4492. HEALTHCARE. The Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) may transmit dengue fever to people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. 
   

   ----------------------------------

    

    

    WILDLIFE SINGAPORE YCKC series. Part 1/20

    

   I have been photographing the flora and fauna in the Yio Chu Kang Crescent (YCKC) forested area since 2017. It is 12th March 2025. There is a new crop of flora and younger fauna after their absence in 2024.
   
   More Asian Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are present now.
   
   
   

   DANGERS TO PEOPLE

   Female Asian Tiger Mosquitoes transmit dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,Chikungunya fever, Zika viral infection.

   
   
   DANGER TO DOGS AND CATS
   Female Asian Tiger Mosquitoes transmit Dirofilaria immitis which is a parasitic roundworm that causes heart failure in dogs and cats.

   
   
   
   As many as 30 species of mosquitoes can transmit heartworms. The life cycle begins when a female mosquito bites an infected dog and ingests the microfilariae during a blood meal.

   
   Heartworms can infect your pet year-round and preventing them is much easier. Ask your vet for the monthly heartworm medicine.

    

   Keep pets indoors overnight and avoiding walks at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes may be feeding can help prevent exposure to mosquitoes that could be carrying heartworm

    

    

   TO BUY STOCK PHOTOS OF MOSQUITOS OR OTHER IMAGES:
   www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

   
   
   

    

    UPDATES:
   
   Script for Heartworms in Dogs ---  2025 Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video:
   https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4492-healthcare-asian-tiger-mosquitoes.html

   
   

   
   

   2008 Vet Case Study:A Rottweiler with clinical heartworm disease was given heartworm medication.
   https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/11/3435-heatworms.html

    

    

    

    

    

   A study showed that the chances of getting dengue from a mosquito bite are around 2%. Hence the public health policy to control of mosquito vector at home has to extend to universal control at any public places

    

   Singapore saw the number of dengue cases drop to 9,949 in 2023, down from the 32,173 cases seen in 2022. This is a decrease by 69 per cent compared to the 32,173 reported dengue cases in 2022

    

   
   
   I see the mosquitoes attacking my exposed wrist and face.
   
   
   A person may get serious dengue fever if he is bitten multiple times.
   
   If they are infected with the dengue-fever viral particles in their saliva, I will get serious dengue fever since I frequent this area to take photos in the morning and evening.
   
   Should I quit?
   
   

   No.

    

    

   PREVENTION OF DENQUE FEVER.
   
   Use insect repellent.

   Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.

   Take steps to control mosquitoes in and around your home.

    

   
   
   

   CONCLUSION
   
   Since 2017 to 2025, I have not been infected with dengue fever. I do have dog cases with a heavy heartworm infestations in the earlier years when Singapore was not so well urbanised. 
   

    

    

   TO BUY STOCK PHOTOS OF MOSQUITOS OR OTHER IMAGES:
   www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

   
   
   UPDATES:
   https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4492-healthcare-asian-tiger-mosquitoes.html

    

    

    

    

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   ------------------------------

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE YCKC series. Part 1/20

The forested area of Yio Chu Kang Crescent (YCKC) where I photograph flora and fauna from 2017 to 2025 has numerous Asian Tiger mosquitoes today on 3 March 2025. Bright and sunny, blue skies, slight breeze cool off my sweaty shirt. A great time for photography.

The challenge was the attack by the Asian Tiger mosquitoes, hovering around my trousers, camera, my face and wrists. I wore long pants and long sleeves, so the mosquitoes could only bite the exposed skin on my wrists and face.

Only two species – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – are able to transmit dengue in Singapore.  

 

Normal mosquitoes do not carry dengue causingviral particles in the saliva.

 

An increase in the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito since 2017 leads to more dengue fever cases.

 They have characteristic black and white 

markings on their bodies and legs.

An Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is  black with white spots.

Its antenna has scanty hairs (this image)

unlike bushy or feathery antenna in the male.

 
Both have elongated proboscis (beak).

 
Female bites, males don’t.

Female takes blood meal, males sip nectar.

"Elongated" means long in relation to width, especially unusually so.

"the male and female Asian Tiger Mosquito are small, around 5cm in total length, but they have elongated proboscis".

 

 

DANGERS TO PEOPLE

Female Asian Tiger Mosquitos transmit dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,Chikungunya fever, Zika viral infection.

