[Phlebotomines of the Isle of Cyprus. III. Species inventory ]

Three surveys on canine leishmaniasis were carried out in Cyprus (1993, 1998 and 1999) emphasise the presence of eleven species of phlebotomine sandflies: Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P. (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P. (Pa.) jacusieli (first mention in Cyprus), P. (Pa.) sergenti, P. (Larroussius) galilaeus, P. (L.) tobbi, P. (Transphlebotomus) economidesi, P. (T.) mascittii, Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) azizi (its specific statute is validated by the authors), S. (S.) fallax et S. (S.) minuta. P. (Adlerius) kyreniae was not caught during the surveys. The authors propose hypothesis of settlement of the island by phlebotomine sandflies according this species inventory. A first migration period took probably place during the Miocene time and a second one during the Pleistocene time.

Chinese phlebotomine sandflies of subgenus Adlerius nitzulescu, 1931 (Diptera: Psychodidae) and the identity of Phlebotomus sichuanensis Leng & Yin, 1983. Part I--Taxonomical study and geographical distribution

Four species of Adlerius phlebotomine sandflies have been recorded in China, namely: P. chinensis Newstead, 1916 (Pc), P. fengi Leng & Zhang, 1994; P. longiductus Parrot, 1928 and P. sichuanensis Leng & Yin, 1983 (Ps). Adlerius phlebotomies are the main vectors of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in China; three of them are acknowledged as VL vectors and P. fengi is considered a potential VL vector for southwestern mountainous region. Different opinion has been raised to the validity of identity of Ps by some investigators from Shanghai and Shanxi who consider Ps to be a large type of Pc instead of an isolate species. The center of controversy is whether Ps is an isolate taxon or a large type of Pc. The present authors have carried out a series of comparative studies for these two flies on: 1 quantitative and qualitative morphological characters of four Chinese Adlerius phlebotomies; and 2. differences in geographical distribution. All specimens of Pc and Ps used in the present study are collected where their holotypes-paratypes were produced--West Mountain, West Suburb, Beijing and Lixian County, Sichuan Province. The results have forcefully proved that Ps is an isolate species instead of a so-called large type Pc according to the concept of species. The clarification of their taxonomical identities is meaningful because both of them are VL vectors in different epidemic areas in China; especially Ps is an important VL vector in high mountainous regions of southwestern China and some extend to the Loess Plateau of northwestern China, where VL still exists and it is also the first Phlebotomine sandfly discovered in Tibet, the locality being near Assam in India (Leng et al. 1990).

Ultrastructure of the seminal vesicle of Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead (Diptera, Psychodidae)

The seminal vesicles of Phlebotomus perniciosus were investigated by light microscopy, confocal scanning laser microscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. They have a complex structure, and three different morphological compartments called A, B and C are distinguished on the basis of their position and fine structure. Compartment A is continuous with the vasa deferentia and consists of a cylindrical wall limiting a lumen in which the spermatozoa are stored. Compartment B is hemispherical and surrounds compartment A like a muff. Compartment C constitutes an external coat surrounding A and B. The epithelial cells of each compartment are characterized by morphologically different secretory granules. The ultrastructural features of these cells are described and their role in sandfly reproductive biology is discussed.

[Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera-Psychodidae) of the isle of Cyprus. I--Description of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus economidesi n. sp]

Description of a new palearctic species from Cyprus: Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) economidesi. The deposited holotype is a female because of the particularity of the streaked spermathecae and its non dilated ducts. Four to six spines are implanted on the style of the male, but its differential diagnosis with the closely related species P. mascittii and P. canaaniticus is difficult. The distributions of these Transphlebotomus species are mentioned.

Morphological characteristics of the antennal flagellum and its sensilla chaetica with character displacement in the sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes Annandale and Brunetti sensu lato (Diptera: psychodidae)

Using light microscope and scanning electron microscope, the external morphological characteristics of the antennal flagellum and its sensilla are described in the sandfly, Phlebotomus argentipes Annandale and Brunetti sensu lato, a well known vector of visceral leishmaniasis in India. A revised terminology is given for the antennal segments to bring phlebotomine more in line with other subfamilies and families while a description of antennal sensilla is provided for the first time in phlebotomine sandflies. Each flagellum consists of scape, pedicel, flagellomeres I to XIII and apiculus. The antennal segments contain scales and sensilla and the latter consist of sensilla trichodea, s. basiconica, s. auricillica, s. coeloconica and s. chaetica and their putative functions are discussed. The sensilla chaeticum hitherto known as antennal ascoid in the phlebotomine sandflies was used to differentiate within and between species. Differences in its relative size to the flagellomere between the populations of P. argentipes collected from the endemic and non-endemic areas in Tamil Nadu state, southern India were established. These differences are considered to be a character displacement as means of premating reproductive isolating mechanism among the populations/members of species complex.

