ABSTRACT
Abstract Bed bugs are hematophagous arthropods that can parasitize humans. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, there has been an increase in elderly neglect. A man in his 90s came to the hospital complaining of generalized pruritus. Despite being a dependent patient, he was left alone in a home by his relatives during the pandemic. Examination revealed inflammatory nodules in addition to a live bed bug crawling over his trunk. Identifying a bed bug during consultation is an uncommon feature that can help determine a particular diagnosis. As this case shows, the need for social isolation during pandemics can contribute to elder abuse and neglect.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Aged , Bedbugs , Quarantine , Coronavirus , Ectoparasitic Infestations , Coronavirus Infections , Elder Abuse , PandemicsABSTRACT
Abstract Ocotea porosa (Nees & Mart.) Barroso, commonly known as "imbuia", "canela-imbuia" or "imbuia-amarela" in Brazil, is a tree of the Southern Atlantic Forest. The present study investigates the anatomy of leaf and stem, volatile oil chemistry, as well as cytotoxicity and insecticidal activities of the essential oil of O. porosa. Species identification was achieved by anatomy features, mainly due to paracytic and anomocytic stomata; non-glandular trichomes; biconvex midrib and petiole with a collateral open arc vascular bundle; presence of a sclerenchymatous layer, starch grains and crystal sand in the stem; and the presence of phenolic compounds in the epidermis, phloem and xylem of the midrib, petiole and stem. The main volatile components of the essential oil were α-pinene (19.71%), β-pinene (13.86%) and bicyclogermacrene (24.62%). Cytotoxicity against human cancer cell (MCF-7), mouse cancer cell (B16F10) and mouse non-tumoral cell (McCoy) was observed as well as insecticidal activity of the essential oil against susceptible 'Ft. Dix' bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) by topical application.
Subject(s)
Bedbugs , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Ocotea/anatomy & histology , Ocotea/chemistry , Insecticides/pharmacology , Toxicity Tests , Plant Stems/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , HistocytochemistryABSTRACT
Cimex lectularius ("percevejo-de-cama") é um hemíptero da família Cimicidae que normalmente parasita seres humanos. Descrevese uma infestação por esta espécie em uma escola rural do município de Duas Barras, estado do Rio de Janeiro, associada a relatos de queixas de irritação e prurido por parte de alguns indivíduos da comunidade escolar. Durante a inspeção do local, os insetos foram encontrados no forro do estabelecimento junto a sujidades e penas de psitacídeos, sendo posteriormente identificados como Cimex lectularius. A confirmação da colonização de espécie de hemíptera hematófago no forro do estabelecimento escolar inspecionado serve de alerta às autoridades para melhoria na construção e manutenção das edificações públicas, em especial escolas, hospitais, asilos e penitenciárias. Esforços deverão ser feitos para se conhecer a real magnitude do parasitismo por C. lectularius no Brasil, tendo em vista seu grande potencial endofílico e de dispersão.
The Cimex lectularius ("bed bug") is a hemipterus of the Cimicidae family. It is usually a human being parasite. An infestation by that species is reported to have taken place at a rural school in the municipality of Duas Barras, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Some individuals of the school community complained about itching and irritation. During an onsite inspection insects were found in the building's ceiling, together with dirt and parrot feathers. They were subsequently identified as Cimex lectularius. The confirmation of colonization by a blood hemipterus species at the inspected school ceiling should serves as a warning to the authorities, so that they may improve the construction and maintenance of public buildings, especially, schools, hospitals, care centers and prisons. Efforts should be made to learn about the actual magnitude of parasitism by C. lectularius in Brazil, taking into consideration its great endophilic and dissemination potential.