DANGER TO DOGS AND CATS
Female Asian Tiger Mosquitos transmit Dirofilaria immitis which is a parasitic roundworm that causes heart failure in dogs and cats.


 

Adult Asian Tiger mosquitoes are black with distinctive white stripes.

It escapes most attempts by people to swat it.
Elongated proboscis (beak) for female to take blood meal and male to sip plant nectar.

Thorax white racing stripe down the upper midline of its head down the thorax.

Abdomen has incomplete white stripes which appear as lines of white dots.

Total length around 5mm or 0.25 inch.

 
Legs are broadly striped with snow white scales.

PREVENTION OF DENGUE FEVER

Use insect repellent.

Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.

Take steps to control mosquitoes in and around your home.

CONTROL

 Aedes mosquitoes prefer to bite people, but they can also bite dogs and other domestic animals

 

 It takes multiple bites/infections from mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus for a person to become seriously ill with dengue.

 
A study showed that the chances of getting dengue from a mosquito bite are around 2%. Hence the public health policy to control of mosquito vector at home has to extend to universal control at any public places

 

 Singapore saw the number of dengue cases drop to 9,949 in 2023, down from the 32,173 cases seen in 2022. This is a decrease by 69 per cent compared to the 32,173 reported dengue cases in 2022


TO BUY STOCK PHOTOS OF MOSQUITOS OR OTHER IMAGES:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

 UPDATES:

Script for Heartworms in Dogs ---  2025 Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4492-healthcare-asian-tiger-mosquitoes.html

2008 Vet Case Study:A Rottweiler with clinical heartworm disease was given heartworm medication.
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2020/11/3435-heatworms.html

4491. Vet Case Study: Pug acne

"Pug acne" refers to a skin condition where a pug develops red bumps or pimples, typically on their muzzle and chin, caused by clogged hair follicles due to a buildup of oil and dead skin cells, similar to human acne; this is a common issue for pugs because of their facial folds which can trap dirt and bacteria, and is often considered a normal part of adolescence in dogs, but should be checked by a veterinarian if severe or persistent. 

Key points about pug acne:

Appearance:

Red bumps, pustules (pimples), blackheads, or whiteheads on the muzzle and chin. 

Causes:

Excess sebum (oil) production 

Dead skin cell buildup 

Hormonal fluctuations, especially during puberty 

Genetics 

Food or environmental allergies 

Friction from toys or scratching
 

Prevention:

Regular facial cleaning with a gentle cleanser 

Wipe down facial folds after eating 

Keep toys clean. No plastic feed bowls if allergic to plastic.

Maintain a healthy diet

 

Treatment:

Mild cases: Topical cleansing solutions, medicated wipes 

Moderate cases: Medicated shampoos with benzoyl peroxide 

Severe cases: Oral antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian

 

When to see a vet:

If the acne is widespread or severe

If the pimples are causing discomfort or bleeding

If there are signs of infection (swelling, redness, pus)

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4491-vet-case-study-pug-acne.html

--------------------------------

 

 

One Toa Payoh Vets case
 https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2015/04/1169-deep-pyoderma-in-young-female-pug.html

 

Myanmar case

Dr Thet Hmue Kyaw's case

Oral Cephalexin syrup
Vitamin C tablet
Omega3
Vitamin D3

Chlorhexidine diluted with NS for cleansing the area and neomycin oilment as topical.

Will review in next 10 days to see the response for this case.

For the other cases that I've seen, prognosis is good by that treatment. But if hygiene is not good, it will be recurrent again. Steroid may be needed in some case I've seen.

4490. Butterfly morning at YCKC

Monday 10 March 2025

Bright sunshine day
1.  Butterflies - white, yellow, rose, orange, black.
 

POSED FOR ME:

White male Al....
Common Mormon

2. Chinese violet focused. 3 times visited by bee!

3. small branded dart, millet skipper

4. drizzle.

5. No mosquito

Afternoon
Bright sunshine at 5pm

1. mosquitoes a few on my wrists at particular spot near YCK road junction.
2. Giant Taro video - sunshine

3. grasshopper on grass blade

4. grasshopper nymph on Giant Taro plant? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proboscis:   an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically tubular and flexible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---------------------------------

 

Wed 12 Mar 2025 morning
At least 3 yellow butterflies , one being a pair, fluttering.

One stopped near me, sipping nectar. I took some photos.. Y

4489. VET CASE STUDY. Ideal water temperature for a red-eared slider

 The ideal water temperature for a red-eared slider is between 24 - 30 degrees Celcius.

Younger or sick ones need slightly warmer water between 28 - 30 degrees Celcius.

 Hatchlings and juveniles: Maintain a slightly warmer temperature (26 - 30 degrees Celcius) compared to adults. Recently hatched juveniles are just over an inch in plastron length.

 

 Too cold: Water below 21 degrees Celcius can cause your red-eared slider to become sluggish and susceptible to illness and death.

Too hot: Water above 31 degrees Celcius can stress your red-eared slider and may lead to health issues and death.

 Practice in Singapore.
Most red-eared sliders are kept in the apartments.

Juveniles and adults are not given heated water. They may be allowed to roam on the floor and get sunlight or Ultraviolet lighting.They are put inside a container with water during feeding time.

Historical data:The warmest sea surface water temperature in Singapore is in May with an average around 86°F (30.0°C). The coldest month is January with an average water temperature of 81.3°F (27.4°C).

------------------- 

 

Do red-eared sliders need warm water temperature?
Yes. The ideal water temperature is between 24 - 30 degrees Celsius, with younger or sick ones needing slightly warmer water around 28 - 30 degrees Celsius. 

Hatchlings and juveniles: Maintain a slightly warmer temperature (26 -30 degrees Celcius) compared to adults. 

Too cold: Water below 21 degrees Celcius can cause your turtle to become sluggish and susceptible to illness.

Too hot: Water above 31 degrees Celcius can stress your turtle and may lead to health issues.

Temperature monitoring: Use a submersible heater to maintain a consistent water temperature 24 hours daily. 

Can red-eared sliders be in water all the time?
No. Red-eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic turtles, meaning they spend a good deal of their time in the water and on areas out of the water to bask in the sunlight. Basking is important for the animal's health.

It allows the turtle to completely dry out and warm up. This makes it more difficult for fungal infections to develop on their shells because fungus needs moisture to grow. These types of infections, called SHELL ROT are common health conditions for red-eared sliders that do not have basking areas.


How deep should the red-eared slider water be?
Generally, the water depth should be at least 2 times the turtle's carapace length to prevent drowning if the turtle should flip over and not be able to right itself.

Basking area: Ensure a separate basking area with a temperature 10-20 degrees higher than the water temperature. 

Do red-eared sliders need a basking light?
Yes. They bask in a warm dry area to maintain a temperature that supports important bodily functions like digestion and to prevent fungal infections. UVA and UVB lights are needed.

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4489-vet-case-study-ideal-water.html

4488. VET CASE STUDY. 3-year-old red-eared slider weighs less than 300 g. Why?

VET CASE STUDY:
A 3-year-old red-eared slider has an EATING DISORDER. Part 1/3.
Toa Payoh Vets - March 2025 HISTORY OF CONSULTATIONS

In 2025, at the age of 3 years, he weighed around 200g when his sibling weighed 1300 g. He was stunted and emaciated. Why?

Three years ago, on 27 January 2022, the owner consulted me as her juvenile male red-eared slider. His shell length was less than 3 cm and weighing 15 g. This shell length and weight were within the normal ranges.  At this time, he had swollen eyes and no appetite. However, he recovered after treatment with medication. 

The owner provided the two siblings a proper glass tank, UV lights, basking platform area, water filter and clean water. He shared this tank with a sibling.

From 2022 - 2025, he was fed in his own tank. But he ate little as evident by his shell length and weight of around 200 g at 3 years of age in 2025. The owner did not consult any vet although this stunted red-eared slider had an EATING DISORDER.

On 13 JANUARY 2025, the owner consulted me at Toa Payoh Vets. The slider weighed 215 g and had no poor appetite. Why is this 3-year-old red-eared slider emaciated and stunted?

DEFINITIONS:

1. EMACIATED:abnormally thin or weak, especially because of illness or a lack of food.

2. STUNTED:prevented from growing or developing to the usual size. For example, a slider with stunted growth.

3. NORMAL RED-EARED SLIDERS: Shell length and weight within the range as expected in the age group. They are active and eating. They show some fatty tissues under the skin between their neck and shoulder.

 “Your red-eared slider is going to die if he continues to eat nothing,” I said to the owner on 10th March 2025.

