First Report of Myiasis Caused by Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in a Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patient in Argentina

Myiasis is usually caused by flies of the Calliphoridae family, and Cochliomyia hominivorax is the etiological agent most frequently found in myiasis. The first case of myiasis in a diabetic foot of a 54-year-old male patient in Argentina is reported. The patient attended the hospital of the capital city of Tucumán Province for a consultation concerning an ulcer in his right foot, where the larval specimens were found. The identification of the immature larvae was based on their morphological characters, such as the cylindrical, segmented, white yellow-coloured body and tracheas with strong pigmentation. The larvae were removed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. The larvae were reared until the adults were obtained. The adults were identified by the setose basal vein in the upper surface of the wing, denuded lower surface of the wing, short and reduced palps, and parafrontalia with black hairs outside the front row of setae. The main factor that favoured the development of myiasis is due to diabetes, which caused a loss of sensibility in the limb that resulted in late consultation. Moreover, the poor personal hygiene attracted the flies, and the foul-smelling discharge from the wound favoured the female’s oviposition. There is a need to implement a program for prevention of myiasis, in which the population is made aware not only of the importance of good personal hygiene and home sanitation but also of the degree of implication of flies in the occurrence and development of this disease.Fil: Olea, María Sofía. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Centeno, Néstor Daniel. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ortega, Eugenia Silvana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Galante, Guillermina Begoña. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Olea, Luis Segundo. Provincia de Tucumán. Hospital "Ángel C. Padilla"; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, Maria Julia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Culicoides insignis and Culicoides paraensis in the Subtropical Mountain Forest of Tucumán, Northwestern Argentina

Culicoides insignis Lutz and Culicoides paraensis Goeldi are known bluetongue virus and filariasis (caused by Mansonella ozzardi Manson) vectors, respectively. Bluetongue virus appears to be restricted to northeastern Argentina, while filariasis is endemic in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest. With the objective of characterizing the abundance and seasonality of both Culicoides species, entomological sampling was carried out from Dec 2004 to Nov 2005 in the southern area of the forest of Tucumn province. The specimens were captured using CO2-baited CDC light traps placed in 2 types of environments, wild and anthropized. The abundance of the specimens in relation to environmental variables was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Out of the 2,497 adult specimens collected, 76.9% belonged to C. paraensis, 20.4% to C. insignis and the 2.5% belonged jointly to Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz and Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%), and 0.2% could not be identified. Peaks of abundance of C. insignis and C. paraensis in decreasing magnitude were observed in the fall, summer and spring, respectively; and the largest number of specimens was found in the anthropized environment. Mean minimum and maximum temperatures and levels of accumulated rainfall were the variables that best explained the abundance of these 2 species. The present work is an important contribution not only to the knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution and dynamics of these vectors in nature, but also to the elucidation of the implications of anthropization of the forest environment, and the effect of these climatic variables as determinants of the abundance of the species and, hence, as determinants of the possible transmission of filariasis in the subtropical mountain forest of the Argentine northwest.Culicoides insignis Lutz y Culicoides paraensis Goeldi son conocidos vectores del virus de la lengua azul (BTV) y de la filariasis (causada por Mansonella ozzardi Manson), respectivamente. El virus de la lengua azul aparece reportado para la región del noreste, mientras que la filariasis resulta endémica de la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina. Con el objetivo de caracterizar la abundancia y estacionalidad de ambas especies en el noroeste de la Argentina, se realizó un muestreo entomológico desde diciembre de 2004 a noviembre de 2005 en el área sur de la selva, en la provincia de Tucumán. Los ejemplares fueron capturados mediante trampas de luz CDC cebadas con CO2 y colocadas en dos tipos de ambientes, silvestre y antropizado. La abundancia de los ejemplares en relación a las variables ambientales fue analizada mediante regresiones lineales múltiples. Se recolectaron 2,497 especimenes adultos, de los cuales el 76.9% pertenecen a C. paraensis, el 20.4% a C. insignis y el resto a Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, Culicoides lahillei Lutz y Culicoides venezuelensis Mirsa & Ortiz (2.5%). Se observaron picos de abundancia decrecientes para C. insignis y C. paraensis en otoño, verano y primavera; resultando el mayor número de ejemplares recolectados para el ambiente antropizado. La temperatura mínima y máxima media y los niveles de precipitación acumulada, fueron las variables que mejor explicaron la abundancia de ambas especies. El presente trabajo resulta una importante contribución no sólo por ampliar el conocimiento de la distribución temporo-espacial y de la dinámica de estos vectores en la naturaleza, sino también por tratar de dilucidar la implicancia de la antropización de los ambientes selváticos y del efecto de las variables climáticas sobre la abundancia de las especies y por lo tanto, de la posible transmisión de la filariasis en la selva subtropical de montaña del noroeste de Argentina.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Latitudinal gradient of biting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Argentina and Bolivia

Fil: Veggiani Aybar, Cecilia A.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología Dr. Abraham Willink; ArgentinaFil: Dantur Juri, María Julia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología Dr. Abraham Willink; ArgentinaFil: Claps, Guillermo L.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología Dr. Abraham Willink; ArgentinaFil: Lizarralde de Grosso, Mercedes S.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología Dr. Abraham Willink; ArgentinaFil: Spinelli, Gustavo Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentin

New Records of Biting Midges of the Genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Yungas, Paranaense Rainforest and Chaco Ecoregions of Argentina

Culicoides insignis and C. venezuelensis are documented for the first time from Salta province, C. guttatus from Salta and Tucumán provinces, and C. austroparaensis, C. biestroi, C. fernandoi, and C. foxi from Misiones province. The geographical distributions of C. lahillei, C. brasilianum, C. dureti and C. pseudoheliconiae are extended to Chaco and Misiones provinces.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Systemic treatment of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid

El penfigoide cicatrizal ocular (PCO) es una enfermedad ampollar autoinmune que produce daño conjuntival grave. Se conoce poco acerca de la respuesta del PCO al tratamiento inmunosupresor. Describimos un grupo de 76 pacientes con PCO, 62 mujeres y 14 hombres. La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 67 ± 14 años, con un retraso de 7.5 ± 10 años. Sesenta se siguieron en nuestro servicio por 19 ± 21 meses. De 51 en quienes se describe la gravedad de la enfermedad al inicio del tratamiento, fue leve en 19 pacientes, moderada en 19, grave en cinco y muy grave en ocho. Las drogas mayormente prescriptas fueron dapsona en 35 pacientes, de los que 23 la discontinuaron por efectos adversos, y metotrexate en 42, de los que nueve lo suspendieron. Otros recibieron azatioprina, ciclofosfamida y ciclosporina. A 17 se les indicaron corticoides orales, además del inmunosupresor. Cuatro combinaron dos drogas para controlar la enfermedad. Tres pacientes refractarios recibieron gammaglobulina EV con buena respuesta. De 48 evaluados, 39 mostraron mejoría, ocho no tuvieron cambios y uno progresó. En nuestra experiencia, metotrexate y azatioprina son efectivos, con baja toxicidad. Dapsona es útil en casos leves, con efectos adversos frecuentes. La gammaglobulina EV fue efectiva en casos refractarios.Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is a blistering autoimmune disease that can produce severe conjunctival damage. Its response to immunosuppressive treatment is poorly known. We describe a group of 76 patients, 62 women and 14 men. Mean age at diagnosis was 67±14 years old, with a delay to diagnosis of 7.5±10 years. Sixty patients continued their follow up in our services for 19±21 months. Nineteen out of 51 had mild disease, 19 moderate, 5 severe and 8 very severe at onset of treatment. The more frequently prescribed drugs were dapsone, in 35 (23 discontinued it because of adverse effects), and methotrexate in 42 patients, nine of them stopped it. Other patients received azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and ciclosporine. Seventeen received oral steroids in addition to immunosuppresive drugs. Four patients combined two immunosupressive drugs to control their disease. In three refractory cases IV immunoglobulin (Ig) was administered with good response. From 48 evaluated patients, 39 improved with treatment, eight remained stable and one progressed. In our experience, methotrexate and azathioprine were effective drugs, with low toxicity. Dapsone was useful in mild cases, with frequent adverse effects. IVIg was effective for refractory cases.Fil: Juri, María Cecilia. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Romero, Diego S.. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Devoto, Martín H.. No especifíca;Fil: Georgiett, Daniel. No especifíca;Fil: Zarate, Jorge Omar. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Malbrán, Alejandro. Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires. Servicio de Alergia e Inmunología Clínica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

The spatio-temporal distribution patterns of biting midges of the genus Culicoides in Salta Province, Argentina

The goal of this survey was to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of Culicoides Latreille species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and their relationship with environmental variables in Salta, northwestern Argentina. Culicoides were collected monthly from January 2003 through December 2005. The influence of the climatic variables on population abundance was analyzed with a multilevel Poisson regression. A total of 918 specimens belonging to five species were collected. The most abundant species was Culicoides paraensis Goeldi (65.5%), followed by Culicoides lahillei Iches (14.6%) and Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz (7.6%). The highest seasonal abundance for C. paraensis, C. debilipalpis and C. lahillei occurred during the spring and summer. A Poisson regression analysis showed that the mean maximum and minimum temperature and the mean maximum and minimum humidity were the variables with the greatest influence on the population abundance of Culicoides species.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Latitudinal gradient of biting midges in the genus <i>Culicoides</i> (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Argentina and Bolivia

We provide the first records of 8 species of biting midges in the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a wide latitudinal gradient of the Yungas Ecoregion in Argentina and the Chaco Ecoregion in Bolivia, including a map of their distribution, and an updated checklist of species in the study area. Additional locality records were obtained from published articles and from specimens collected in these and other ecoregions in both countries. Included are the first Argentinean records of Culicoides crescentis Wirth & Blanton and C. pampaensis Spinelli & Wirth from Salta Province; C. caridei Brèthes, C. crescentis, C. guttatus Coquillett, C. insignis Lutz, C. pampaensis, and C. venezuelensis Ortiz & Mirsa from Jujuy Province, and C. saltaensis Spinelli & Wirth and C. pampaensis from Tucumán Province. In addition, the first records of C. brasilianum Forattini, C. crescentis, and C. guttatus are provided from Bolivia.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse