Work

First blood-meal record of Simulium asakoae (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Malaysia, with notes on its distribution in Asia and status as a potential vector

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Simulium asakoae Takaoka and Davies has been confirmed to bite humans and has been incriminated as a vector of blood protozoan parasites of the genera Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma, as well as an unknown filarial parasite in Thailand.However, its attraction to humans has remained uninvestigated in Malaysia.Recently, 27 black flies were collected in Pahang, Malaysia, of which 25 were captured in CO 2 -baited Malaise traps and two were collected from humans during trapping activity.All specimens were morphologically identified as S. asakoae.Cytochrome c oxidase I sequences of the two specimens caught on humans showed 100% similarity with those of S. asakoae in the NCBI GenBank, confirming their morphological identity.Blood-meal analysis using a HAL•HAR TM kit did not show the presence of domestic or wild animal DNA.However, human DNA was amplified from one engorged fly in the cytochrome b gene amplification assay, providing the first evidence of blood-feeding by S. asakoae in Malaysia.

Source: Tropical biomedicine

DOI: 10.47665/tb.41.3.003

Author: Izwan-Anas N.

Institutions: University of Malaya, Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre

Language: English

Topic: Diptera species taxonomy and behavior

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia