搜索结果：Journal of medical entomology

The 2023 iteration of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimated prevalence, incidence, and health burden for 375 diseases and injuries, including 12 mental disorders. We assess past, current, and emerging trends in the prevalence and burden of mental disorders across sexes and age groups, for 21 regions, 204 countries and territories, and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, from 1990 to 2023. Mental disorders included in GBD 2023 were anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, and a residual category of other mental disorders. A literature review identified epidemiological data for each disorder. These were analysed via a Bayesian meta-regression to estimate prevalence by disorder, sex, age, location, and year. Disorder-specific prevalence was multiplied by disability weights representing the severity of health loss associated with each disorder to estimate years lived with disability (YLDs). Deaths due to anorexia nervosa were assessed with a Cause of Death Ensemble modelling strategy to estimate deaths by sex, age, location, and year, and then multiplied by the standard life expectancy at age of death to estimate years of life lost (YLLs). YLDs equalled disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for all mental disorders except anorexia nervosa (the only mental disorder considered as an underlying cause of death in GBD), for which DALYs represented the sum of YLDs and YLLs. We presented prevalence, deaths, YLDs, YLLs, and DALYs as counts, age-specific rates per 100 000 population, and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population. We estimated 1·17 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·06-1·31) prevalent cases of mental disorders globally in 2023, equivalent to an age-standardised prevalence rate of 14 210·7 cases (12 849·5-15 940·1) per 100 000 population. These estimates represented a 95·5% (75·0-121·2) increase in prevalent cases and 24·2% (11·4-41·4) increase in age-standardised prevalence rate between 1990 and 2023. All mental disorders showed increases in prevalent cases between 1990 and 2023, while notable increases were seen in age-standardised prevalence rates for anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder. There were an estimated 171 million (127-228) DALYs due to mental disorders globally across sex and age in 2023, equivalent to an age-standardised DALY rate of 2070·5 DALYs (1519·1-2750·5) per 100 000 population. Mental disorders contributed to 6·1% (4·8-7·6) of all-cause DALYs in 2023, making them the fifth leading cause of global DALYs (up from 12th in 1990). DALYs were almost entirely composed of YLDs. Mental disorders were the leading cause of YLDs in 2023 (up from second in 1990), explaining 17·3% (14·8-20·6) of all-cause global YLDs. Leading causes of mental disorder DALYs were anxiety disorders (ranked 11th among the 304 diseases and injuries at Level 4 of the GBD cause hierarchy), major depressive disorder (15th), and schizophrenia (41st). Globally in 2023, mental disorder age-standardised DALY rates were higher among females (2239·6 [1643·7-3014·1] per 100 000) than among males (1900·2 [1399·8-2510·8] per 100 000), and peaked in the 15-19 years age group (2617·3 [1850·6-3696·8] per 100 000). All locations showed increased mental disorder DALY rates in 2023 compared with 1990, ranging across countries and territories from 1302·4 (952·7-1683·7) per 100 000 in Viet Nam to 3555·8 (2661·9-4715·0) per 100 000 in the Netherlands. Across SDI quintiles, DALY rates ranged from 1853·0 (1352·1-2469·3) per 100 000 for middle SDI to 2184·1 (1606·1-2890·3) per 100 000 for high SDI. A significant health burden was imposed by mental disorders in all countries and territories in 2023, irrespective of the health resources available. In some instances, this burden has increased over time and is unevenly distributed across populations. Stronger surveillance systems, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, are required. Additionally, we need more coordinated and inclusive policies to reduce the burden through early treatment and prevention, tailored to sex and age differences across locations. Responding to the mental health needs of our global population, especially those most vulnerable, is an obligation, not a choice. Gates Foundation, Queensland Health, and University of Queensland.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is one of the most prevalent liver diseases globally, contributing to both economic and health-related challenges. We aimed to evaluate the global, regional, and national burden of MASLD from 1990 to 2023, quantify the contribution of identified modifiable risk factors, and project future prevalence up to the year 2050. Estimates of MASLD prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were produced by age, sex, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI), and Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023. The MASLD burden attributable to three risk factors (smoking, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose) was assessed as part of the GBD comparative risk assessment. As a secondary analysis, we used these estimates to forecast MASLD prevalence up to 2050 using fasting plasma glucose and mean BMI as predictors. Furthermore, to examine the relative contributions of population ageing, population growth, and changes in MASLD prevalence rate to the forecasted changes in case counts from 2023 to 2050, we conducted a decomposition analysis. In 2023, approximately 1·3 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·4) individuals were estimated to be living with MASLD (ie, 16·1% of the global population), with an age-standardised prevalence rate of 14 429·3 (95% UI 13 268·3 to 15 990·6) per 100 000 population, representing a percentage increase of 142·7% (95% UI 139·2 to 146·7) in crude numbers from 1990 (0·5 billion [0·5 to 0·6]) and of 28·6% (27·8 to 29·5) in the rate (11 217·2 [10 276·8 to 12 467·0] per 100 000 in 1990). An estimated 3·6 million (2·8 to 4·5) total DALYs were attributable to MASLD worldwide in 2023, corresponding to an age-standardised DALY rate of 39·6 (31·2 to 49·9) per 100 000 population. Despite a 116·3% (93·3 to 139·4) increase in crude DALYs (from 1·7 million [1·3 to 2·1] in 1990), its age-standardised estimate remained consistent (1·8% [-8·6 to 12·8]) from 1990 (38·9 [30·1 to 49·8] per 100 000) to 2023. There was substantial variation in age-standardised estimates across regions. North Africa and the Middle East had the highest prevalence rate (29 246·1 [26 848·3 to 32 048·7] per 100 000) and Andean Latin America showed the highest DALY rate (152·3 [114·1 to 194·7] per 100 000). By contrast, the high-income Asia Pacific region had the lowest prevalence rate (8653·5 [7923·7 to 9592·8] per 100 000) and east Asia had the lowest DALY rate (16·3 [13·5 to 19·9] per 100 000) among all GBD regions. North Africa and the Middle East showed disproportionately higher prevalence rates relative to other regions with similar SDIs. Lower SDIs and HAQs were associated with higher age-standardised DALY rates. The age-standardised prevalence rate was consistently higher in males (15 616·4 [14 349·2 to 17 263·3] per 100 000 people in 2023) than in females (13 245·2 [12 132·0 to 14 692·6] per 100 000 people), and peaked at age 80-84 years in both sexes. The number of MASLD prevalent cases was the highest in younger adults, peaking at age 35-39 years for males and age 55-59 years for females. Among the risk factors for MASLD, high fasting plasma glucose presented the largest contribution to the age-standardised DALY rate of total MASLD in 2023 (2·2 [95% UI 1·6 to 3·1] per 100 000 people), followed by high BMI (1·4 [0·6 to 2·4] per 100 000 people) and smoking (1·0 [0·3 to 1·8] per 100 000 people). Our forecasting model estimates that 1·8 billion (95% UI 1·6 to 2·0) individuals are likely to have MASLD by 2050, representing a 42·0% increase from 2023. The age-standardised prevalence rate is expected to increase to 15 774·9 (95% UI 14 613·9 to 17 336·2) per 100 000 people in 2050, representing an average annual percentage change of 0·3% (95% UI 0·3-0·3). According to our decomposition analysis, this change will be primarily due to population growth, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa and Middle East, and less by population ageing or epidemiological change. With a global prevalence of 16·1% and approximately 1·3 billion people already living with MASLD in 2023, the condition has and will continue to have substantial health and economic impacts worldwide. An inverse association between the HAQ Index and age-standardised DALY rates suggests that countries with lower health-care access and quality might be less well positioned to manage the growing MASLD burden, underscoring the need for strengthened health-system capacity in these settings. Gates Foundation.

