Occupational IgE-mediated allergy to Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle)

BACKGROUND: We report on IgE-mediated allergy in a worker caused by Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle). These beetles lived in the "old" flour to which he was exposed in his work. CASE REPORT: A 35-year-old, nonatopic mechanic in a rye crispbread factory developed rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms, as well as urticaria on his wrists, lower arms, hands, neck, and face, during the maintenance and repair of machines contaminated by flour. This flour had been in and on the machines for a long time, and it contained small beetles. The patient did not suffer any symptoms when handling fresh, clean flour. RESULTS: Skin prick tests with standard environmental allergens, storage mites, enzymes, flours, and molds were negative. A prick test with flour from the machines gave a 10-mm reaction. An open application of the same flour caused urticarial whealing on the exposed skin. Prick tests with fresh flour from the factory were negative. A prick test with minced T. confusum from the flour in the machines gave a 7-mm reaction. Histamine hydrochloride 10 mg/ml gave a 7-mm reaction. Specific serum IgE antibodies to T. confusum were elevated at 17.2 kU/l. Prick tests with the flour from the machines were negative in five control patients. CONCLUSIONS: The patient had occupational contact urticaria, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthmatic symptoms from exposure to flour. His symptoms were caused by immediate allergy to the beetle T. confusum. Immediate allergy to this beetle has rarely been reported in connection with respiratory symptoms, but it may be more common. Contact urticaria from this source has not been reported before.     

Genetic variation in locomotor activity rhythm among populations ofLeptopilina heterotoma (Hymenoptera: Eucoilidae), a larval parasitoid ofDrosophila species

The locomotor activity rhythm ofLeptopilina heterotoma, a parasitoid insect ofDrosophila larvae, was investigated under laboratory conditions. Under LD 1212, the locomotor activity of females shows a clear rhythm which persists under continuous darkness (circadian rhythm). However, comparative study of five populations indicates that both the rate of activity and the profile of the rhythm vary according to the origin of females. The Mediterranean populations (Tunisia and Antibes) show two peaks of activity, at the beginning and at the end of the photophase, whereas more northern populations (Lyon and the Netherlands) are mostly active during the afternoon. Females originating from the area of Lyon have a very low level of activity. Reciprocal crosses (F₁ hybrids and backcrosses) between the French and the Tunisian strains demonstrated the genetic basis of these variations and the biparental inheritance of the trait. This genetic variability is interpreted as a consequence of selective pressures and suggests a local adaptation of natural populations in host foraging behavior. The selective factors which could act on the daily organization of parasitoid behaviors are discussed.     

吉林省吸血蠓昼夜活动节律观察

笔者对吉林省8种优势种群吸血蠓的昼夜活动节律进行了观察.结果表明:华库蠓、孔库蠓、伊库蠓、原野库蠓、亚单带库蠓、淡角库蠓属于晨昏活动型蠓种;明边库蠓属于夜间活动型蠓种;浑江铗蠓属于白天活动型蠓种.     

季得胜蛇药用于不明毒虫咬伤患者的疗效观察及护理

目的 观察季得胜蛇药应用于受到不明毒虫咬伤患者的效果.方法 将69例受到不明毒虫咬伤的患者随机分为实验组35例和对照组34例.实验组使用季得胜蛇药进行外敷治疗和护理,而对照组使用聚维酮碘进行涂抹,比较1周内2组的治疗效果,包括治愈率、总有效率、患者满意度以及并发症发生率.结果 治疗后,实验组的治愈率为71.43％,总有效率为97.14％,明显高于对照组的治愈率61.76和总有效率85.29％.2组在治疗期间,实验组的并发症发生率为2.86％,明显低于对照组的8.82％.而在患者对护理的满意度上,实验组的患者满意度为91.43％,显著高于对照组的85.29％.结论 季得胜蛇药治疗不明毒虫咬伤的效果更明显,且并发症发生率较低,值得在临床中推广使用.     