END OF PART 1/3 discussed the history of the vet case.
Part 2/3 will discuss the diagnosis.
Part 3/3 will discuss the treatment.

More educational videos are at:
https://www.youtube.com/c/99pups

UPDATES AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4488-3-year-old-red-eared-slider-weighs.html

End of Part 1/3

Thank you for watching.

---------------------------------------------------------------

DRAFT SCRIPT.
PART 2/3 AND 3/3. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT.

1. On 27 January 2022, the owner consulted me as her juvenile male red-eared slider with shell length less than 3 cm and weighing 15 g, had swollen eyes and no appetite. He was treated with medication. He had a proper glass tank, UV lights, basking platform area, water filter and clean water. He shared this tank with a sibling.

The owner did not consult any vet from 2022 to 2025.


2. On 13 January 2025, the slider had no poor appetite. He weighed 215 g while his sibling weighs 1.3kg. The owner was taught to syringe fed him with crushed pelleted feed patiently and took several hours. He now refused to eat the pieces of chicken. The owner used a small plastic spoon to hand feed him but it took several hours per day as he would not open his mouth. Hence it was very time-consuming.

3. On 21 January 2025, he weighed  222 g but had no appetite. He pooped some brown stools on the towel indicating he had some feed. However, he did sneeze food from his nostrils. 

4. On 5 March 2025, he weighed 204 g and had no appetite. He was lethargic, would not move and stayed floating inside the water. What to do? 5

On 7 March 2025, at 5.31pm, he passed away.

CAUSE OF DEATH:
Autopsy would be needed to determine the cause of death.
It was not done. The slider was emaciated and stunted as he did not grow to the expected shell length as his sibling.

Possible causes of the eating disorder which made the 3-year-old slider weigh less than 300 g instead of 1.3 kg are several including genetics. One external cause could be the addition of blue chlorine drug into the water to remove the chlorine in the water. It could cause long-term poisoning.

However, the bigger sibling weighing 1.3 kg was not affected.

UPDATES AT:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4488-3-year-old-red-eared-slider-weighs.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

RECOMMENDED TREATMENT PROCEDURES FROM DR SING ON 5 MAR 2025 .

1) Isolate sick from healthy animals all the time.
(The 3-year-old sick slider weighs less than 300 g while its sibling weighs 1.3 kg.)   

2) UV light switch off - too close - cannot shine on eyes  

3) feed 5x a day. (Slider refused to open his mouth, so owner spent several hours feeding it via a small spoon when he opened his mouth after a long time. He did pass a bit of brown stools after such hand feeding).  

4) To use a water heater, set temperature at 30 deg C. Put Tee in water up to half hour each time 3x a day   

5)  do not put anti-chlorine drug in the water tank (as had been done in the past 2 years). 

6) filter must washed properly (using the water changed out from the tank)   

7) steps to platform too steep - need 35% gradual slope (Slider floats and barely move inside the water, see video. He does not walk on land.) 

8)  Tank hygiene overall must be good   

9)  Remove all tank decorations  

10) every 3 days change water (put tap water in clean bucket over night to let water settle) each time retain 1/3 water in tank)   

11) teach daughter / friend how to feed slider when owner goes overseas soon. 

12) cannot feed chicken meat as he cannot digest now   

13)  Medication :  Antibiotics 2x a day + Eyedrops 3x a day +  Multivits add into Critical Care  

14)  Keep a timetable record of procedures done.

6 March Thursday

10.30 am
- eye drops
- antibiotics
- critical care

4 pm
- eye drops

9 pm
- Mazuri x 10 pellets
- critical care
- multivitamins

11 pm
- antibiotics
- eye drops

*1st day new water
*Under UV light around 4 hours
*Water 15 min
*Water heater not working (just purchased yesterday, needed to change to a good one).

 

****
Moving ahead things to improve:

-UV light does not shine on eyes (but can let bask for several hours in between put in water for short sessions of 10 min to 30 min)

-Water heater to change to smaller one (get from Parkway Parade) set to 31 degrees

-Filter to get quieter new one from Parkway Parade

7 March Friday

10.30 am
- eye drops
- antibiotics
- critical care (tried feeding 2 scoops CC + 6 water but balance some - will let him rest and feed him again and hour later)

- now putting Terra under lamp (low light) to give him some heat first.

