Bed bug dermatitis: detection dog as a useful survey tool for environmental research of Cimex lectularius

What is it about?

Infestation by Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), or bed bug, constitutes an emerging public health problem. It is awingless, oval-shaped, flat, reddish-brown, and temporary obli-gate hematophagous insect on humans and other warm-blooded animals. Over the past two decades, an increase inbed bug activity has been reported worldwide because of globaldispersion of this insect with international traveling, commerce,and migrations. In addition, alarming resurgence of bed buginfestations has occurred over the last 10 years due to wide-spread resistance to current chemical insecticides (pyrethroids,carbamates, organophosphates), with medical, epidemiological,and economic implications.

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Why is it important?

Canine olfactory inspection allows accuratedetection of bed bug infestation suggesting appropriate disinfestation measures and thus providing the dermatologiccommunity with a reliable method to solve the skin lesions.