I.

INTRODUCTION

Arthropods (phylum Arthropoda), characterized by a chitinous exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, may negatively affect human health in a number of ways. There may be direct effects, such as bites and stings; indirect effects, such as disease transmission; and perceived effects, such as entomophobia or delusions of parasitosis. Only a small percentage of all arthropod species are medically important, most being benign in their association with humans. An even smaller percentage are true human parasites a few mite and lice species. However, especially in tropical regions, many human illnesses are either caused by or transmitted by arthropods. Numerous species of arthropods play a role in human disease. Most of these are as vectors of different pathogens and, in this laboratory report; we have dealt with such disease vectors. There are also a number of arthropods that cause harm due their venom but these are not parasites. Here, we shall deal with arthropods that are parasitic to and cause disease in man. For example, myiasis (burial of larvae in tissue) is an obligatory step in the life cycle of some flies and incidental for others. Species that cause myiasis in the Americas are Cochliomyia (Screw worm fly), Calliphora, Oestrus, Sarcophaga, Gastrophilus, etc. Myiasis may be cutaneous, arterial, intestinal or urinary in normal tissue or in pre-existing wounds, some of which may result from other infections. Larvae can burrow through necrotic or healthy tissue using their mandibular hooks aided by proteolytic enzymes. They can cause mechanical damage and the affected area may be the site of a secondary infection. Cutaneous myiasis may require surgical removal of burrowed larvae. Eggs and maggots may be washed from hair, skin and wounds with soap and water. Urinary myiasis usually clears itself. Purgation with anti-helminths may be necessary for gastrointestinal myiasis. True, nothing better exemplifies the dynamic nature of the natural world than do the diseases transmitted by insects. Objectives: This experiment aims to know and to study five specific kinds of parasitic arthropods in terms of morphology, life history, infection mode, parasitized site, the pathogenesis and the diagnosis through prepared slides. II. METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS This part discusses the methods and pieces of equipment used in the experiment. First, we obtained eight (8) prepared slides from our instructor. Next, we viewed each slide starting from the lowest objective to the highest objective. And lastly, we took pictures of the parasites observed. The materials used were compound light microscope, digital camera and prepared slides of Aedes male, Anopheles larvae, Anopheles pupa, Culex Female, Culex Male, Pediculus humanus capitis Female, Pediculus humanus capitis Male, Cimex lectularius.

III.

DISCUSSION

Aedes
Aedes is a genus of mosquito originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents excluding Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity. Aedes albopictus, a most invasive species was recently spread to the New World, including the U.S., by the used tire trade. First described and named by Meigen in 1818, the name comes from the Ancient Greek , ads, meaning "unpleasant" or "odious". Some species of this genus transmit serious diseases, including dengue fever and yellow fever. In Polynesia, the species Aedes polynesiensis is responsible for the transmission of human lymphatic filariasis. Aedes can be detected and monitored by ovitraps. The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) genome is being Scientific classification sequenced by the Broad Institute and The Institute for Genomic Animalia Kingdom: Research (TIGR). The initial assembly was released in August Arthropoda Phylum: 2005; a draft sequence of the genome and preliminary analysis was published in June 2007. Annotation of the sequence is being Insecta Class: undertaken by Vector Base and TIGR. Diptera Order: Aedes species are typical small mosquitoes. They usually Culicidae Family: have black and white stripe markings on their body and Culicinae Subfamily: legs.They usually bite only during the day time. Aedes Genus: Aedes species typically bite in day. Life Cycle Under optimal conditions, the egg of an Aedes mosquito can hatch into a larva in less than a day. The larva then takes about four days to develop in a pupa, from which an adult mosquito will emerge after two days. Three days after the mosquito has bitten a person and taken in blood, it will lay eggs, and the cycle begins again. Clinical Presentation Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female Aedes mosquitoes. The mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person. After virus incubation for eight to ten days, an infected mosquito is capable, during probing and blood feeding, of transmitting the virus for the rest of its life. There is no way to tell if a mosquito is carrying the dengue virus. After being bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus, the incubation period ranges from 3 to 14 (usually 4 to 7) days before the signs and symptoms of dengue appear. Dengue occurs in two forms: (1) Dengue Fever (DF) (2) Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Because dengue is caused by a virus, there is no specific medicine or antibiotic to treat it, the only treatment is to treat the symptoms. For typical dengue, the treatment is purely concerned with relief of the symptoms (symptomatic). Rest and fluid intake for adequate hydration is important.