Presence of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii Grassi, 1908 (Diptera : Psychodidae) in Germany

During an entomology survey in July 1999, one male and three female Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii were caught in southwestern Baden Württemberg. This is the first record of phlebotomine sandflies in Germany.

Electrophoretic and morphological differentiation between two sympatric species of Adlerius: Phlebotomus brevis and Phlebotomus simici (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Phlebotomus simici Theodor and P. brevis Artemiev & Dergacheva are closely related species in the subgenus Adlerius that only may be identified by the male terminalia. Females only may be differentiated by collecting them in copula. Because females of P. simici may be involved in Leishmania transmission, their identity should be verified. Our study separated individual from 2 sympatric populations in Lebanon by means of agarose enzyme electrophoresis. Differential patterns were found at the PGM and HK loci. Results were confirmed by morphological reexamination of female spermathecae and pharyngeal armature.

The genital atrium as a good taxonomic character to distinguish between species of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Venezuela

The shape and size of the genital atria of 17 phlebotomine sandflies from Venezuela were examined. The atria were found to express constant characters among individuals of the same species and to be sufficiently different between species to allow taxonomic separation. The spines on the genital armature are described and the characters that can be used to classify individual specimens to species level identified. It is suggested that these characters can be of use on specimens where the spermathecae have been lost or where cryptic species are concerned. Dissection procedures to display the atrium are given.

[Description of Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) riouxi n. sp. (Diptera:Psychodidae) of northern Africa]

Description of a new palearctic species from Morocco, Tunisia and Spain: Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) riouxi closely related to P. chabaudi. Differential identification with the neighbouring species. The aedeagus of the male is unrecurved, a character which distinguishes P. riouxi from other species with recurved aedeagus and the basal process of the coxite is bigger and more tufted than in P. chabaudi. For female, which has the same spermatheca with a typical terminal ring, the only available character to differentiate from P. chabaudi is the aspect of the armature in the genital atrium.

A new species of Phlebotomus (Diptera: Phlebotominae) from deltaic area of district south 24-Parganas, West Bengal, India

Description of a new species of sandfly Phlebotomus sundarai sp. nov. collected from Kala-azar endemic blocks-Gosaba and Baruipur, of district South 24-Parganas, West Bengal is given.

[The taxonomic status of Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot, 1917, vector of Leishmania tropica (Wright, 1903) and Phlebotomus similis Perfiliev, 1963 (Diptera - Psychodidae). Morphologic and morphometric approaches. Biogeographical and epidemiological corollaries]

A morphological and morphometrical study of the closely related taxa Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti et P. (Paraphlebotomus) similis confirms their specific taxonomic status. Differential characters between these two species are discussed. Males differ by the aspect of the basal process of the coxite which is curved and narrow in the first species whereas straight and thick for the latter. The P. similis process is bigger and tuffer and its style is longer than those of P. sergenti. Females differ by the morphology of the armature of the pharynx and by the number of rings of the spermatheca. Distribution areas of these species are described. P. similis is a North-Eastern Mediterranean species (from Yugoslavia to western Turkey and Azerbaïdjan). P. sergenti is present from Canary Islands (Spain) to India. From these data, the settlement of Paraphlebotomus in the Mediterranean basin may have occurred during the Miocene age. From an Asiatic common ancestor, two migration routes are proposed. One, north of the Paratethys Sea, may be responsible for the isolation of P. similis. The other, south of the Paratethys and Tethys Seas, may have contributed to the individualisation of P. sergenti. The authors consider P. similis as a suspected vector of Leishmania tropica.

A novel role for the peritrophic matrix in protecting Leishmania from the hydrolytic activities of the sand fly midgut

The role of the peritrophic matrix (PM) in the development of Leishmania major infections in a natural vector, Phlebotomus papatasi, was investigated by addition of exogenous chitinase to the bloodmeal, which completely blocked PM formation. Surprisingly, the absence of the PM was associated with the loss of midgut infections. The chitinase was not directly toxic to the parasite, nor were midgut infections lost due to premature expulsion of the bloodmeal. Most parasites were killed in chitinase-treated flies within the first 4 h after feeding. Substantial early killing was also observed in control flies, suggesting that the lack of PM exacerbates lethal conditions which normally exist in the blood-fed midgut. Early parasite mortality was reversed by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Allosamadin, a specific inhibitor of chitinase, led to a thickening of the PM, and also prevented the early parasite mortality seen in infected flies. Susceptibility to gut proteases was extremely high in transitional-stage parasites, while amastigotes and fully transformed promastigotes were relatively resistant. A novel role for the PM in promoting parasite survival is suggested, in which the PM creates a barrier to the rapid diffusion of digestive enzymes, and limits the exposure of parasites to these enzymes during the time when they are especially vulnerable to proteolytic damage.