* Going to exchange old Heater to smaller Heater at Parkway Parade Pet lovers Centre .. there have stock.  Maybe buy a new filter also which is quieter - the current white one got machine sound)

Tee passed away at 5.31pm.

Please accept my condolences. You had done more for Tee than anyone in this world. Please take care of your health

4487. WILDLIFE SINGAPORE YCKC - Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Yio Chu Kang Crecent, Singapore

Life span.
Eggs are shiny pale green spherical laid on the plant Galium or other species. Eggs hatch around 6-8 days.
Larve that hatch from the eggs are yellow but become green after their second instar.
They stay in the larval or caterpillar stage for around 20 days, then becoming the pupa stage to adult stage.
Adult hummingbird hawk-moths live for around 7 months.

Adaptations
1. Its colours render it invisible to the eyes of predators.
2. Its long proboscis sip nectar of tubular flowers.
3. Strong wings help them hover around the flowers while they sip nectar.
4. Humming sounds from the fast beating of wings.
5. Can fly up to 12mph or 19 kph, making it one of the fastest moving insects in the world.

Predators.
Bats, owls, spiders, rodents and other birds of prey.

IUCN Conservation Status.
Not been assessed by the IUCN yet.

Interesting Facts.
The similarity between the hummingbird  hawk-moth and hummingbirds is said to be due to convergent evolution wherein two species of separate families develop to be very similar. This is called homoplasy which is the copying of physical structures than appear to be functionally the same.

Moths are not dangerous to human beings as they do not sting or bite.



Reference:
https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/attracting-butterflies/insect-moth-butterfly/

 Hummingbird moths have a tail that opens like a fan when they’re hovering in the air to collect nectar from flowers, just like hummingbirds.

 

  Like butterflies, hummingbird moths have a extra long proboscis to sip nectar, sometimes twice the length of their body.

 

 

 Unlike hummingbirds, hummingbird moths don’t zero in on red flowers. Tubular blooms in any color lure day-fliers, while fragrant white or light-colored blossoms hail the sphinx moth squad in the evening by both sight and scent.

 UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4487-wildlife-singapore-yckc.html

----------------------------------

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A MOTH AND BUTTERFLY

 The best way to tell the difference between a moth vs a butterfly is to look at the antennae. All butterflies have long, thin antennae that end in a thickened tip. But no North American moths sport these “clubbed” antennae. Instead, they have shorter, feathery antennae—especially prominent on males—that are beautifully plumed and designed to catch wafting pheromones released by females. Female moths typically have simple, thin antennae, similar to a butterfly’s at first glance but with a tapered tip.

 Notice the difference in posture, too. Butterflies usually hold their wings folded up over their bodies when they rest. They may open and close their wings when feeding on nectar or hold them flat out when basking in sunshine, but folded wings are most common. Nearly all moths rest with their wings flat or folded in a roof-like position over their bodies. Also, their bodies tend to be chubbier than those of butterflies.

 All butterfly caterpillars transform into a chrysalis, a stage when they have a hard, smooth covering that hangs from a patch of silk on a plant, twig or other support. On the other hand, moths have cocoons plastered with silk. If you’re digging in your garden and uncover a smooth brown cocoon, or pupa, in the soil, it’s going to be a moth. No butterfly spends that stage in the soil.

Moth

• Thick, furry body
• Thread-like or frond like antennae
• When resting, wings fold down over their body so the wing tops are visible

Butterfly

• Thin, smooth bodies
• Smooth antennae ending in a bulb or “club”
• When resting, wings fold over the body so under-sides are visible

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2025/03/4487-wildlife-singapore-yckc.html

------------------------------------------

There are many species of hawk moths, including hummingbird hawk moths, which belong to the Sphingidae family. 

Explanation

• The Sphingidae family includes about 1,450 species. 
• Hawk moths are known for their fast flight, hovering, and long tongues. 
• The genus name for the hummingbird hawk moth is Macroglossum, which means "long-tongued". 
• The hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is found in temperate regions of Eurasia. 
• The Giant Sphinx Hawk-Moth (Cocytius antaeus) is the largest hawk moth species in North America. 
• The white-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) is larger than the hummingbird moths of genus Hemaris found in the United States. 
• The hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) is common throughout the eastern half of the United States. 
• The snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is another species of hummingbird moth found in North America.
  

Hawk moths are also known as sphinx moths. They are named for their hovering, swift flight patterns.