Alex P. Arp

Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory

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Paul V. Hickner

Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory

Adalberto A. Peréz de León

Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory

Agustin Sagel

United States Department of Agriculture

Santiago Mirazo

Universidad de la República

Gustavo Castro

Helios Salud

Martín Altuna

Universidad de la República

Maxwell J. Scott

North Carolina State University

Blake Bextine

The University of Texas at Tyler

Gladys Quintero

W. Owen McMillan

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Cooperative Institutions

Agricultural Research Service

United States Department of Agriculture

Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory

North Carolina State University

University of Florida

Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School

Universidad de la República

The University of Texas at Tyler

University of Kentucky

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

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Low-Level Detection ofCandidatusLiberibacter Solanacearum inBactericera cockerelli(Hemiptera: Triozidae) by 16s rRna Pyrosequencing: Table 1.

Environmental Entomology (2013)

Alex P. Arp Rebekah I. Chapman James M. Crosslin Blake Bextine

Journal Article Low-Level Detection of Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) by 16s rRna Pyrosequencing Get access Alex P. Arp, Alex P. Arp 2 1Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799. 2Corresponding author, e-mail: aalex@patriots.uttyler.edu. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Rebekah Chapman, Rebekah Chapman 1Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar James M. Crosslin, James M. Crosslin 3Vegetable and Forage Crops Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Prosser, WA 99350. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Blake Bextine Blake Bextine 1Department of Biology, University of Texas at Tyler, 3900 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75799. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Environmental Entomology, Volume 42, Issue 5, 1 October 2013, Pages 868–873, https://doi.org/10.1603/EN12260 Published: 01 October 2013 Article history Received: 14 September 2012 Accepted: 19 July 2013 Published: 01 October 2013

Pyrosequencing

10.1603/en12260

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A Global Comparison ofBactericera cockerelli(Hemiptera: Triozidae) Microbial Communities

Environmental Entomology (2014)

Alex P. Arp Joseph E. Munyaneza James M. Crosslin John T. Trumble Blake Bextine

The potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Sulc) is an economically important insect pest of solanaceous crops such as potato, tomato, pepper, and tobacco. Historically, the potato psyllid's range included central United States, Mexico, and California; more recently, populations of this insect have been reported in Central America, the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand. Like most phytophagous insects, potato psyllids require symbiotic bacteria to compensate for nutritional deficiencies in their diet. Potato psyllids harbor the primary symbiont, Candidatus Carsonella ruddii, and may also harbor many secondary symbionts such as Wolbachia sp., Sodalis sp., Pseudomonas sp., and others. These secondary symbionts can have an effect on reproduction, nutrition, immune response, and resistances to heat or pesticides. To identify regional differences in potato psyllid bacterial symbionts, 454 pyrosequencing was performed using generic 16S rRNA gene primers. Analysis was performed using the Qiime 1.6.0 software suite, ARB Silva, and R. Operational taxonomic units were then grouped at 97% identity. Representative sequences were classified to genus using the ARB SILVA database. Potato psyllids collected in California contained a less diverse microbial community than those collected in the central United States and Central America. The crop variety, collection year, and haplotype did not seem to affect the microbial community in potato psyllids. The primary difference between psyllids in different regions was the presence and overall bacterial community composition of Candidatus Carsonella ruddii and Wolbachia.

Symbiotic bacteria

10.1603/en13256

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Citations (30)

Immune priming of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri)

2016 International Congress of Entomology (2016)

Alex P. Arp

Diaphorina citri

Priming (agriculture)

10.1603/ice.2016.112825

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Citations (1)

BACTERICERA COCKERELLI: RANGE EXPANSION, CANDIDATUS LIBERIBACTER SOLANACAERUM DETECTION, AND MICROBIAL COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

Alex P. Arp

Candidatus

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The microbiome of wild and mass-reared new world screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax

Scientific Reports (2022)

Alex P. Arp Gladys Quintero Agustin Sagel Rafael Gonzales Batista Pamela L. Phillips

