Specialized anatomical structures in the mouth and feet of tsetse flies help them feed on blood from a variety of hosts.

A 54-year-old male patient presented for medical attention with right eyelid swelling and visual loss for half a month following a wasp sting to his right eye. His chief complaints included visual loss in the right eye, accompanied by ocular redness, pain, and lacrimation. Ophthalmic examinations revealed severe visual impairment, eyelid edema, and conjunctival hyperemia in the right eye. The cornea, anterior chamber, iris, and lens were all affected, and the fundus was not visible. Auxiliary examinations showed ciliary body detachment, severe vitreous opacity, and suspected exudative retinal detachment in the right eye. After admission, the patient received conservative treatments including systemic and topical anti-inflammatory therapy and mydriasis, with no obvious improvement. Vitrectomy combined with lensectomy was then performed. Intraoperatively, the retina was attached, but optic nerve atrophy and retinal vascular abnormalities were detected. No visual improvement was observed in the patient postoperatively.

This paper reports a case of insect bite dermatitis treated with fire dragon cupping. The patient presented with patchy circular erythema on the lateral aspects of both lower extremities, predominantly from the lateral aspect of the right thigh to the buttock. Slight desquamation was observed at the center of the local erythema, accompanied by swelling,induration, tenderness, increased skin temperature, and intolerable itching and burning pain. The treatment principle was to remove the pathogenic factors and detoxify, promote blood circulation and resolve erythema. Fire dragon cupping was administered once every 3 days, twice a week. After the first treatment, the patient's skin itching and burning pain were significantly relieved, erythema on both lower extremities subsided, hyperpigmentation was observed, and skin temperature returned to normal. The scores of skin symptom scale, visual analogue scale (VAS) for itching and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) were all improved. Two treatments were given, and the patient achieved near-complete resolution on day 11 of treatment, with partial residual hyperpigmentation. No recurrence was reported at 1-month follow-up.

In China, the spread of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, RIFA) exhibits a consistent pattern of expansion from the south to the north, with decreasing severity toward northern regions. The rapid spread of RIFA poses a substantial public health threat in China, particularly in regions where this invasive species has become established. To evaluate the health risks associated with RIFA stings in China, we analyzed the probability of developing various symptoms following RIFA stings using 8,749 representative cases with detailed symptom descriptions recorded between 2004 and 2024. Data were collected from literature reviews, Baidu (a Chinese search platform), and Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Meanwhile, the potential threat to public health was estimated based on the population density of affected regions in China. The recorded symptoms and their respective occurrence rates were as follows: itching and pain (77.54%), vesicles or pustules (36.12%), urticaria or papules (33.33%), systemic allergy (7.52%), fever (2.65%), dizziness or headache (1.97%), shock (1.17%), localized allergic lymphadenopathy (0.94%), speech impediment (0.75%), and death (0.03%). Based on the distribution, severity, and population density of RIFA in China, it is estimated that approximately 0.6992 million people are likely to be stung annually, including about 0.5422 million experiencing itching and pain, 0.2526 million developing vesicles or pustules, 0.2330 million with urticaria or papules, 526,000 with systemic allergy, 185,000 with fever, 138,000 with dizziness or headache, 82,000 with shock, 66,000 with localized allergic lymphadenopathy, 52,000 with speech impediments, and 209 deaths. RIFA stings can induce symptoms ranging from mild itching and swelling to severe systemic allergy, including anaphylaxis and death, constituting a serious public health concern. Currently, RIFA has spread to more than 700 counties and districts across 13 provinces, endangering the health of approximately 120 million people. Based on current data, an estimated 699,224 individuals may be affected annually, with 8,181 potentially experiencing anaphylactic shock and 209 deaths. There is an urgent need for enhanced protective measures and treatment options. Strengthening monitoring and prevention strategies is critical for mitigating the impact of this invasive species and safeguarding public health in affected regions.

Mosquito repellents are personal protection tools against mosquito-borne diseases, but their effectiveness varies across active ingredients, formulations, and mosquito species. This systematic review followed PRISMA 2020 guidance to summarize human studies published between 2015 and 2025 that evaluated mosquito repellents delivered as topical application, wearable devices, spatial products, or treated clothing. Searches in Scopus and PubMed identified 1287 records, of which 19 met eligibility criteria. Data on complete protection time (CPT), repellency rate, safety, formulation type, and target species were synthesized descriptively because of methodological heterogeneity. Synthetic repellents, particularly DEET-based products in lotions or ointments, consistently provided the longest CPT, often five to nine hours, with repellency frequently approaching or exceeding 80-100% and no reports of adverse skin reactions. Natural repellents based on essential oils such as citronella, lemon eucalyptus, neem, and lemongrass usually achieve shorter CPT, commonly two to four hours. However, technologies such as microencapsulation and nanoemulsions improved performance in some formulations. Wearable products such as insecticide-treated clothing and spatial repellents demonstrated value as complementary measures in high-transmission settings. Synthetic topical repellents remain the most reliable option for prolonged protection, while optimized plant-based products may serve as safer alternatives for short-term or adjunctive use.

The fire ant Solenopsis invicta is an aggressive invasive species whose venom frequently triggers hypersensitivity reactions, including severe anaphylaxis. In endemic regions, its stings represent a significant cause of Hymenoptera-related allergy. Four venom allergens have been identified - phospholipase A1 (Sol i 1), antigen 2 (Sol i 2), antigen 3 (Sol i 3), and antigen 4 (Sol i 4) - with Sol i 3 recognized as the predominant sensitizer. However, the molecular determinants that drive Sol i 3 allergenicity and its potential cross-reactivity with other Hymenoptera venoms remain insufficiently understood. This study identified the linear immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitopes of Sol i 3 and examined their recognition by sera from yellow jacket venom (YJV) - and Polistes wasp-allergic patients. Two linear epitopes were mapped: Sol i 3_e1 (ELRQRVASGKEMRG) and Sol i 3_e2 (WAKTTKIGCGRIMF). Although Sol i 3 exhibits limited sequence and structural similarity to other antigen 5 proteins, it contains a conserved immunoreactive core (WAKTTK), analogous to the WAKTKE motif described for the allergen Poly p 5 from Polybia paulista. This conserved region may represent a shared epitope contributing to cross-reactivity among Hymenoptera venoms. Consistently, sera from P. dominula-sensitized patients and YJV-sensitized patients recognized Sol i 3_e2. These findings define key B-cell epitopes of Sol i 3 and reveal a conserved motif that may underlie cross-reactivity, offering implications for improved diagnosis and immunotherapy.

Ectoparasiticides are essential for preventing insect bites and transmission of arthropod-borne pathogens such as Leishmania spp. Traditionally, their anti-feeding efficacy is evaluated in vivo using sedated dogs exposed to sand flies. To comply with 3R principles (replacement, reduction and refinement) and to avoid animal exposure, this study aimed to develop an ex vivo feeding model to assess the efficacy of a dinotefuran, permethrin, and pyriproxyfen (DPP) [Vectra[®]3D] combination against Phlebotomus perniciosus as an alternative to in vivo testing. Twelve dogs were assigned to either a DPP-treated group (n = 6) or an untreated control group (n = 6). On days -7, 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28, dogs were sedated and exposed for one hour to 50 (±5) female sand flies. In parallel, hair collected from each dog was used in an ex vivo artificial feeding system. After exposure, sand flies were assessed for feeding and survival rates. Anti-feeding efficacy was the primary criterion, while insecticidal efficacy was evaluated as a secondary outcome. In both models, control groups showed feeding and survival rates above 31% and 90%, confirming a reliable challenge. The treated group showed significantly lower feeding and survival rates than the control group (p < 0.05). In both models, DPP demonstrated a strong anti-feeding effect in dogs for one month, with efficacy above 80%. This first direct comparison of in vivo and ex vivo models confirms DPP's fast and lasting protection against Ph. perniciosus and positions the ex vivo model as a promising 3R-aligned alternative for studying vector-borne disease prevention.