Ticks.—African Tick Fever: Marzinovsky (Proc. of Conference of Bacteriologists and Representatives of Medical Sanitary Authorities on the Campaign against Infectious Diseases in connection with the War, Soc. Russ. Physicians in mem. Pirosov, Moscow, 1915, pp. 56–68), states that African tick fever has been imported into Persia, and that it is there carried by Ornithodorus tholosani.
Tick Paralysis: Todd (“Paralysis and Tick-bite,” Can. Med. Assoc. Journ., 1914, iv, No. 9, pp. 825–826) refers to paralysis ascribed to the bites of ticks in children, and possibly adults, in America, British Columbia and Australia. He states that a young child, perfectly well one day, has more or less complete paresis or paralysis on the next, fever, a rapid pulse, and other constitutional symptoms. The child may be dull and stupid, and may have convulsions. If the tick is not found and removed the child may die, but if it is removed, the symptoms disappear and recovery is complete in a few hours. The tick must be entirely removed.
Diptera.—Psychodidæ: Bolt (China Med. Journ., Shanghai, xxix, No. 2, pp. 78–86) states that sand-flies (Plebotomus) and the fever due to them are common in North China, May and June being the worst months. The natives of the region appear to be immune, but all others suffer. Old ruined buildings are the favourite haunts of the Phlebotomus. The species of Phlebotomus has not been determined.
Pulicidæ.—Dermatophilus (Sarcopsylla) penetrans, or the “Jigger.”—This flea (vide p. 544) is believed by Lama (Giorn. Ital. Mal. Ven., Milan, 1914, xlix, pp. 465–472) frequently to carry leprosy and he points out that the early lesions of leprosy usually appear on the uncovered parts of the body. This flea also attacks rats.
Brachycera.—Leptidæ (vide p. 603): White, A. (“The Diptera-Brachycera of Tasmania,” part I, Papers and Proc. Roy. Soc. of Tasmania for 1914, 1915, pp. 35–74), describes a new blood-sucking Leptid, Spaniopsis tabaniformis, which resembles a small gad fly (Tabanus) in appearance.
Pycnosoma putorium: This is believed by Roubaud (“Les Producteurs de Myiases et Agents similaires chez l’homme et les animaux,” Paris, 1914, part I) to be largely concerned in the spread of amœbic dysentery in French West Africa.
Lucilia argyrocephala, Macquart: This green-bottle fly is described by Roubaud as producing myiasis in Africa (“Les Producteurs de Myiases et Agents similaires chez l’homme et les animaux,” 1914, Paris, part I). It attacks ulcers and sores in man and animals.
Auchmeromyia luteola, Fabr.: Schwetz (Ann. Trop. Med. and Par., 1914, viii, No. 3, pp. 497–507), collected a large quantity of this insect at Kabinda. He placed them in flasks with sand and a few days later they pupated, and in fifteen days several flies hatched out. The larval period varies from an unknown minimum up to several months. The larva may live for at least two months without food. A female oviposited on the 17th, and on the 18th one larva hatched. The pupal stage seems to last eight to fifteen days. The larvæ appear to bite by day as well as night according to native information.
Cordylobia anthropophaga, Grünb.: Roubaud (“Etudes sur la Faune parasitaire de l’Afrique occidentale française,” part I, “Les Producteurs des Myiases et Agents similaires chez l’homme et les animaux,” Paris, 1914) gives the life-history of this species. One fly laid 150 ova in a glass vessel, on the sides, and on some rotten fruit, and died the following day. He found that fifteen larvæ just hatched placed on sand in a glass vessel with a guinea-pig gave rise to characteristic tumours on the ventral surface of the body and the anus. Other experiments failed. It thus seems that infection takes place from larvæ which have hatched apart from the host. Infection of man is regarded as accidental; no positive infection of horses, oxen, sheep or pigs is known—it is rare in goats, and poultry never seem to be attacked. The result of experiments tends to show that the apparent choice of a host is mainly a question of body temperature. The larva, whether freshly emerged or eight to ten days old, penetrates the skin immediately, boring obliquely between the epidermis and dermis. Once removed from the tumour the maggot cannot bore again. The first moult takes place about three days after penetration, and the total period of residence in the host is seven to eight days. Upon emerging the larva falls to the ground and buries itself. In two or three days it pupates and this stage lasts no longer than twenty days. High temperatures, such as 95° F., appear to be fatal.