Frequent use of resting boxes by Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) during the day-time may offer the opportunity for use of these artificial resting sites as delivery substrates for insecticides to manage populations of this eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) vector. In field studies at EEEV-endemic foci in southwestern Michigan, abundance in black-painted resting boxes of adult male and female Cs. melanura varied within the 24-h diel cycle, by whether the interiors of the boxes were treated with a microencapsulated formulation of lambda cyhalothrin (Demand CSTM), and from before to after treatment of boxes at field sites. Abundance was highest at noon, diminished to nil at midnight, and increased by noon the following day. Abundance of Cs. melanura was lower in insecticide-treated boxes compared to untreated boxes, and declined at field sites sampled after treatment of boxes with microencapsulated lambda cyhalothrin, compared to before treatment and to control sites. This population suppression effect lasted at least 30 days and exceeded 90% reduction. Field-caught Cs. melanura males and females experienced high mortality when exposed to lambda cyhalothrin-treated bottles in bottle bioassays and in overnight exposures to treated boxes set in the laboratory. Prolonged daily visits to resting boxes, resulting in exposure to residual insecticide, may explain the sustained, diminishing effect on abundance of field populations of Cs. melanura. Results support use of insecticide-treated boxes distributed into wooded upland edges of natural larval habitats as an intervention against EEEV transmission.

