Rapid emergence of most vector-borne diseases (VBDs) may be associated with range expansion of vector populations. Culex quinquefasciatus Say 1823 is a potential vector of West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, and lymphatic filariasis. We estimated the potential distribution of Cx. quinquefasciatus under both current and future climate conditions. The present potential distribution of Cx. quinquefasciatus showed high suitability across low-latitude parts of the world, reflecting the current distribution of the species. Suitable conditions were identified also in narrow zones of North Africa and Western Europe. Model transfers to future conditions showed a potential distribution similar to that under present-day conditions, although with higher suitability in southern Australia. Highest stability with changing climate was between 30°S and 30°N. The areas present high agreement among diverse climate models as regards distributional potential in the future, but differed in anticipating potential for distribution in North and Central Africa, southern Asia, central USA, and southeastern Europe. Highest disparity in model predictions across representative concentration pathways (RCPs) was in Saudi Arabia and Europe. The model predictions allow anticipation of changing distributional potential of the species in coming decades.

Temperatures have fluctuated dramatically throughout our planet’s long history, and in recent decades, global warming has become a more visible indicator of climate change. Climate change has several effects on different economic sectors, especially the livestock industry. The Old-world screwworm (OWS), Chrysomya bezziana (Villeneuve, 1914), is one of the most destructive insect pests which is invading new regions as a result of climate change. The economic loss in livestock business due to invasion of OWS was previously assessed by FAO in Iraq to be USD 8,555,000. Other areas at risk of invasion with OWS in the future include Japan. Therefore, maximum entropy implemented in MaxEnt was used to model predictive risk maps of OWS invasion to Japan based on two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 2.6 and 8.5, for 2050 and 2070. The Area Under Curve (AUC) indicates high model performance, with a value equal to 0.89 (±0.001). In addition, the True Skill Statistics (TSS) value was equal to 0.7. The resulting models indicate the unsuitability of the northern territory of Japan for invasion by OWS. The main island’s southern costs show high and very high invasion suitability, respectively, and both Kyushu and Okinawa are at high risk of invasion with OWS. The predicted risk maps can be considered a warning sign for the Japanese quarantine authority to hasten a control program in order to protect the livestock industry from this devastating pest.

Background and Aim: The soft tick Ornithodoros savignyi is distributed throughout Africa, including Egypt. It primarily attacks camels, cattle, donkeys, and cows; and rarely affects humans. This study evaluated the acaricidal efficacy of ethanolic Curcuma longa extract (Turmeric) on the second nymphs of O. savignyi and then investigated the safety of this herb in rabbits. Materials and Methods: The nymphs were immersed in 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 mg/ml ethanolic C. longa extract. An additional group was immersed in ethanol as a control. On the 1st, 7th, and 15th-day post-treatment, the mortality percentages, LC50 and LC95 were calculated. The ticks exposed to 10 mg/ml ethanol C. longa extract were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three male New Zealand White rabbits were orally administered 2 ml (two doses) of 10 mg/ml ethanolic C. longa extract, and another three rabbits were orally given two doses of 2 ml of absolute ethanol as a negative control. Histopathological examination of the kidney and liver hematology and the kidney and liver function was performed. Chemical analysis of the extract was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The LC50 and LC95 were 1.31 and 15.07, 1.07 and 8.56, and 0.81 and 6.97 mg/ml on the 1st, 7th, and 15th day, respectively. SEM revealed that mamillae and spots on the surfaces of the treated ticks were not discriminating except for some clefts on the surfaces. The histological examination, blood profile, and biochemical analyses revealed no significant differences between the treated and untreated rabbits (p>0.05). GC/MS analysis revealed 50 compounds, and curcumene and t umerone were found to be the major constituents of this ethanolic extract. Conclusion: The ethanolic C. longa extract produced a strong acaricidal effect on the second nymph of O. savignyi, and it was safe to use in rabbits.

The mosquitoes Culex pipiens are important vectors for transmitting Rift Valley fever and lymphatic filariasis in Egypt. Plant essential oils (EOs) are one of the most promising larvicides. This study assessed the larvicidal efficacy of 15 EOs of which two were new against fourth larval instars of Cx. pipiens. Five concentrations (125, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 ppm) were used for each oil. Mortalities (MOs) were monitored 24 hours post-treatment. After treatment with 2000 ppm for 24 hours, EOs were classified into three groups. The highly effective group provided eight EOs ranging from 91 to 100% MO includingRicinus communis, Pimpinella anisum, Matricaria chamomilla, Vitis vinifera, Allium sativum, Jasminum sambac, Cinnamomum verum, and Rosmarinus officinalis. Their lethal concentrations (LC50) ranged from 454.48 ppm (R. communis) to 754.30 ppm(C. verum). The moderately effective group resulted in 90% MO by Trigonella foenum-graecum, Simmondsia chinensis, Brassica compestris, and Carum Petroselinum. The LC50 values varied from 823.84 ppm (C. petroselinum)to 1,120.91 ppm (S. chinensis). The least effective group provided less than 90% mortality and included Cocos nucifera, Zingiber officinale, and Lavandula angustifolia.C. nucifera andJ. sambac were novelty used against Cx. pipiens. R. communis, and M. chamomilla were recommended for field application as eco-friendly larvicides.

Mosquitoes transmit a variety of pathogens that have devastating consequences for global public and veterinary health. Despite their capacity to serve as vectors, these insects have a robust capacity to respond to invading organisms with strong cellular and humoral immune responses. In Egypt, Aedes caspius (Pallas, 1771) has been suspected to act as a bridge vector of Rift Valley Fever virus between animals and humans. Microscopic analysis of Ae. caspius hemolymph revealed the presence of phagocytic cells called granulocytes. We further evaluated cellular immune responses produced by Ae. caspius as a result of exposure to a Gram-negative, and Gram-positive bacterium, and to latex beads. After challenge, a rapid and strong phagocytic response against either a natural or synthetic invader was evident. Hemocyte integrity in bacteria-inoculated mosquitoes was not morphologically affected. The number of circulating granulocytes decreased with age, reducing the overall phagocytic capacity of mosquitoes over time. The magnitude and speed of the phagocytic response suggested that granulocytes act as an important force in the battle against foreign invaders, as has been characterized in other important mosquito vector species.

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a great threat to human and animal health. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of ticks that infest camels and investigate the presence of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of camels, associated ticks, and surrounding rodents as reservoirs. From 100 inspected camels, from different localities in the Giza governorate, 1000 ixodid ticks were collected; these ticks belonged to three genera: Hyalomma, Amblyomma, and Rhipicephalus. The genus Hyalomma was represented by four species, Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent species (55.4%), followed by Hyalomma excavatum (22%), Hyalomma impeltatum (11.6%) and Hyalomma rufipes (2.8%). The genus Amblyomma was represented by two species, Amblyomma gemma (2.8%) and Amblyomma marmoreum (2.7%), while the genus Rhipicephalus was represented by only one species, Rhipicephalus pulchellus (2.7%). Ticks, camel blood, and rodents (total number 100 brown rats) are screened for tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia sp., and Coxiella burnetii) using PCR. Camel blood was found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (66.6%), Borrelia miyamotoi (55%), and Babesia sp. (11.6%). Coxiella burnetii DNA was detected in all the collected ticks but was not detected in the blood of camels or rodents. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 12.5% of H. impeltatum, 55% of Camels, and 6% of the rodents, which may indicate a proposed risk of dispersal of B. miyamotoi, the agent of tick-borne relapsing fever.