- History
- At what point does medical entomology develop?
- What does medical entomology entail?
- Most common diseases identified thanks to entomology
- Dengue
- Malaria
- Chikungunya
- References
The medical entomology is the science that deals thoroughly studying insects and arthropods that have a significant impact on our body. If an insect is being subjected to this activity, it is because it has the possibility of intervening in viruses that affect man, or even domestic animals.
Some of these diseases that have a direct link with insects or arthropods are malaria, Chagas disease or dengue infection, all of them with a high incidence of mortality due to their resistance to vaccines and antibiotics.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Logico
Entomology has allowed man to develop different systems to detect what type of condition he suffers and, with this, move on to the necessary treatment. An example of these diagnoses is the platelet count, vital to determine if there is a possible dengue disease caused by an arthropod.
The study of medical entomology has been gaining importance over the years, since it not only serves to elucidate vectors that affect human health, but also to discover the transmitters of dangerous pathogens. The possibilities of this science are enormous, precisely due to the millions of insects distributed throughout the world.
History
Since practically the beginning of the world, arthropods have been part of the animal kingdom, being essential for the functioning of the life cycle. Without them, human life would not exist, to give us an idea of its dimension.
However, these animal species have generated rejection in most cultures. Much of this fear has been the causes of diseases, injuries or viral problems that some of these invertebrates generate.
This need to know what causes it, how it can be diagnosed and how it can be treated have been more than enough reasons for the development of medical entomology.
At what point does medical entomology develop?
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Logico
Arthropods are the main objects of study that are carried out in medical entomology. Among the insects that generate the greatest health interest are mites, spiders, ticks, scorpions, fleas, diptera, mosquitoes - and all their derivatives, or flies, among others.
In turn, there are other insects that, because they do not negatively affect humans or crops, do not generate as much attention as those mentioned above. An example of them are crickets.
What does medical entomology entail?
Although medical entomology studies have not been able to eradicate viruses such as dengue or malaria, among others, they have allowed their prevention or control more or less effectively.
What it has achieved is to help us understand which species are the true causes, their bionomics and in which habitat they will develop. This has allowed the development of tools and techniques such as:
- Insecticides: for insects and different arthropods that live in a specific habitat.
- End the evolutionary system: gases created to eradicate the evolutionary process of the insect. Although sometimes it does not kill the bug itself, it does with its eggs.
- Resistance to viruses: these are all the medicines, vitamins or treatments that exist to eradicate the conditions that cause these viruses.
Each country needs to have its own medical entomology laboratory to be able to carry out disease prevention and control campaigns in the appropriate way for the habitat that exists within a region of the country.
Most common diseases identified thanks to entomology
Dengue
It is a disease generated by the mosquito known as Aedes aegypti. Generally, this disease causes about 600 thousand deaths a year.
Malaria
It is one of the most deadly diseases. The mosquito that causes it through its bite is the Anopheles. This is found on every continent in the world.
Chikungunya
It generally affects pregnant women and can cause microcephaly in fetuses. It is similar in characteristics to dengue.
It is a reality that mosquito-borne diseases are increasingly controlled in developed countries. However, according to UNESCO reports, the few advances in entomology in underdeveloped countries continue to generate harsh mortality figures.
References
- MedicineNet (2018) - “Medical Definition of Medical entomology. By: William C, Shiel Jr, MD.
- Sprynger Link (1980) “Introduction to medical entomology” By: MW Service
- Fun Medical Entomology - Medical entomology. By: ANNA-BELLA FAILLOUX, VINCENT ROBERT
- Scarab Workers (Jun 1998) - William Kirby life. By: Brett Ratcliffe.
- Research Gate (2015) - “William Kirby (1759–1850): Eminent Suffolk Naturalist” - By: Patrick Hamilton Armstrong.