7: Blattaria: Cockroaches Chapter 8: Herniptera: Bedbugs Chapter 9: Siphonaptera: Fleas Chapter 10: Anoplura: Lice Chapter 11: Ticks Chapter 12: Scorpions Chapter 13: Sarcoptid Mites Acknowledgments The Country Study on Biodiversity was facilitated by the United Nations Environ- ineni Programme with funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). Thanks and gratitude are also extended to the United Nations Development Programme for its support and facilitation dLlring the siLidy. I would like to thank Dr. All Arhaji, Former head of the Malaria and Schistosomiasis I)epartmcnt (Ministry of Health) for his advice and help. I wish to extend my deep ap- precLation to Dr. Ahrnad Katbeh-Bader for providing inc with related literature, Prof. I)r. Robert Lewis for commenting on the fleas section. and Dr. Scott Stockwell from the Academy of Health Sciences, Department of Preventive Health Services (USA) for giv- ing me permission to use some of his data on scorpions. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Yasar Al-Khalili for allowing me to use the key for the mosquitoes of Jordan and some of his original drawings. Special thanks are extended to Lina Rifai for editing the manuscript. I am very grateful for Prof. I)r. Sami Abdel l-Iafez for his constructive comments and valuable additions. Most illustrations used in this book were taken from the publications of the U. S. Dc- partmcnt of Health, Education and Welfare. Public Health service. CDC. Atlanta, Geor- gia, U. S.A. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Medical entomology is a growing Jordan is considered a part of the branch of entomology. The science of subtropical region. Arthropod-borne di s- medical entomology deals with the ar- eases are very much related to several so- thropods that are capable of transmitting cioeconomic, cultural and environmental diseases or can inflict injury or enveno- factors. mation to man. Several groups of arthro- pods can act as vectors for viral, bacterial, The first attempt to define arthropods protozoans and ricketessial diseases or of medical importance in Jordan was the can act as intermediate hosts for round- carried out by Amr (1988). For many woriis (Nematodes), flat worm (Digenitic years working in the field, consultant for trematods) and ribbon worms (Cestodes). the Ministry of Health and other private agencies, and conducting original re- search, the present author reached the dire Medical entomology investigates into need to compile all materials and pub- the etiologic agents, life cycles, and the Jished work on the medical entomology in epidemiology of disease transmission. It Jordan. Certainly, more research is need- is also involved in finding practical ed to define all aspects of medical ento- means for controlling the target arthropod mology in Jordan. This requires coopera- to reduce the risk of acquiring infections. tive efforts of health officials and Methods in controlling the different ar- scientists involved in various domains re- thropods changed dramatically over the lated to health and entomology. past two decades, where environmentally safe strategies are followed, by using nat- In this book, the major human arthro- ural enemies, natural products as well as pods of medical importance occurring in biodegradable insecticides. Jordan are discussed based on available literature and the authors personal experi- Dipterans (two-winged insects), are ence. by lar the most important arthropods in- crinminated in diseases transmission. Ma- References lana is the most debilitating arthropod- Amr, Z. S. 1988. Arthropods of Medical borne disease that causes high mortality Importance in Jordan. for. Med. J., 22 reaching up to 2 million annually. (2): 125-137. 7 CHAPTER 2 ARTHROPODS AND DISEASES Phylum Arthropoda includes the sects that are not involved in disease highest number of species among all oth- transmission (e.g. bed bugs). er known phyla. Arthropods are adapted to feed on a great variety of food items The role of arthropods in disease that ranges from decaying materials, other transmission is by far the most important arthropods or animals and tissue flUids of indirect mean that aFfects human health. other animals. Also, arthropods exhibit a Many arthropods cause significant sick- wide range of forms and many show pe- ness and death in many countries in the culiar adaptations for their survival. world. For example. I to 2 million peo- Sonic are winged and can travel long dis- plc die annually due to malaria. Still tances. while other are localized on the many other diseases causing death or se- hosts body. vere complications (e.g. East River blind- ness, African sleeping sickness and Ele- In Medical Entomology, only a small phantiasis) are transmitted by arthropods. fraction of the arthropods are considered ol medical and veterinary importance. The relationship between the eliolog- They affect human welfare ci tlicr ri irecily ic agent (disease causing organism) and (Bites. stings. or living on human body) the arthropod (vector) is very complicat- or indirectly (Disease transmission). ed. Such relationship evolved over a very long period of' time, where as the internal 1\rthropods can affect man and ani- environment of the vector allows the etio- mals in many different ways annoyance, logic agent to survive, and propagate or accidental injury to exposed sense organs. develop and then transfered into the suita- dermatitis, cnvenoniiiation, blood loss ble host. Some vectors act as mechanical and allergy. Also, as indicated earlier, or biological vehicles for the etiologic they can act as mechanical, biological or agent (Azad & Heard, 1998). intermediate host for pathogens (Hernis & Jame., 1968). Mechanical Transmission: In this mode of transmission, the I )irect exposure to arlhropods such as vectors external body may become con- scorpion and wasp stings or spider bites tam mated with the pathogen (appendag- involve injection of toxins within the hu- es, mouthparts etc.) or regurgitated. The man body. Essentially. direct or immedi- pathogens will not undergo biological de- ate response is observed, and sometimes velopment or multiplication while on or the clinical symptoms become very com- in the vector. It is only the pathogen that plicated. In the Middle East, serious di- can survive such circumstances will be rect exposure is exemplified in scorpion transmitted if the vector contaminates slings. We will examine this topic in loon items consumed by man. The Chapter 12. Very little is known about pathogen is carried while the flies are the magnitude of wasp and bees eiive- walking or feeding on contaminated ma- nomization. Other arthiopods that may terial s. inflict serious stings or bites are the centi- pedes. The Sarcoptid iii ite, 5arcopie Ilousellies and cockroaches act as scabui infest human skin, and cause dis- mechanical carries for several bacterial. comfort, and itching sensation that leads protozoan and nematodes. For example. to secondary skin bacterial inlection. the housefly has been incriminated as a This is true for other blood-sucking in- carrier for several gastrointestinal diseas- A i/hropods wul Diease. es (ShigeIli.i sp., .Sa/inonella sp., Vibrio Maintenance of Pathogens within the sp.). Vector Pathogens can remain within the ar- Biological Transmission thropod body despite the fact that aihro- In this mode, the pathogen may un- pods molt and acquire different stages dergo developmental, propagative or both during their life history. Some inse1s and cycles within the body of the vector. In acarines molt several times dunn their the developmental cycle (Cyclo develop- life cycle, and the pathogen ccLId be mental), the pathogen dilTerentiates into maintained when ever it gained e lirance different stages that are distinct from each to the vector body. In some arthpods, other. These changes may occur in differ- the pathogen can be transferred fr m one ent tissues of the vector, and subsequently stage to the following one; this is known produce the infective stage to the final as the transstadial transmission. h relia host. Elephantiasis caused by Wuchereria can be transmitted from the larvaH nyni- bancrofti is an example of Cyclo- phal and to the adult stages of sotn ixod- developmental transmission. However, in id ticks. On the other hand, pah gens the propagative cycle (Propagative trans- could be transferred from the fern.. c into mission), the pathogen multiplies and in- its eggs (Tram s-ovarial transrn ion). creases in number within the vector's Several viruses transmitted by mes iiitoes body.