Bot Flies

I stumbled upon a species I had never heard of before and... wow, what an intriguing species this is. This is a mosquito born vector that would freak anyone out. The species is (Dermatobia hominis) it is one of several species in which it's larva live as a parasite in it's host but the only one that is known to attack humans. The eggs will hatch immediately upon contact with the warm flesh of a mammal and the larva bore in to the skin to begin feeding until it is ready to pupate.

What I wonder is this... I have heard nearly everyone I talk to about spiders claim that either they, or a friend, or a friend of a friend, was bit by a Brown Recluse and had a really nasty necrotic wound. Brown Recluse do not live this far south, they are cold weather spiders, they are all over the place north of the panhandle, but certainly not in central Florida. After watching several of the video's on this fly, I am suspecting that people that think they have a necrotic spider bite, may indeed be hosting a bot fly. The wounds look similar and I would not be surprised if even a doctor would misdiagnose this event. once the larvae has buried itself inside the host, the only visible sign is a pimple like entrance wound that will not heal. The larva needs air, so it will keep the hole open and come up for air on occasion and then return deep within the tissue.

I read a very helpful article from an entomologist that had become a host during a field study. To remove the larvae, he covered the wound with petroleum jelly to force the larva to surface for air, then he could grab the larva for removal. It is important NOT TO PULL the larva if you ever become host. They have backward facing barbs on their skin, similar to a bee stinger that helps prevent it from being pulled out. The technique is to let the wiggling action of the larvae do the work to free the barbs, pull with a steady but gentle force and let it wiggle it's way out.

Here is a link to one of the You Tube Videos, they seem to be fairly reasonable people with a genuine interest in science, listen to the comments and observations, they are obviously quite familiar with the species.

www.youtube.com/watch

Salmonilla infections

We have all heard by now the stats on the latest Salmonella infection. This can be the beginning of a really big problem, and it is not a new one. Bacterial infections have wiped out entire civilizations throughout history. Even with today’s technology and information exchange, one of the most perplexing aspects of microbiology is the amazing perseverance to survive the tiniest of creatures has exhibited. Below is a clip from the web site of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. You will read a bunch of scientific mumbo jumbo, but I think we can clear some of it up.

"Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents is a serious problem worldwide. Of particular concern is the increasing frequency of multidrug resistance within Salmonella strains isolated from zoonotic foodborne infections (1,2). This aspect has been extensively investigated in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in relation to the worldwide spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of definitive phage type (DT) 104, with chromosomally integrated genes coding for resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline " (Nastasi 2001)

Lets break this down, concentrating on the scientific terms that may not be understood by the non scientist.
Bacterial resistance, we know what resistance is. Resistance to what? Antimicrobial agents – well, anti (against) microbial agents. The agents are likely referring to antibacterial compounds that are commonly used in animal husbandry for growth promoters and disease prevention. MultiDrug Resistant (MDR) strains of Salmonella were isolated from transmittable foodborne infections found in Humans and Animals. Much research has been done in the strain known as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to study the worldwide spread of MDR strains of (Typhimurium)(DT 104). This strain of Salmonella has evolved to resist antibiotic drugs such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline .

A study conducted from 1997 - 1999 by the Bacteriology Division, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands found 10% of the strains of this serotype to be resistant to 3 or more antibacterial drugs (Duijkeren)

Analysis of the distribution of serotypes and phage types during the study period indicated that types shifted over time in humans and animals. The video that Aember contributed is a good illustration of this natural tendency of microorganisms to very quickly adapt to intolerable environments and in some instances force it’s host to become more accommodating. The continued prevalence of MDR Salmonella is believed to be the result of “excessive use of antibiotics in animal husbandry as growth promoters and for disease prevention and therapy”. Integrons by definition are mobile DNA elements capable of capturing and carrying genes and are the primary mechanism responsible for antibiotic resistance and have been found in strains of S. Typhimurium that include Saintpaul. In southern Italy, the epidemiology is linked to farming practices emphasizing the health problems caused by the resistance of S. Typhimurium to antibiotic diffusion methods. S. Typhimurium (DT 104) emerged in 1991 in humans, cattle, pigs, and chickens and became the most common S. Typhimurium phage type in 2001. (MedicineNet 2004)

The human involvement as a host will be as extensive as our contact with other hosts that are used in our food supply. Integrons have been found in a number of other NDR strains over the past three years and include species that capable of infecting our animal resources. Already this resistant gene in S. Typhimurium has made it through our human food chain and is becoming more prevalent in western countries.

What is the solution? Some will argue that we should not be injecting our livestock with antibodies and steroids and that the genome project responsible for the technology to do so is destructive. Contrasting arguments will condone the genome technology as point to the increased accounts of food borne pathogens as support to continue the genome research. What is your take on this issue? Do you think we understand genetic modification enough to release the product, such as Strawberries or Tomatoes to the consuming public? Or have we created a genetic modification that is now injuring consumers in ways we may not likely have the time to correct. We would have a very long uphill battle with the creation, accidental or intentional, of bacteria such as S. Typhimurium that is capable of not only reproducing faster than our technology could stop it, but also is capable of morphing faster than we can learn how to thwart it’s efforts to find sustenance within our bodies.