Subject(s)
Humans , Parasitic Diseases , Bedbugs , Bedbugs , HumansABSTRACT
Os cimicídeos, conhecidos popularmente como percevejos-de-cama, são insetos hematófagos durante os estágios de ninfas e adulto. Algumas espécies apresentam marcante antropofilia e apesar de não transmitirem patógenos, podem causar algumas complicações a saúde humana, como alergias graves e anemia. O número de infestações nos últimos anos em muitos países tem aumentado significativamente e a relação com lugares de baixo IDH não é mais observada, inclusive na cidade de São Paulo. A precariedade nos estudos dificulta o conhecimento sobre as infestações. No presente estudo, teve-se o objetivo descrever infestações no estado de São Paulo e seus aspectos, e estudar a morfologia dos percevejos de cama encontrados, através de análise morfométrica. Foram coletadas e descritas cinco infestações, quatro na cidade de São Paulo e uma na cidade de Mirandópolis. Os resultados sugerem haver falta de conhecimento da população sobre esta praga urbana e comfirmam Cimex lectularius como principal espécie presente no estado de São Paulo, assim como sugere uma proximidade populacional das infestações dentro da cidade de São Paulo em relação a infestações de outras localidades. Porém os estudos devem ser estimulados no intuito de enriquecer o conhecimento sobre estes insetos, haja vista o grande fluxo de pessoas e a possibilidade de agravamento das infestações, uma vez que grandes eventos internacionais ocorrerão em capitais brasileiras.
The Cimicidae, commonly known as bedbugs are bloodsucking insects throughout all their life cycle. Some species show striking anthropophily and despite they dont transmit diseases they can cause some complications for human health, such as severe allergies and anemia. The number of infestations over the last few years in many countries has increased significantly compared to places with low HDI that is no longer observed, including São Paulo city. The lack of studies hinders knowledge about infestations. The present study aims to describe infestations in the state of São Paulo and its aspects, and to study the morphology of bedbugs found, through morphometric analysis. Five infestations in the city of São Paulo and one in the city of Mirandópolis were collected and described. The results suggest lack of knowledge of the population about this urban blight and confirm Cimex lectularius as the main species present in the state of São Paulo. Also suggests proximity of infestations within the city of São Paulo in relation to infestations of other localities. However, the studies should be encouraged in order to enrich the knowledge about these insects, considering the large flow of people and the possibility of aggravating the infestation, since large international events will occur in the largest Brazilian cities.
Subject(s)
Animals , Phylogeography , Bedbugs/anatomy & histology , Brazil , Cimicidae , GeographyABSTRACT
Bedbugs have been known as a human parasite for thousands of years, but scientific studies about this insect are recent and limited. Cimex lectularius, the common bedbug, was a well-known parasite in human dwellings until the end of the Second World War. Nowadays, bedbugs are considered uncommon in the industrialized world. Anecdotal reports suggest that bedbugs are getting more common in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. In Brazil, there are few reports about bedbug infestations in the literature. The aim of this article was to alert physicians, especially in Brazil, about this ectoparasitosis, including aspects of the bedbug biology, their parasitism in human host, treatment and prophylaxis.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Bedbugs , Ectoparasitic Infestations , Host-Parasite Interactions , Bedbugs/anatomy & histology , Bedbugs/classification , Bedbugs/physiology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/diagnosis , Ectoparasitic Infestations/drug therapy , Ectoparasitic Infestations/epidemiology , Ectoparasitic Infestations/parasitologyABSTRACT
A healthy 30-yr-old woman carrying an insect that had been caught in her living room visited the International Clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, in December 2007. The insect she brought was identified to be a nymph of a bedbug, Cimex lectularius, and her skin rashes looked typical bedbug's bites. Her apartment was investigated, and a dead body of a bedbug, cast skins, and hatched eggs were found in her rooms and neighbors' rooms in the same building. She was living in that apartment in Seoul for 9 months since she had moved from New Jersey, USA. We assume that the bedbugs were introduced from abroad, since there had been no report on bedbugs in Seoul for more than 2 decades at least. This is a report of a reemergence of the common bedbug, C. lectularius in Seoul, Korea.