Studies on the Head Structure of Spirometra erinacei (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidea) Plerocercoid by New Stretching-Fixation Method

Development of new fixation method for maintaining the head region of Spirometra erinacei kept stretched in aqueous chemicals was worked out, and the external morphology of the well-stretched head of plerocercoid was studied under light and scanning electron microscopy. The stretching method for plerocercoid head was most effective when specimen was placed in 10% ethanol Ringer solution for 5 minutes after soaking several hours in 0.1% chloretone Ringer solution. In the plerocercoid head, the bothria and bothridia were clearly found on the dorsal and ventral surfaces, and a frontal pit was also found on the apical end in the same manner as that of some diphyllobothriid cestodes, Diphyllobothrium ditremum, D. dendriticum and D. vogeli. Morphological appearance of microtriches on the surface of frontal pit periphery were quite different from those of other parts of the head surface

Case Studies on Sting Dermatitis by Bethylid Wasp, Cephalonomia gallicola (Ashmead, 1887) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) Found in Okayama, Japan

Four human cases of sting dermatitis (28-year-old woman, 27-year-old woman, 43-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy) by bethylid wasps from Tatami-mats in Okayama Prefecture are reported. An appreciable number of itching edematous erythema appeared on skin surface of the extremity and trunk of the patients during June to July from 1982 to 1990. Itching erythema of the patients seemed somewhat like punctured wounds by small arthropod, and two kinds of small insects were found. On insectological observation both adult female and winged adult male bethylid wasps, Cephalonomia gallicola (Ashmead, 1887) for agential pest, and the other adult of Death-Watch beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) for parasitic host for the C gallicola larvae were identified. After spraying 0.2% pyrethrin oil solution on the Tatami-mats, the agential insects almost disappeared within a few days. The patients were treated with single or double application of Celestamine, Topsym cream and Eurax ointment, and the skin lesions completely healed two weeks after the treatment

A Case Study of Nymphal Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901 (Acarina: Ixodidae) Infestation Found in Okayama, Japan

A case of nymphal tick infestation in 62-year-old Japanese male in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture is reported. April 5th, 1990, infested 2 hard ticks were found on the skin surface of the left posterior upper femoral and the other tick was noticed on right posterior antebrachial region of the patient. The removed ticks were almost same in size, and bodies measured about 1.6 mm in length (including capitulum) and 1.0 mm in maximum width. Each of the ticks had 4 pairs of legs with no genital apertures. By the acarological observation, the ticks were identified as Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901 at nymphal stage based on morphology of capitulum, coxae, internal and external spurs and spiracular plates. The patient was believed to be infested by nymphal ticks at bamboo bush near by his residence 3 days prior to visit hospital. To our best knowledge, this report is the 11th case of human infestation with hard ticks in Okayama Prefecture

A Case Study of Itching Dermatitis Caused by Cheyletus fortis (Oudemans, 1904) (Acarina : Cheyletidae) Found in Okayama Prefecture, Japan

Itching eruptions in a woman caused by cheyletid mites probably from new Tatami-mats (rice straw mat) is reported. On August 1987, the scattered itching eruptions were found on skin surface of the lower extremities of a 50-year-old housewife living in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The patient has exclusively been resided in a Tatami-mat room which was recently annexed to a country-style frame house. A large number of mites were found on the Tatami-mat surfaces of the room right after she noticed the presence of itching eruptions on her legs. The number of mites appeared to be increased. On acarological observations the mite is identified as Cheyletus fortis (Oudemans, 1904) based on morphological analyses of gnathosoma, pedipalps, comb-like setae, thumb-claws, dorsal and dorso-marginal setae and other characteristics. The skin lesions of the patient were completely healed within about two weeks after the mites disappeared entirely from Tatami-mat surfaces by repeated control with a pertinent acaricide