Potential routes for indirect transmission of African swine fever virus into domestic pig herds

Following its introduction into Georgia in 2007, African swine fever virus (ASFV) has become widespread on the European continent and in Asia. In many cases, the exact route of introduction into domestic pig herds cannot be determined, but most introductions are attributed to indirect virus transmission. In this review, we describe knowledge gained about different matrices that may allow introduction of the virus into pig herds. These matrices include uncooked pig meat, processed pig‐derived products, feed, matrices contaminated with the virus and blood‐feeding invertebrates. Knowledge gaps still exist, and both field studies and laboratory research are needed to enhance understanding of the risks for ASFV introductions, especially via virus‐contaminated materials, including bedding and feed, and via blood‐feeding, flying insects. Knowledge obtained from such studies can be applied to epidemiological risk assessments for the different transmission routes. Such assessments can be utilized to help predict the most effective biosecurity and control strategies.     

Specificity of identified central synapses in the embryonic cockroach: Appropriate connections form before the onset of spontaneous afferent activity

The mechanisms by which neurons recognize the appropriate postsynaptic cells remain largely unknown. A useful approach to this problem is to use a system with a few identifiable neurons that form highly specific synaptic connections. We studied the development of synapses between two identified cercal sensory afferents and two giant interneurons (GIs) in the embryonic cockroach Periplaneta americana. By 46% of embryonic development, the axons of the filiform hair sensory neurons have entered the terminal ganglionic neuropil and grow alongside the GI primary dendrites, although they do not form synapses. From 50% of development, the GI dendrites grow outward from the center of the neuropil to contact the presynaptic axons and their branches. The sensory neurons begin to spike at 52% of development, and, from 55% of development, these action potentials evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the GIs. Synaptic contacts were first seen at this time. The pattern of synaptic connections was highly specific from the outset. GI2 had strong input from the medial (M) afferent and had almost negligible input from the lateral (L) afferent, whereas GI3 had input from both. This specificity was present before bursts of spontaneous activity began in the sensory neurons at 59% of development. GI2 filopodia selectively formed synaptic contacts with the M axon rather than the L axon. The few contacts made by GI2 with the L axon had a normal morphology but fewer presynaptic densities. Filopodial insertions were not involved in selective synapse formation. In this system, highly specific synaptic recognition appears to be activity independent. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

我国重要吸血双翅目昆虫区系的研究进展

本文综述了我国不同生态地理区域内吸血双翅目昆虫的种类分布、吸血双翅目昆虫区系和虫媒病的关系、吸血双翅目昆虫区系研究的基本方法以及河北省吸血双翅目昆虫区系的现状等方面的研究进展,以期为预防和控制虫媒传染病,特别是应对突发性公共卫生事件中虫媒传染病和生物恐怖事件的发生,提供制定防控媒介昆虫预案的基本资料和科学依据。     

Mycotoxin Metabolism by Edible Insects

Mycotoxins are a group of toxic secondary metabolites produced in the food chain by fungi through the infection of crops both before and after harvest. Mycotoxins are one of the most important food safety concerns due to their severe poisonous and carcinogenic effects on humans and animals upon ingestion. In the last decade, insects have received wide attention as a highly nutritious, efficient and sustainable source of animal-derived protein and caloric energy for feed and food purposes. Many insects have been used to convert food waste into animal feed. As food waste might contain mycotoxins, research has been conducted on the metabolism and detoxification of mycotoxins by edible insects. The mycotoxins that have been studied include aflatoxins, fumonisins, zearalenone (ZEN), vomitoxin or deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxins (OTAs). Aflatoxin metabolism is proved through the production of hydroxylated metabolites by NADPH-dependent reductases and hydroxylases by different insects. ZEN can be metabolized into α- and β-zearalenol. Three DON metabolites, 3-, 15-acetyl-DON, and DON-3-glucoside, have been identified in the insect DON metabolites. Unfortunately, the resulting metabolites, involved enzymes, and detoxification mechanisms of OTAs and fumonisins within insects have yet to be identified. Previous studies have been focused on the insect tolerance to mycotoxins and the produced metabolites; further research needs to be conducted to understand the exact enzymes and pathways that are involved.