Anopheles
Anopheles is a genus of mosquito. About 460 species are recognized; while over 100 can transmit human malaria, only 3040 commonly transmit parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which cause malaria in humans in endemic areas. Anopheles gambiae is one of the best known, because of its predominant role in the transmission of the most dangerous malaria parasite species (to humans) Plasmodium falciparum. Scientific classification
Kingdom:

Life Cycle Like all mosquitoes, anopheles goes through four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The first three stages are aquatic and last 5-14 days, depending on the species and the ambient temperature. The adult stage is when the female Anopheles mosquito acts as malaria vector. The adult females can live up to a month (or more in captivity) but most probably do not live more than 1-2 weeks in nature. Clinical Presentation

Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Diptera Culicidae Anophelini Anopheles

Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Tribe: Genus:

Malaria is transmitted among humans by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Female mosquitoes take blood meals to carry out egg production, and such blood meals are the link between the human and the mosquito hosts in the parasite life cycle. The successful development of the malaria parasite in the mosquito (from the "gametocyte" stage to the "sporozoite" stage) depends on several factors. The most important is ambient temperature and humidity (higher temperatures accelerate the parasite growth in the mosquito) and whether the Anopheles survives long enough to allow the parasite to complete its cycle in the mosquito host ("sporogonic" or "extrinsic" cycle, duration 10 to 18 days). Differently from the human host, the mosquito host does not suffer noticeably from the presence of the parasites.

Culex
Culex is a genus of mosquitoes, and is important in that several species serve as vectors of important diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and avian malaria. Scientific Classification The adult mosquito can measure from 410 mm (0.16 Animalia Kingdom: 0.39 in), and morphologically has the three body parts common Arthropoda Phylum: to insects: head, thorax, and abdomen. As a fly (Diptera), it has Insecta Class: one pair of wings. Diptera Order: Life Cycle The developmental cycle takes two weeks and is by complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid singularly or in batches, depending on the species. Eggs will only hatch in the presence of water. During the larval stage, the mosquito lives in water and feeds on Family: Genus: Culicidae Culex

organic matter and plants, then develops into a pupa. The pupa is comma-shaped and also lives in water. It does not feed and becomes an adult after one or two days. Clinical Presentation The Culex mosquito, better known as the common house mosquito, is one of the three major types of mosquito inhabiting the planet. Since it typically obtains its blood meal from birds instead of humans, it is not considered as much of a threat to our health as the Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. Nevertheless, the Culex remains a vector for an assortment of diseases that can be potentially fatal to humans. Although the Culex mosquito is not a primary vector for prevalent mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever, it can transmit a number of other illnesses that can present serious health problems to human beings. It is known to contribute to the spreading of the West Nile Virus, filariasis, and encephalitis. To lower the likelihood of disease, remove all objects on your property that collect rain water, and protect yourself from bites by applying mosquito repellent to your clothes and the exposed areas of your body when venturing outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk.

Pediculus humanus capitis

The head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) is an obligate ectoparasite of humans. Head lice are wingless insects spending their entire life on human scalp and feeding exclusively on human blood. Humans are the only known hosts of this specific parasite, while chimpanzees host a closely related species Scientific classification Pediculus schaeffi. Other species of lice infest most orders of Animalia Kingdom: mammals and all orders of birds. Arthropoda Phylum: Like all lice, head lice differ from other hematophagic Insecta Class: ectoparasites such as the flea in that lice spend their entire life Phthiraptera Order: cycle on a host. Head lice cannot fly, and their short stumpy legs Pediculidae Family: render them incapable of jumping, or even walking efficiently on Pediculus Genus: flat surfaces. P. humanus Species: Subspecies: P. h. capitis Life Cycle The life cycle of the head louse has three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs: Nits are head lice eggs. They are hard to see and are often confused for dandruff or hair spray droplets. Nits are laid by the adult female and are cemented at the base of the hair shaft nearest the scalp . They are 0.8 mm by 0.3 mm, oval and usually yellow to white. Nits take about 1 week to hatch (range 6 to 9 days). Viable eggs are usually located within 6 mm of the scalp. Nymphs: The egg hatches to release a nymph . The nit shell then becomes a more visible dull yellow and remains attached to the hair shaft. The nymph looks like an adult head louse, but is about the size of a pinhead. Nymphs mature after three molts and become adults about 7 days after hatching. Adults: The adult louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has 6 legs (each with claws), and is tan to grayish-white. In persons with dark hair, the adult louse will appear darker. Females are

usually larger than males and can lay up to 8 nits per day. Adult lice can live up to 30 days on a persons head. To live, adult lice need to feed on blood several times daily. Without blood meals, the louse will die within 1 to 2 days off the host. Clinical Presentation The majority of infestations are asymptomatic. When symptoms are noted they may include a tickling feeling of something moving in the hair, itching, caused by an allergic reaction to louse saliva, and irritability. Secondary bacterial infection may be a complication. Modes of Transmission: The main mode of transmission is contact with a person who is already infested (i.e., head-to-head contact). Contact is common during play (sports activities, playgrounds, at camp, and slumber parties) at school and at home. Less commonly, transmission via fomites may occur. Wearing clothing, such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, or hair ribbons worn by an infested person; using infested combs, brushes or towels; or lying on a bed, couch, pillow, carpet, or stuffed animal that has recently been in contact with an infested person may result in transmission. Of note, both nymph and adult lice forms need to feed on blood to live. If an adult louse does not have a blood meal, it can die in 2 days.