As of October 2025, Puerto Rico has been experiencing an ongoing dengue outbreak that started in March 2024. The latest island-wide mosquito survey conducted in Puerto Rico during 2018 to 2019 covered 41 of the 78 municipalities and detected the presence of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) in 27 of the municipalities. Given the prolonged elevated circulation of the dengue virus on the island, we carried out an Ae. aegypti survey in June 2025 across 48 out of 78 municipalities. Here, we report the occurrence of Ae. aegypti in 43 out of 48 municipalities surveyed, some of which have not been reported in previous studies. Notably, 77.6% of cemeteries surveyed across 24 municipalities served as oviposition sites for Ae. aegypti and were found in 10 municipalities not previously recorded in literature. Due to observed frequency of shared larval habitat with Ae. mediovittatus (Coquillett, 1906), an analysis of co-occurrence patterns is provided from collected sites. In addition, updated distribution of Ae. mediovittatus is provided. The larvivorous Tx. portoricensis (Röder, 1885) was observed opportunistically, and co-occurrence analysis was performed to assess its potential for biocontrol. We also documented effective integrated pest management practices that minimize mosquito breeding where mosquito larvae were absent. Overall, the updated distribution of the three species in Puerto Rico reveals a broader distribution than previously reported, and co-occurrence analysis confirms that Ae. aegypti and Ae. mediovittatus frequently share larval habitat. This highlights the implications for dengue transmission risk and the need for continuous surveillance to support mosquito control efforts.

The tropical horse tick, Dermacentor nitens Neumann, 1897, has a wide distribution throughout the Neotropics, and is a vector of protozoan haemoparasites that cause equine piroplasmosis. Despite this, little is known about the genetic diversity of this tick species, particularly in Cuba, where horses are important domestic animals used in agriculture and for transportation. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of genetic variation in 115 D. nitens adults (57 females and 58 males) collected from horses in the Cuban province of Mayabeque using sequence data of two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 gene (nad4). The results revealed the presence of 7 cox1 haplotypes, 14 nad4 haplotypes, and 23 haplotypes with concatenation of the two genetic markers. However, the results of the rarefaction curve analyses predict the existence of other rare haplotypes in Mayabeque Province. The most common haplotype for each genetic marker was identical to a D. nitens from Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and French Guiana. The star-like haplotype networks, each with a central (ie "ancestral") and most abundant haplotype, combined with the significant negative values for the Tajima's D and Fu's F tests, is consistent with a hypothesis of the introduction of D. nitens on horses from mainland South America (ie a founder effect) followed by demographic expansion. Additional population genetic studies on D. nitens are needed in other countries where this species occurs to examine the phylogeography of this tick species of socioeconomic importance.

