Robert Gay, ACVCSD

 Pierce through the skin to obtain blood meals  Feed from one host to another host without discrimination

Are able to travel far and disperse quickly Live in close proximity to humans

Theoretically, bed bugs appear to be great candidates for disease vectors. However, to date, there has been no conclusive evidence that shows bed bugs biologically or mechanically transmit any diseases.

 Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)  Borellia recurrentis (relapsing fever)  Brucella melitensis (brucellosis)  Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)  Fracisella tularensis (tularemia)  Leptospira spp (leptospirosis)  Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tuberculosis)  Rickettsia typhi  Salmonella typhi (salmonella)  Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumonia)  Staphylococcus aureus  Yersinia pestis (plague)  Wuchereria  Parasites (filariasis)  Leismania tropica  Plasmodium spp  Trypanosoma cruzi  Hepatitis B, C, E  HIV  Influenza  Polio  Rabies  Variola (smallpox)  Yellow fever. A few familiar ones:

 Has never been found in wild bed bugs.  In an experiment, HIV was detected up to 8 days in bed bugs fed with the virus, but was never found to replicate.  Has not been found in bed bug feces,  Little persistence of the pathogen.

 Has been detected in wild bed bugs.  In an experiment, HBV was detected up to 2 months after an infectious meal or after direct injection, but no viral replication.  Found bed bugs were able to maintain the pathogen between molting, but did not find the pathogen in the salivary glands.

 Bed bugs do not exhibit the three developmental requirement of biological transmission:  a) multiplication  b) developmental changes  c) combination of the two

 Large intervals of time between feedings. Allows for digestion, molting, and oviposition which is a disadvantage to the pathogens  Traumatic insemination may play a role in building immune responses in females  Live in relatively “sterile environment” to be mechanical vectors

 Skin reaction to bites  Allergic reactions  Mental & emotional distress  Economic impact

 Skin reaction to bites

1. Victims may be asymptomatic. 2. For most people, bites itch intensely. 3. Scratchingcancause tissuedamage&scars 3. Scratching bites can cause tissue damage & scars 4. Scratchingcanintroduce secondaryinfections( e.g MRSA) 4. Scratching can also introduce secondary infections ( e.g., MRSA, or other microbes)

Image above by Dr. Mark Feldlaufer

Flea Bites Tropical Rat Mite Bites

 Skin reaction to bites  Allergic reactions

 Depending on host immune response and sensitivity, allergic reactions can range from people who are asymptomatic, asthmatic, or anaphylactic.  Bullous eruptions have also been reported in association with multiple bed bug bites.

_______________________ _______________________ Abou Gamra, E., F. el Shayed, T. Morsy, H. Hussein, and E. Shehata1991 J. Egyptian Soc. Parasitol Abou Gamra, E., F. el Shayed, T. Morsy, H. Hussein, and E. Shehata The relation between Cimex lectularius antigen and bronchial asthma in Egypt. J. Egyptian Soc. Parasitol. 21: (Dec.).

 Skin reaction to bites  Allergic reactions  Mental & emotional distress  Economic impact

 Entomophobia “I’m scared of bed bugs”  Bringing bed bugs into your home, car, or the office.  How to tell the family, neighbors, & friends. FEAR FACTOR!

 Unable to sleep!

Although evidence for disease transmission by bed bugs is inconclusive, issues of:  vector competence,  reactions to insect bites,  embarrassment,  and mental anguish have been the basis for lawsuits against landlords and lodging corporations.

“Although bed bugs are not known to transmit disease, they are a pest of significant public health importance.” -EPA & CDC Joint Statement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Joint statement on bed bug control in the United States from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2010.