Abstract Insect population control through continual releases of large numbers of sterile insects, called sterile insect technique (SIT), is only possible if one can mass-rear large quantities of healthy insects. Adaptation of insect stocks to rearing conditions and artificial feeding systems can have a multitude of negative effects such as inbreeding depression, reduced compatibility with wild strains, unintentional selection for traits that lower fitness after release, and an altered microbiome. Changes to insect microbiomes can have many effects on insects ranging from a reduction in sex pheromones or reduced fitness. Thus understanding these systems is important for mass rearing and the performance of the sterile insect control programs. In this study we explored the microbiome of the New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) an economically important parasite of warm-blooded animals. Samples from myiases in cows and wild adults were compared to and mass-reared flies used by the SIT program. Significant differences were observed between these treatments, with wild captured flies having a significantly more diverse microbial composition. Bacteria known to stimulate oviposition were found in both wild and mass-reared flies. Two bacteria of veterinary importance were abundant in wild flies, suggesting screwworm is a potential vector of these diseases. Overall, this study provides the screwworm eradication program a platform to continue exploring the effects associated bacteria have on screwworm fitness.

Cochliomyia hominivorax

Sterile Insect Technique

Symbiotic bacteria

10.1038/s41598-022-04828-5

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Disruption of the odorant coreceptor Orco impairs foraging and host finding behaviors in the New World screwworm fly

Scientific Reports (2021)

Daniel F. Paulo Ana Carolina M. Junqueira Alex P. Arp André Schwambach Vieira Jorge Ceballos

The evolution of obligate ectoparasitism in blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has intrigued scientists for over a century, and surprisingly, the genetics underlying this lifestyle remain largely unknown. Blowflies use odors to locate food and oviposition sites; therefore, olfaction might have played a central role in niche specialization within the group. In insects, the coreceptor Orco is a required partner for all odorant receptors (ORs), a major gene family involved in olfactory-evoked behaviors. Hence, we characterized the Orco gene in the New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, a blowfly that is an obligate ectoparasite of warm-blooded animals. In contrast, most of the closely related blowflies are scavengers that lay their eggs on dead animals. We show that the screwworm Orco orthologue (ChomOrco) is highly conserved within Diptera, showing signals of strong purifying selection. Expression of ChomOrco is broadly detectable in chemosensory appendages, and is related to morphological, developmental, and behavioral aspects of the screwworm biology. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to disrupt ChomOrco and evaluate the consequences of losing the OR function on screwworm behavior. In two-choice assays, Orco mutants displayed an impaired response to floral-like and animal host-associated odors, suggesting that OR-mediated olfaction is involved in foraging and host-seeking behaviors in C. hominivorax. These results broaden our understanding of the chemoreception basis of niche occupancy by blowflies.

10.1038/s41598-021-90649-x

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Additional file 2 of New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications

Figshare (2021)

Martín Altuna Paul V. Hickner Gustavo Castro Santiago Mirazo Adalberto Á. Pérez de León

Additional file 2: Dataset S2. All weather data used for correlations with temperature and precipitation.

Cochliomyia hominivorax

10.6084/m9.figshare.13543766

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An alternative chicken-based diet for mass-rearing screwworm flies

Journal of Economic Entomology (2023)

Paul V. Hickner Agustin Sagel Gladys Quintero Mario Vasquez Mackenzie Tietjen

Abstract Screwworm flies are mass-reared and released along the Panama-Colombia border to prevent reinfestation of Central and North America. The cost of the production facility, labor, and diet materials makes mass-rearing the most expensive component of the program. The mass-rearing diet has a large impact on the quality and quantity of insects produced, both of which are necessary for the successful implementation of the sterile insect technique. The diet currently used to rear screwworm flies in Panama contains dried bovine red blood cells, dried bovine plasma, egg powder, milk replacement powder, cellulose (thickening agent), formaldehyde (antimicrobial), and water. Here, we tested an alternative diet containing 2 chicken by-products, which cost less and are locally available, to replace the egg powder and milk replacement powder currently used in the diet. We used 2 screwworm colony strains in our test, the current production strain (Jamaica) and an early female-lethal strain. The chicken diet performed similarly to the production diet with the Jamaica strain, while further optimization will likely be needed for transgenic strain. Finally, nutritional analysis conducted on 7 diet ingredients will assist with diet optimization and the identification of alternative diet ingredients.