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) remain some of the most understudied vector species, despite their important role in the global transmission of viral and parasitic disease agents of animals and humans. Over the last decade, advances in molecular taxonomy combined with outbreaks of pathogens like bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and Oropouche virus have driven a burst of new research activity on this genus. In this Special Collection, we highlight some of the exciting work being done on Culicoides in the United States and Europe. Topics in the collection span from diversity surveys on understudied species and regions to behavior and physiology to vector competence. Two timely review articles (on EHDV in the United States and BTV in Europe) are also included. We hope this Special Collection will spur new interest in Culicoides as we continue to advance our knowledge of these important vectors.

Validating blow fly developmental datasets for estimating the time of colonization (TOC) of vertebrate remains is a critical component of applied forensic entomology. Reliable developmental data enhance the probative value of entomological evidence in forensic investigations; however, direct assessment of TOC under field conditions is inherently challenging because the timing of oviposition is rarely known. To address this limitation, previous studies have used time of placement (TOP) as a proxy for TOC to evaluate insect colonization patterns on carcasses deployed in the field. The present study evaluated the accuracy, precision, and error structure of TOP ratio estimates across multiple whole-carrion resources, focusing on the effects of thermal summation method, developmental study tissue type, species coexistence, and adult eclosion timing. Field experiments were conducted during summer months in Texas, USA, using the invasive and predatory blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart). Results demonstrated that TOP ratios generated using accumulated degree days (ADD) were approximately 5% better aligned with known placement intervals than those derived from accumulated degree hours (ADH). Estimates based on first-emerging adults were 18% better aligned than those based on last-emerging adults, and developmental datasets generated from equine or porcine tissue produced TOP ratios that were 10% better aligned than those from canine tissue. Estimates derived from single-species development of Ch. rufifacies were substantially more precise, exhibiting up to 80% less variability than estimates from mixed-species contexts involving its intraguild prey, Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius). However, this increased precision was accompanied by reduced accuracy, with misalignment increasing by as much as 57% depending on carrion type. Collectively, these findings emphasize the importance of both developmental dataset selection and ecological realism when applying thermal-based models in forensic entomology.

Triatomine bugs, which are vectors of Chagas disease, heavily depend on chemical communication. While much research on the chemical ecology of triatomines has focused on Triatoma, it is essential to explore other genera within the subfamily to improve our understanding of the evolution of triatomine chemical communication. Prior research has indicated that a pheromone present in the feces of triatomine bugs facilitates their aggregation. The aggregation pheromone attracts bugs and arrests them. Here, we investigated the behavioral responses of Paratriatoma lecticularia (Stål, 1859) to the volatile compounds emitted by its dry feces. The responses of fifth-instar nymphs, as well as females and males, to dry feces, volatile extracts, and synthetic compounds derived from dry feces were assessed using Y-tube olfactometer bioassays. Volatile compounds from the dry feces of adults were collected using the dynamic headspace technique and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Dry feces and hexane fecal extracts attracted P. lecticularia nymphs and adults; however, methanolic extracts did not. Ten chemicals were identified in hexanic extracts, whereas 4 were identified in methanolic extracts, with three being common to both. A blend consisting of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, limonene, menthol, decanal, undecane, and tridecane, derived from hexane fecal extracts, elicited attraction of both nymphs and adults. A blend containing 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, limonene, menthol, decanal, undecane, and tridecane, derived from hexane faecal extracts, attracted both nymphs and adults. These results provide a deeper understanding of the chemical ecology of triatomine bugs. The 7-component blend could be useful for the surveillance of P. lecticularia.

Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are important vectors of disease-causing agents, but little is known about their microbiome in Southeast Asia, highlighting the need for further investigation. In Malaysia, Simulium cheongi, Simulium jeffreyi, and Simulium vanluni are among the most abundant black fly species and are of potential medical importance, making them suitable representatives for microbiome studies. In this study, their bacterial communities were characterized using next-generation sequencing (NGS) targeting seven hypervariable regions (V2, V3, V4, V6 to V7, V8, and V9) of the 16S rRNA gene to enable comprehensive community profiling. The alpha diversity of the bacterial community showed the highest values of Shannon and Simpson indices in S. jeffreyi and increased values of observed species and Chao1 indices in S. cheongi. Males showed greater microbial diversity than females in the alpha diversity analysis, with all alpha rarefaction plots reaching a plateau. Moreover, the beta diversity of the microbial communities measured by Bray-Curtis distance indices revealed three PCs coordinates with 63.75% of the total variance. However, no significant differences in alpha and beta diversity indexes were found among the three species. The bacterial composition included six phyla, 15 classes, 37 orders, 78 families, 143 genera, and 216 bacterial species, with the V3 region having the highest taxonomic identification. The V9 region had the least detection at all taxonomic levels, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate hypervariable regions to accurately assess the diversity of black fly bacterial communities.

