TOPIC:

ARTHROPODS
OF
MEDICAL IMPORTANCE
INTRODUCTION
 Medical entomology is a branch of science that deals with the study of arthropods
that cause disease or that serve as vectors of parasites that cause disease in
humans, including their taxonomy, morphology, physiology, and ecology.

 Members of the phylum arthropoda are the most numerous and widely distributed
of all animal groups.

 Their medical importance lies in their ability to cause morbidity and mortality, and
their extensive distribution over the face of the earth.

 They may be found in every part of the world and in every type of environment.

 Many, particularly those within the class insecta and arachnida, live in close
association with humans; others while primarily parasites of animals will readily
attack or feed upon humans and some may specifically adapt as human parasites.
General characteristics of Arthropods
 They are bilaterally symmetrical.

 Their bodies are divided into a number of segments.

 They have jointed appendages, which may take the form of legs or antennae.

 They have a hard chitinous exoskeleton (cuticle), which helps for protection.

 The exoskeleton is partitioned by chitinous plates (scleritis) in order to allow movement.

 They have a body cavity called haemocele, which contains haemolymph (blood and
lymph) that bathes internal organs.

 Ecdysis or moulting is a phenomenon characteristic of all arthropods whereby the

cuticle is shed at regular intervals in order to accommodate the growing tissues.
Development of Arthropods

 The development (metamorphosis) of arthropods could be:

Hemimetabolous (Incomplete metamorphosis)

 This is development from the egg to nymph, which looks like the adult.
or

Holometabolous (i.e Complete metamorphosis)

 This is development which extends from the egg to larva, pupa that later
differentiate to the adult arthropod.
ARTHROPOD HABITATS
Depending upon species, arthropods live in various habitats

1. The soil:
Arthropods may be found on the surface of the soil or under ground (in pebbles, in caves, in the

sand etc). E.g: ants, termites, beetles, mites, scorpions, flies, crickets, cockroaches, fleas, etc.

2. Water
Arthropods may live in fresh waters (natural or man made), salty waters (Oceans, seas) or hot
springs. Examples of water dwellers are: backswimmers, crabs, lobsters, crayfish, etc.

3. Plants
Some arthropods live on plants. E.g Beetles, spiders, gall insects, sclae & manna insects etc.

4. Animals
Arthropods that live on animals include: Lice, ticks, mites, fleas, mosquitoes, etc.

5. Man
These are dangerous group of arthropods to health since they feed on human blood.
These parasitic arthropods could be obligatory ectoparasites (example louse) or intermittent
(on and off: example ticks).
MEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF ARTHROPODS

Arthropods may affect human health directly or indirectly.

Direct effects
 Annoyance
 Anaemia
 Dermatitis
 Entomophobia
 Envenomization
 Allergic reactions
 Myiasis

Indirect effects

 Disease transmission
(Mechanical/Biological vectors)
CLASSIFICATION OF ARTHROPODS
Arthropods of medical importance to humans belong to these 3 classes :

1. Class Insecta- consists of flies, mosquitoes, fleas, lice, bugs etc.

2. Class Arachnida- consists of ticks, mites and scorpion.

3. Class Crustacea- consists of cyclops

Class Insecta

The general feature of this class includes:

 Division of body into head, thorax and abdomen.

 The head contains eyes, one pair of antennae and three pairs of appendages
developed as mouth parts.

 The thorax has three pairs of legs, and one or two pairs of wings.

 The abdomen is segmented with the posterior part serving to show the sex
of the insect. A “V” shaped abdomen helps for egg disposing, carrying the
genital and excretory organs.

 The abdomen also contains diffusion tubes called spiracles for air exchange
(respiratory organs).
Class Arachnida

The general feature of this class includes:

 Body divided into cephalothorax (head and thorax fused) and

abdomen.

 The head has no antennae, but pedipalps and different mouth parts
from that of insects.

 Possess 4 pairs of legs which are located on the cephalothorax (the

eight legers e.g : Spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions etc).

 They are wingless

 Undergo incomplete metamorphosis.

Class Crustacea

The general feature of this class includes:

 Body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen

 4 pairs of legs
 2 pairs of antenna
 Wingless
 Most are aquatic
 This class includes: the Cyclopes, Crabs, Prawns etc.
Class Diplopoda

The general feature of this class includes:

 Many body segments

 2 pairs of legs per body segment
 1 pair of antennae
 This class includes the millipedes
Class Chilopoda

The general feature of this class includes:

 Many body segments

 1 pair of legs per body segment
 1 pair of antennae
 Possess poison jaws
 The class includes the Centipedes