Nastasi, Antonio,and Caterina Mammina, "Presence of Class I Integrons in Multidrug-Resistant, Low-Prevalence Salmonella Serotypes, Italy" Dispatches, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, and †University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, June 2001, accessed from www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/v...s/nastasi.pdf

MedicineNet.com, "Definition of Integron", Last Reviewed 26 April 2004, accessed from:
www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp

Duijkeren, E. Et Al..., "Serotype and phage type distribution of salmonella strains isolated from humans, cattle, pigs, and chickens in the Netherlands from 1984 to 2001"., Bacteriology Division, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands., accessed from:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12409362

Parasitic Worms

I know this topic is kinda gross, but it is interesting nonetheless. This came to me after following a research link to diatoms. I have included the link below. I think it is fairly common knowledge that the human body is host to a fairly large variety and number of parasites, in most cases we are healthy enough to provide sustenance to the invaders without any real danger to our own health. Often, signs of parasitic population within the human body are mistaken for other more palatable conditions such as allergies, poor diet, or inherited disorders.

Many people that suspect they have internal parasites are attempting to cleanse their body of the parasites by utilizing a science that is typically used for pool filtration. Diatomaceous Earth (DE). Diatoms are microscopic, self propelling algae, bacterium, and other plants. When they die, they leave behind a silica based skeletal structure that is very porous and can trap microscopic particles within the network of tunnels left behind in the skeletal structure.

The theory behind drinking DE makes sense to me. The microscopic parasites (usually worms) get caught in the tiny networks of tunnels and are expelled. The question of this topic is twofold. The first fold is,.. is it healthy to have a population of internal worms in the human body? There is a certain benefit for worms in soil, the product of their waste is Nitrogen. Nitrogen is a valuable life sustaining element for earth dwelling life. Is it possible that internal parasites provide the human body the same benefit that worms provide the soil? After all, I do not believe they consume tissue matter, only food sources that are inputs for the body. Is it possible that worms that we consider parasitic are actually needed to break down elements that our bodies can not break down soon enough to take advantage of? So the first question is: Are internal worms a natural and healthy part of our role in the food chain.

The second part of the question is about the wisdom of drinking DE. Now I am prone to evaluating the natural human experience in terms of readily available natural resources that do not include technological inputs. DE is formed from microorganisms that died millions of years ago and are buried miles underground and furthermore require extensive processing to separate them from the sand in which they have died. granted there will be traces of DE in top soil, and in some cultures such as Native American it is a common practice to add soil to soup and other food stuffs. Perhaps a natural supply of DE comes from traditional practices such as those practiced by the Native American cultures and serve to provide the cleansing others are seeking through drinking commercially available concentrated DE.

Do you think drinking DE is healthy or not? In doing so, do you think we are expelling microorganisms that are beneficial to the body?

The Link: ( obviously biased but purposeful)

www.foodgradede.com/testimonials3.html

Agriculture Inputs and Daily Vitamins

It occurred to me just the other day, The way we rape our soil of nutrition MAY have something to do with the commonality of daily vitamins. Think about it. In todays agriculture practices, sustainable soil conservation is no longer standard as it was hundreds of years ago when we relied on the soil more for nutrition than profit. Todays crops in the united states are limited to only about 9 core crops, and those core crops are regulated by the EPA not for nutritional value, but for their suitability for machine harvesting.

Because of the profit motive in traditional farming, it has become standard practice to till the soil and introduce soil inputs from fossil fuels such as nitrogen. Isn't is ironic that just as we have created a NEED for adding nutrients to our soil, we have also created a need for adding nutrients to our bodies? I do not think it is coincidental, I believe that traditional farming practices are leaving us nutritionally deficient which causes yet ANOTHER profit motive for the pharmaceutical industry. Keep the crops and soil deprived of nutrients so we will have to rely on fossil fuel agriculture inputs and supplement the inferior quality of our crops with pharmaceuticals.

Season Changes

Well it's heating up outside, summer is pretty much here. The wildlife are responding with the seasons energy expenditure, gearing up for their busy season. (so to speak) This is a time of year that everything in nature switches gears to full force and I am feeling the evolutionary tug within me. The school season is nearly over, and although I love my students, I am finding comfort in closing the year with finals. It is an emotional time period for both me and the students, the greater percentage of them throw their arms around my legs and ask me if I can stay just a few more weeks.

Now I am once again in the job market, this is the part I hate about teaching, looking for work every summer. I am hopeful for some opportunities to teach Science this summer, some of the opportunities I am perusing would include Science camp outs which I think would be very cool. It will remind me of my experience with scouting, when we sat up in the tent with a flashlight all night long talking about the wonders and discoveries of the day.

So, when your out soaking up the sun this weekend, look around you, pay attention to the rest of Nature. Be aware of what all the little creatures around you are actually DOING. They are not simply performing for us to enjoy, It's interesting to peer in to their world every now and then, and for me,.. learn more of what I should be doing to be as successful as they are. Lets face it, they are much better at managing their resources and building a community than we have been in the past few hundred years.