Culicoides biting midges are biological vectors of internationally important arboviruses, including bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), which significantly impact livestock production in Europe. Temperature is a fundamental driver of the transmission of Culicoides-borne arboviruses, regulating virus replication within the insect, vector survival and activity. A key determinant of the spread of Culicoides-borne viruses is vector dispersal through flight activity which is constrained by temperature. Here we determine the temperature and humidity thresholds of flight activity for UK Culicoides vector species. More than 40,000 adult Culicoides were collected from field sites in the southeast of England using CDC light traps during spring, summer, and autumn. Bioassays conducted under laboratory conditions were used to determine temperature and humidity thresholds of Culicoides flight activity by measuring flight phototaxis towards an ultraviolet light source over a 24-h period. The highest flight activity (48%) was observed at temperatures between 20 and 25&#x2009;&#xb0;C, with reduced activity above and below this. Flight activity at 10 and 35&#x2009;&#xb0;C was reduced, with less than 10% of Culicoides active. Moreover, seasonal variation in low and high temperature thresholds for flight were recorded, with a lower threshold for flight activity recorded in populations caught in spring compared with those caught in summer and autumn. Finally, Culicoides flight activity and survival was significantly reduced under low humidity conditions (<50% rH). The flight response of UK Culicoides vector species to temperature and humidity presented here will facilitate the refinement of existing models used to predict incursion and spread of Culicoides-borne viruses.

Information on childhood cancer burden is crucial for effective cancer policy planning. Unfortunately, observed paediatric cancer data are not available in every country, and previous global burden estimates have not discretely reported several common cancers of childhood. We aimed to inform efforts to address childhood cancer burden globally by analysing results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023, which now include nine additional cancer causes compared with previous GBD analyses. GBD 2023 data sources for cancer estimation included population-based cancer registries, vital registration systems, and verbal autopsies. For childhood cancers (defined as those occurring at ages 0-19 years), mortality was estimated using cancer-specific ensemble models and incidence was estimated using mortality estimates and modelled mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were estimated by multiplying age-specific cancer deaths by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. Prevalence was estimated using survival estimates modelled from MIRs and multiplied by sequelae-specific disability weights to estimate years lived with disability (YLDs). Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated as the sum of YLLs and YLDs. Estimates are presented globally and by geographical and resource groupings, and all estimates are presented with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Globally, in 2023, there were an estimated 377&#x2008;000 incident childhood cancer cases (95% UI 288&#x2008;000-489&#x2008;000), 144&#x2008;000 deaths (131&#x2008;000-162&#x2008;000), and 11&#xb7;7 million (10&#xb7;7-13&#xb7;2) DALYs due to childhood cancer. Deaths due to childhood cancer decreased by 27&#xb7;0% (15&#xb7;5-36&#xb7;1) globally, from 197&#x2008;000 (173&#x2008;000-218&#x2008;000) in 1990, but increased in the WHO African region by 55&#xb7;6% (25&#xb7;5-92&#xb7;4), from 31&#x2008;500 (24&#x2008;900-38&#x2008;500) to 49&#x2008;000 (42&#x2008;600-58&#x2008;200) between 1990 and 2023. In 2023, age-standardised YLLs due to childhood cancer were inversely correlated with country-level Socio-demographic Index. Childhood cancer was the eighth-leading cause of childhood deaths and the ninth-leading cause of DALYs among all cancers in 2023. The percentage of DALYs due to uncategorised childhood cancers was reduced from 26&#xb7;5% (26&#xb7;5-26&#xb7;5) in GBD 2017 to 10&#xb7;5% (8&#xb7;1-13&#xb7;1) with the addition of the nine new cancer causes. Target cancers for the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) comprised 47&#xb7;3% (42&#xb7;2-52&#xb7;0) of global childhood cancer deaths in 2023. Global childhood cancer burden remains a substantial contributor to global childhood disease and cancer burden and is disproportionately weighted towards resource-limited settings. The estimation of additional cancer types relevant in childhood provides a step towards alignment with WHO GICC targets. Efforts to decrease global childhood cancer burden should focus on addressing the inequities in burden worldwide and support comprehensive improvements along the childhood cancer diagnosis and care continuum. St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Gates Foundation, and St Baldrick's Foundation.

Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) require a single bloodmeal from one of many potential host species during each of their three life stages. However, host species vary tremendously in their permissiveness for ticks. Given the variation in host permissiveness, we would expect ticks to have evolved mechanisms that increase their probability of feeding on highly permissive species. However, we know little of what happens during an encounter between a tick and a passing host. To explore the influence of host and tick qualities on tick adhesion to hosts, we constructed an apparatus in which an artificial host passed over I. scapularis larvae, simulating hosts walking over ticks. This allowed us to control isolated qualities of the host and ticks and observe how many larvae adhered to hosts. In one experiment, larvae were twice as likely to adhere to mouse fur than opossum fur and even less likely to adhere to drag cloth corduroy. However, fur type had no apparent effect in a second study. Instead, the probability larvae adhered to a host increased rapidly with the duration of contact, saturating by &#x223c;1&#x2009;s regardless of fur type, and was slightly influenced by host speed. Even with the longest contact times, only &#x223c;2/3 of larvae adhered to a host. This probability declined with larval age. Collectively, our results suggest ticks may attempt to adhere to any host they contact, perhaps because contacts are rare and often brief, but not all host-seeking ticks are in a state where they can or will adhere.

The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.), is an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite and a well-established pest in urban settings, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Insecticide resistance is one of the main challenges in bed bug management worldwide, with pyrethroid resistance being especially widespread. Iran's diverse geography and climate support the presence of both Cimex lectularius L. and C. hemipterus, with the latter being commonly found in the warmer, arid eastern provinces. In this study, we investigated the target site mutations that underlie pyrethroid resistance in C. hemipterus populations from eastern Iran-an area previously lacking genetic data on resistance mechanisms. Bed bug samples collected from residential infestations across three eastern provinces were analyzed through PCR amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene. All study strains (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;80) exhibited homozygous double mutations at positions M918I and L1014F associated with super knockdown resistance (kdr) genotype. The uniform presence of this double-mutation haplotype across all populations can be attributed to either prolonged selection pressure from pyrethroid use or founder effect, which requires further investigations. No other resistance-associated mutations previously reported in the VGSC in C. hemipterus were detected. By documenting these fixed mutations in eastern Iran, this study contributes additional insight that helps generate an understanding of resistance profiles of C. hemipterus from a previously uncharacterized region of Iran and reinforces the need for routine resistance monitoring and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to preserve the efficacy of available control tools.

The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say) has undergone range contractions and expansions since its origination half a million years ago and is expanding in all cardinal directions. These changes affect the range of several tick-borne diseases. Birds host larval and nymphal I. scapularis and may contribute to the local distribution of ticks in the environment. Furthermore, bird migration and dispersal provide mechanisms for the rapid range expansion of ticks and their pathogens. We examined data spanning 35&#x2009;yr to evaluate changes in the bird assemblage and the seasonal occurrence of ticks on birds from 1984 to 1985, 2010 to 2011, and 2019. The five most abundant bird species changed across sampling periods. Bird species that hosted ticks during each sampling period and where at least five individuals hosted ticks in one sampling period were the American robin (Turdus migratorius Linnaeus), black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus L.), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata L.), gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis L.), northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis L.), song sparrow (Melospiza melodia Wilson), white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis Gmelin), and wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina Gmelin). The infestation intensity and prevalence of ticks on birds generally increased over time and appear to be driven by a rise in I. scapularis larvae. Finally, bird species predicted the number of I. scapularis larvae per bird and the proportion of birds carrying I. scapularis larvae. Birds may be increasingly important in the local maintenance and long-distance dispersal of I. scapularis, given the rise in the infestation intensity and prevalence of I. scapularis larvae.

