Abstract
Disreputable outbreaks of Paederus dermatitis (PD) has been predominant in women´s hostels of Eastern University and its surroundings. This study was undertaken with the objectives of recommending precautions and treatment for students and local residents around the university from 2015-2019. Sampling was done by light traps and hand collection. Photographs of beetles and skin lesions were taken. Hostel surrounding was inspected to find out the breeding sites of beetles. Case review among affected students and staffs was carried out through face to face interview. Approximately, 145 students were principally affected on the exposed body parts of which 95% of students developed specific symptoms including erythema, edematous plaques with vesicles, micropustules and about 5 % of students reported no specific symptoms. PD was more prevalent during rainy seasons than drought months. The students in women´s hostels were more frequently affected than in men’s hostels. Population dynamics, seasonal variations, life history and behavior pattern of rove beetles should be thoroughly investigated prior to their control.
Highlights
Paederus dermatitis (PD) known as dermatitis linearis is a skin blistering inflammatory lesion caused by vesicating polyketide cytotoxin called paederin released from rove beetles (Paederus sp) belonging to the family Staphyllinidae of Coleoptera [1,2]
This notorious toxin, paederin (C25H45O9N) which is an amide with two tetrahydropyran rings circulating in haemolymph [3], exudes copiously from these beetles while they get crushed on the skin fortuitously causing burning, itching, blistering and erythema on the skin [4,5,6]
Disreputable outbreaks of PD have been highly predominant in womens hostels of Eastern University and its surrounding in Vantharumoolai region, Eastern part of Sri Lanka and it was scrutinized from July, 2015-August, 2019
Summary
Paederus dermatitis (PD) known as dermatitis linearis is a skin blistering inflammatory lesion caused by vesicating polyketide cytotoxin called paederin released from rove beetles (Paederus sp) belonging to the family Staphyllinidae of Coleoptera [1,2]. This notorious toxin, paederin (C25H45O9N) which is an amide with two tetrahydropyran rings circulating in haemolymph [3], exudes copiously from these beetles while they get crushed on the skin fortuitously causing burning, itching, blistering and erythema on the skin [4,5,6]. The present study was undertaken to assess epidemiology of PD outbreak, management tactics of infestations and to recommend treatments and precautions for students and local residents around the University
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