SKIN ECTOPARASITES
INSECTA, Subclass Apterygota, Order: Collembola
 
COLLEMBOLA
 

A Collembola infestation in a woman

By Cristina Terinte M.D.*, Neculai I.Dulceanu D.V.M. §, PhD, Radu Terinte M.D. °, Gioconda Dobrescu M.D. PhD #. * Dept. of Pathology, Institute of Public Health, § Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ° Dept. of Surgery, Hospital C.F.R. , # Dept. of Histology, University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania Neculai I.Dulceanu: dulceanu@univagro-iasi.ro

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  Coll2: A clinical and paraclinical investigation on a
80-years-old woman who claimed a "beetles attack".
A 80-years-old woman presented with pruritus, insomnia, anxiety,
paleness, weight loss (7 Kg in 6 months), and loss of appetite.
In the lumbar region, on the buttocks, on the right posterior hemithorax
and interdigitally on both feets she had small ulcers of 0.5-1 cm in diameter,
surrounded by an indurated congestive or cyanotic, ovoid area of 1 x 1.5 cm.
Small scars, with furfuraceous, dry and gray exfoliation on round and
linear zones of 20-25 x 4-5 cm., were observed in the submammalian region.
Linear short subepidermic truncated trajects were also observed.
The microscopic examination of the hypodermic material obtained
by scraping, revealed an adult Collembola spp. insect, eggs,
cocoons of different colours, piles, a pupa, an exuvium and larvae.

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 Coll3: The histological investigation revealed thickening and
erosion of the epidermis, and isolated or confluent blood gaps.

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 Coll4: In the epidermis spaces were present binding up larvae and nymphs.
The horny layer was hyperkeratotic and included the adult insect.

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 Coll5-6 :The blood gaps were probably caused by the histophagy of the insect.
Intraepidermic bullae covered by a thin corneous layer and ulcers were also observed.

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 Coll7: Six egg piles were observed into the epidermic material.
Four to 22 eggs were present in each pile, cemented together with a glue-like secretion.
The piles were elongated, round, with a small, cylindric, blunt and short appendix.
The piles measured 144-306 by 162-378 µm, while eggs (spherical to oval)
were 35-140 by 35-123 µm (average 78 by 88 µm).

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 Coll8: The exuvium , the larval or nimphal cuticle, was translucide,
very thin, composed of four distinct zones: a globulous apical pole,
a narrow neck, a brown collar and a big, thin body of the exuvium.

coll9-ic

 Coll9: Larvae were divided in three segments:
a) an anterior, mobile, cylindric one with two subterminally mandibular pieces;
b) a middle ovoid segment covered by a rigid cuticle;
c) a caudal segment, frayed, with three terminal sharp apexes
for the fixation to the substrate.

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 Coll10: The pupa was brownish, oval, measuring 2,280 mm by 720 µm.

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 Coll11: The adult insect, pink-reddish, measured 810 by 270 µm,
with antennas of 396 µm in lenght formed by four articles.
The apical segment of the antennas was long with a scalp-like shape.
All antenna segments were hairy.
The head was anterior flattened and measured 216 by 126 µm.
Both the head and the body of the insect were covered by short,
thick, chitinous hairs grouped in tufts.
Thick and flat tubercles were visible dorsally on the posterior part
of the abdomen, while ventrally the jumping apparatus was located,
with the furca, formed by two articles.
The apparatus is obliquely and forward oriented and is covered
by rare hairs and measures almost 2/3 of the abdomen lenght.