We reduced or increased tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808), clutch sizes by three eggs (50% of modal clutch size) to test experimentally for relationships between stress and parasite loads. In the first year of the study (1996), we enumerated two measures of stress (granulocyte to non-granulocyte ratios and heterophil to lymphocyte ratios), blood parasites, and ectoparasites liv...

The chapter presents previous field and laboratory investigations of cabbage flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) and cabbage stink bugs (Eurydema spp.) interactions with different Bras‐ sica crops in Slovenia. The special emphasis is given to an influence of different glucosi‐ nolates on injuries caused by mentioned economically important two genera of insect pests. In the study, we found out that ...

Fleas can increase the metabolic rate of their hosts. It has been suggested that a constitutive response, in which the host constantly maintains a relatively high level of energy metabolism to combat the parasite, is advantageous for hosts with high parasite infestation, while an induced response, in which the host increases energy metabolism in response to a parasite attack, is advantageous wi...

Various seed treatments were evaluated for their effect on early-season corn pests. Imidacloprid at low and high rates (Gaucho and Prescribe , respectively) and thiamethoxam (Cruiser ) at low and high rates were effective in reducing populations and exhibited systemic insecticidal activity against chinch bugs, flea beetle, wireworm, white grub, and southern corn leaf beetle. Another systemic ne...

Protein content and ion composition of host blood and feces from blood-fed adult cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), were examined. Total fecal protein differed slightly from host blood indicating that there was little digestion of host blood by adult fleas. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels of host blood and flea feces also revealed little digestion, as evid...

An outbreak of Tunga Penetrans (Jigger Flea) infestation affecting a number of villages near to a Central Hospital in Malawi is described. Due to the large number of affected individuals, high parasitic load, and extended duration of infection an alternative to the recommended approach of surgical removal of the flea was required. Benzyl benzoate paint and liquid paraffin had been used in local...

BACKGROUND Papular urticaria is a chronic allergic disease caused by fleabite. The presence of eosinophils, predominance of CD4-positive T cells in lesions, and IgE response suggest a Th2 immune response to flea proteins in patients with papular urticaria caused by fleabite (PUFB). Although PUFB is defined as an allergic reaction, the immunological mechanisms and the role of dendritic cells (DC...