Cimex lectularius Scientific classification Animalia Kingdom: Arthropoda Phylum: Insecta Class: Hemiptera Order: Heteroptera Suborder: Cimicomorpha Infraorder: Superfamily: Cimicoidea Cimicidae Family: Latreille, 1802

Laboratory Diagnosis: The diagnosis of pediculosis is best made by finding a live nymph or adult louse on the scalp or in the hair of a person. Finding numerous nits within 6 mm of the scalp is highly suggestive of active infestation. Finding nits only more than 6 mm from the scalp is only indicative of previous infestation. Diagnostic findings: Microscopy Treatment: Requires using either a prescription or an overthe-counter (OTC) medication.

Cimex lectularius

Sometimes referred to as "red coats," "chinches," or "mahogany flats" (USDA 1976), bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, are blood feeding parasites of humans, chickens, bats and occasionally domesticated animals (Usinger 1966). Bed bugs are suspected carriers of leprosy, oriental sore, Q-fever, and brucellosis (Krueger 2000) but have never been implicated in the spread of disease to humans (Dolling 1991). After the development and use of modern insecticides, such as DDT, bed bug infestations have virtually disappeared. However, since 1995, pest management professionals have noticed an increase in bed bug related complaints (Krueger 2000). Life Cycle Adults and all nymphal stages of Cimex spp. need to take blood meals from warmblooded hosts, which are typically humans for C. lectularius and C. hemipterus, although other

mammals and birds can be utilized in the absence of a human host. Female bed bugs lay about five eggs daily throughout their adult lives in a sheltered location (mattress seams, crevices in box springs, spaces under baseboards, etc). Eggs hatch in about 4-12 days into first instar nymphs which must take a blood meal before molting to the next stage. The bugs will undergo five nymphal stages each one requiring a blood meal before molting to the next stage, with the fifth stage molting into an adult. Nymphs, although lacking wing buds, resemble smaller versions of the adults. Nymphs and adults take about 5-10 minutes to obtain a full blood meal. The adults may take several blood meals over several weeks, assuming a warm-blooded host is available. Mating occurs off the host and involves a unique form of copulation called traumatic insemination whereby the male penetrates the females abdominal wall with his external genitalia and inseminates into her body cavity. Adults live 6-12 months and may survive for long periods of time without feeding. Clinical Presentation Although bed bugs have been found naturally-infected with blood-borne pathogens, they are not effective vectors of disease. The primary medical importance is inflammation associated with their bites (due to allergic reactions to components in their saliva). Laboratory Diagnosis: The inflammatory reaction to the bites is not diagnostic specifically for bed bugs, and confirmation of a bed bug bite or infestation is best achieved by identification of adults or nymphs collected in sheltered areas near where the patient was bitten. Bed bugs possess stink glands and emit a distinctive odor; homes or motel/hotel rooms with heavy infestations may have this odor. Diagnostic findings: Microscopy Treatment: Bed bug bites are usually self-limiting, and require little attention other than antiseptic creams or lotions to prevent infection at the bite site. Efforts should be made to eliminate the source of the bed bugs in their sheltered locations. Insecticide treatments are usually effective, but care should be taken, as people may have prolonged contact with treated areas (beds, couches, etc). Professional pest control is recommended as over-the-counter pesticides are usually ineffective. Local environmental health officials should be contacted regarding control efforts in public places (hotels, motels, etc).

Table 1.1 Parasitic Arthropods Description and Figure Figure Name Description Antenna plumose, brown, slightly shorter than proboscis, pedicel darkbrown ventrally and pale dorsally, scales and setae absent; clypeus dark brown, bare; palpus dark brown scaled, about 0.1 length of proboscis; proboscis dark brown, slightly longer than fore femur; eyes very narrowly separated in front.

Aedes male

x=40

Anopheles larvae

larvae have a welldeveloped head with mouth brushes used for feeding, a large thorax, and a segmented abdomen. They have no legs.

x=40

Anopheles pupa The pupa is commashaped when viewed from the side. The head and thorax are merged into a cephalothorax with the abdomen curving around underneath

x=400

Culex female

Culex females usually have a blunt end to the abdomen with the paired cerci (jointed appendage at the tip of the dull colored abdomen in insects) retracted.

x=400

Culex male The male is on the left and is distinguished by large, hairy antennae and long palps.

x=40

Pediculus humanus capitis female

The abdomen of the female is relatively broader.

x=400

Pediculus humanus capitis male

The male is generally the smaller, but there is some overlap in the measurements of total length. There are dark transverse bands on the dorsum of the abdomen of the male most evident in the highly pigmented specimens.

x=40

Cimex lectularius

The adult bed bug is oval and flat. They are only about a quarter of an inch long. Bed bugs lack wings.

x=400

IV.

REFERENCES

Internet http://www.dpd.cdc.gov http://www.stanford.edu http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/parasitology/trematodes.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov http://journals.uplb.edu.ph http://www.merckvetmanual.com/ http://www.smccd.net

Bicol University College of Science Department of Biology A.Y. 2012-2013

LABORATORY ACTIVITY #8 Parasitic Arthropods and Ectoparasites

Submitted by: Baldo, Diomerl Edward B. Corpus, Raymond Martin A. BS Biology 3A

Submitted to: Daile Meek C. Salvador, MSc. Professor

21 September 2012