Culicoides Latreille is a diverse genus of approximately 1,300 species of small biting flies found across the globe, containing numerous species of medical and veterinary importance. Many diseases associated with Culicoides have no specific treatment or vaccine, necessitating prevention through vector control. Current surveillance and control methods are limited by a lack of ecological knowledge about most Culicoides species, including phytophagous (sugar-feeding) behavior. The plants fed on by wild Culicoides are largely unknown, as are the driving forces behind selection of specific plants. To determine which plants midges are sugar-feeding on in nature, Culicoides were collected from five sites within a tallgrass prairie ecosystem in northeastern Kansas. Molecular sugar meal analysis was performed to detect plant DNA within field-collected midges. DNA was extracted from a total of 788 biting midge individuals, with 321 (40.7%) of these successfully amplifying and just 78 (9.9%) producing a sequence with a successful host match. Most matches were only identified to the plant family level with high confidence. Culicoides were found to feed on a diverse assemblage of families, including the Amaranthaceae, Cupressaceae, Solanaceae, and Verbenaceae; however, no significant association was found between Culicoides species and plant family. These results suggest that multiple sugar sources, including plant nectar and fruit, are utilized by biting midges under natural conditions. This information is vital for improving ecologically based control strategies, such as attractive toxic sugar baits, that can reduce disease burden on livestock and wildlife.

Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) is a significant vector of lymphatic filariasis and arboviruses. Current control strategies rely heavily on chemical insecticides, highlighting the need for alternative and environmentally sustainable approaches. This study evaluated the effects of the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana KU.B2 on the development of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. Larvae were reared on microalgal-rabbit food diets: a control (100% rabbit food) and four treatments with increasing proportions of C. sorokiniana suspension (25 microalgae [Al], 50Al, 75Al, and 100Al). Additional rabbit food-only controls with matched food proportions were included to distinguish microalgal effects from reduced food availability. Larval growth, pupation, adult emergence, and mortality were assessed, and gut histology and ultrastructure were examined descriptively. Higher proportions of microalgae (75Al and 100Al) were associated with failure of pupation and adult emergence, resulting in complete larval mortality. Lower proportions (25Al and 50Al) caused delayed development and reduced survival compared with controls. Larvae provided reduced amounts of rabbit food alone were still able to complete development, indicating that the observed effects were associated with microalgal inclusion rather than reduced food availability alone. Histological and ultrastructural observations revealed numerous intact and partially degraded microalgal cells within the larval gut, while recovery of viable cells after gut passage suggested that some ingested cells remained viable after transit through the larval digestive tract. Overall, C. sorokiniana KU.B2 negatively affected the development and survival of Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae in a dose-dependent manner. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying these effects and their ecological relevance is needed.

Culicoides sp. are the primary vectors of two hemorrhagic disease (HD) viruses, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV). In North America, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and Bluetongue disease (BT) cause significant morbidity and mortality in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations and can cause morbidity in farmed animals, resulting in restricted agricultural trade. Originally, HD was limited to southeastern and southcentral North America but has expanded in distribution to the north and west, resulting in severe disease outbreaks in na&#xef;ve wildlife populations. To better understand these disease systems in North America, we performed a literature review. Of 2,295 peer-reviewed sources, 422 articles were included in our review. We found most research focused on the host species (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;206), such as disease prevalence, disease progression, and epidemiology in domestic and wildlife hosts. Vector research covered a range of topics (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;102) but was limited in distribution, with most field studies conducted in California and Florida, and few in the northeast. Viral research consisted of two topics, virus characterization (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;58) and diagnostic techniques (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;23). Relative to the existing literature on this disease system in Europe, where climate change is one of the primary drivers of expansion, the effect climate has on this disease system in North America is still uncertain. The information in our review describes what we know of the vector, host, virus, climatological impacts, and other aspects of HD in North America in relation to other countries and can help researchers identify gaps in our understanding of the HD system.

Meningitis remains the leading infectious cause of neurological disabilities globally, disproportionately affecting children younger than 5 years and populations in the African meningitis belt. Whereas previous global estimates focused on ten pathogen categories, this study presents the most comprehensive analysis to date, assessing the meningitis burden attributable to 17 causative pathogens based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 framework. GBD is a systematic, scientific effort aimed at quantifying the comparative magnitude of health loss caused by diseases, injuries, and risk factors across age groups, sexes, and geographical locations over time. We estimated meningitis mortality using the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) and morbidity using DisMod-MR 2.1, incorporating data from vital registration, verbal autopsy, surveillance, hospital data, and systematic reviews. Aetiology-specific estimates were generated with pathogen-linked case-fatality ratios and splined binomial regression models. Risk factor attribution was based on established risk-outcome pairs and population attributable fractions. In 2023, there were 259&#x2009;000 (95% uncertainty interval 202&#x2009;000-335&#x2009;000) global deaths and 2&#xb7;54 million (2&#xb7;20-2&#xb7;93) incident cases of meningitis. Children younger than 5 years accounted for more than a third of deaths (86&#x2009;600 [53&#x2009;300-149&#x2009;000]). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, non-polio enteroviruses, and other viruses were the leading causes of death, while non-polio enteroviruses caused the most cases. The four WHO-defined preventable meningitis pathogens of interest (S pneumoniae, N meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Group B streptococcus) contributed to 98&#x2009;700 deaths (77&#x2009;000-127&#x2009;000) and 594&#x2009;000 cases (514&#x2009;000-686&#x2009;000). Low birthweight, short gestation, and household air pollution were the top risk factors for meningitis-related mortality. Although mortality and incidence have declined significantly since 1990, progress is insufficient to meet WHO 2030 targets. Despite marked progress in reducing bacterial meningitis via global vaccination campaigns, a substantial meningitis burden persists, attributable both to common pathogens such as S pneumoniae and N meningitidis and to emerging non-bacterial pathogens such as Candida spp and drug-resistant fungi. Achieving WHO goals will require sustained investment in surveillance, vaccination, maternal screening, and health-system strengthening, especially in high-burden settings. Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and UK Department of Health and Social Care.

Forest fragmentation and connectivity define how mammalian hosts of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) utilize the landscape, ultimately guiding the spatial spread of associated pathogens. Mammalian hosts also exhibit pathogen-specific reservoir competencies, fueling continued debate as to their role as both drivers of tick density and moderators of pathogens maintained in the environment. This analysis examines the role of forest connectivity as a proxy for species richness and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmermann) density in the spread of the human pathogenic Ap-ha and non-pathogenic Ap-v1 genotypes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie, Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae). The prevalence of each genotype is used to examine the ecological mechanisms of amplification and dilution, as they each utilize specific mammalian hosts with varying reservoir competencies. We calculated patch- and landscape-level forest connectivity using the Sinuous Connection Reduction indices at 808 tick sampling sites located within 88 wildlife management units in New York State. The relationship between connectivity metric values, tick sampling, and genotyping results was then assessed using zero-inflated Poisson and Tweedie distribution generalized linear mixed models. Our analysis revealed that white-tailed deer density was positively related to I. scapularis density, Ap-v1 prevalence, and Ap-v1 entomological risk. Conversely, white-tailed deer density was negatively related to Ap-ha prevalence and exhibited no relation to Ap-ha entomological risk. These results provide evidence that white-tailed deer act as dilution hosts with respect to anaplasmosis risk in New York and support a broader Ap-ha amplification effect where increases in mammalian host biodiversity yield increased anaplasmosis risk and disease spread.