Sterile Insect Technique

Cochliomyia hominivorax

Panama

10.1093/jee/toad219

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New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications

Parasites & Vectors (2021)

Martín Altuna Paul V. Hickner Gustavo Castro Santiago Mirazo Adalberto Á. Pérez de León

Abstract Background Feral swine ( Sus scrofa ) are highly invasive and threaten animal and human health in the Americas. The screwworm ( Cochliomyia hominivorax ) is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health as a notifiable infestation because myiasis cases affect livestock, wildlife, and humans in endemic areas, and outbreaks can have major socioeconomic consequences in regions where the screwworm has been eradicated. However, a knowledge gap exists on screwworm infestation of feral swine in South America, where the screwworm is endemic. Here, we report screwworm infestation of feral swine harvested in Artigas Department (Uruguay), where the Republic of Uruguay shares borders with Brazil and Argentina. Methods Myiasis caused by the larvae of screwworm were identified in feral swine with the support and collaboration of members of a local feral swine hunting club over a 3-year period in the Department of Artigas. Harvested feral swine were examined for the presence of lesions where maggots causing the myiasis could be sampled and processed for taxonomic identification. The sites of myiasis on the body of infested feral swine and geospatial data for each case were recorded. The sex and relative size of each feral swine were also recorded. Temperature and precipitation profiles for the region were obtained from public sources. Results Myiases caused by screwworms were recorded in 27 of 618 the feral swine harvested. Cases detected in males weighing > 40 kg were associated with wounds that, due to their location, were likely caused by aggressive dominance behavior between adult males. The overall prevalence of screwworm infestation in the harvested feral swine was associated with ambient temperature, but not precipitation. Case numbers peaked in the warmer spring and summer months. Conclusions This is the first report on myiasis in feral swine caused by screwworm in South America. In contrast to myiasis in cattle, which can reach deep into host tissues, screwworms in feral swine tended to cause superficial infestation. The presence of feral swine in screwworm endemic areas represents a challenge to screwworm management in those areas. Screwworm populations maintained by feral swine may contribute to human cases in rural areas of Uruguay, which highlights the importance of the One Health approach to the study of this invasive host species–ectoparasite interaction. Graphical Abstract

Cochliomyia hominivorax

10.1186/s13071-020-04499-z

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New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) myiasis in feral swine of Uruguay: One Health and transboundary disease implications

Research Square (Research Square) (2020)

Martín Altuna Paul V. Hickner Gustavo Castro Santiago Mirazo Adalberto Á. Pérez de León

Abstract BackgroundFeral swine ( Sus scrofa ) are highly invasive and threaten animal and public health in the Americas. New World screwworm ( Cochliomyia hominivorax ) is listed by the World Organization for Animal Health as a notifiable infestation because myasis cases affect livestock, wildlife, and humans in endemic areas, and outbreaks can be of high socioeconomic consequence in regions where screwworm was eradicated. However, a knowledge gap exists on screwworm infestation of feral swine in South America where C . hominivorax is endemic. Here, we report infestation with C . hominivorax in feral swine harvested in the Department of Artigas where the Republic of Uruguay shares borders with Brazil and Argentina. MethodsMyiasis caused by the larvae of C . hominivorax were identified in feral swine with the support and collaboration of a local feral swine hunting club over a three-year period in the Artigas Department of Uruguay. Harvested feral swine were examined for the presence of lesions where maggots causing the myiasis could be sampled and processed for taxonomic identification. The sites of myiasis on the body of infested feral swine and geospatial data for each case were recorded. Feral swine sex and relative size were registered along with ambient temperature and precipitation.ResultsMyiases caused by screwworms were recorded in 27 of 618 feral swine harvested. Cases detected in males over 40 kg were associated with wounds that, because of their location, were likely caused by aggressive dominance behavior between adult males. The overall prevalence of screwworm infestation in feral swine was associated with ambient temperature, but not precipitation. Case numbers peaked in the warmer spring and summer months. ConclusionThis is the first report for South America of myasis caused by C . hominivorax in feral swine. In contrast to myasis in cattle that can reach deep into host tissues, screwworms in feral swine tended to cause superficial infestation. Feral swine present challenges to control screwworms in endemic areas. Screwworm populations maintained by feral swine may contribute to human cases in rural areas of Uruguay, which highlights the One Health importance of this invasive species-ectoparasite interaction.

Cochliomyia hominivorax

10.21203/rs.3.rs-52167/v1

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