Morphometric separation of females of Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) duboscqi and P. (P.) bergeroti (Diptera:Psychodidae)

Morphometric evaluation of 27 characters of allopatric females of the closely related species, Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu-Lemaire and P. bergeroti Parrot, was made in Ethiopia with the aim of finding reliable means to distinguish sympatric specimens. By applying stepwise discriminant analysis, 100% correct classification was obtained using 8 characters. However, 2 of these characters, C3 and C4 (respective distances from sockets of the longest ascoids on segment 3 and 4 to distal margin of the segment) with the highest discriminant loadings, separated these 2 species with a success rate of 98%. It is recommended that these 2 characters be used in the routine identification of these species.

Phlebotomine sandflies of Kenya (Diptera: Psychodidae). V. Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) mireillae n.sp

A new species of the sandfly subgenus Paraphlebotomus Theodor from Kenya is described and named Phlebotomus mireillae. The type locality is Utut Reserve, near Gilgil, Nakuru District. The description is based on 10 males and 10 females reared from individual egg batches of wild-caught females. Males of the new species differ from nine other species of the subgenus by the shape of the aedeagus, which is straight, not curved or hooked. They are separated from the remaining three species by other differences in the aedeagus, and in the style and coxite process. Female P. mireillae have backwardly pointing spines inside the distal quarter of the spermathecal ducts, a character not previously described for phlebotomine sandflies. Additional characters which distinguish females of the new species from others of the subgenus are differences in the pharyngeal armature and spermathecae and the lengths of the third antennal segment and labium.

[Description of Phlebotomus (Synphlebotomus) saltiae n. sp. (Diptera-Psychodidae) of Lebanon]

Description of the male holotype and of the female of phlebotomus (Synphlebotomus) saltiae n. sp.. Morphological comparison with other Synphlebotomus previously described. Hypothesis on the origin of the species and its vectorial status in leishmaniasis.

A new sandfly species, Phlebotomus (Larroussius) ashfordi (Diptera, Psychodidae) from Ethiopia, previously confused with P. (L.). aculeatus

The sandfly subgenus Phlebotomus (Larroussius) contains species which transmit parasites causing cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa, including Ethiopia. The Gewasha caves in central Ethiopia harbour a new species (Phlebotomus ashfordi) belonging to the subgenus Larroussius and previously identified as P. (L.) aculeatus Lewis, Minter and Ashford. Although generally similar to P. (L.) aculeatus and P. (L.) elgonensis Ngoka, Madel and Mutinga, the species is distinct in eight male characters and in the female spermatheca. Given its taxonomic affinity to known vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis and the presence of disease in the Gewasha caves area, the medical importance of this species needs to be assessed.

Wing morphometry of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera:Psychodidae): calibration of methods with a laboratory population

The wing morphometry of a laboratory-bred population of Phlebotomus perniciosus was studied using a semi-automatic, measurement system. The methods used were found to be precise, reproducible and valid for morphometrical studies. Each of several, different wing indices was found to be similar whether the wing was mounted in Hoyer's medium, Euparal or chloral balm. All samples showed similar differences between the wings of males and females, the wings of the males being smaller than those of the females.

Morphological studies on Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

In general, leishmaniasis is more or less a problem not only in Saudi Arabia but also in all countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Saudi Arabia, the most important form is zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCI.). It's main vector, Phlebotomus papatasi has been reported and incriminated by many authors. In this paper, the diagnostic morphology of P. papatasi as compared to other species found in Riyadh as well as the immature stages was given. This is considered as a base line data for studying the ecology and biology of P. papatasi. No doubt the best control strategy is based on complete understanding of the insect vector of ZCL.

[Sandflies in Italy: observations on their distribution and methods for control]

The paper analyzes published and unpublished data of sandfly collections carried out in Italy by one of the authors (M.M.) over a period of 18 years (1975-1993). These data are discussed in relation to the collection methods and the habitats. The leishmaniasis foci surveyed are localized in 11 regions of Central and Southern Italy and in the two main islands, Sicily and Sardinia. Five collection methods were used: i) sticky traps, ii) light traps, iii) window exit traps, iv) emergence traps, and v) hand catches. Captures were performed in domestic and sylvatic habitats in rural, urban and periurban areas. A total of 81,915 sandflies has been collected. Specimens were identified as belonging to 6 species: Phlebotomus perniciosus (46.1%), P. perfiliewi (43.8%), P. major (0.2%), P. mascittii (0.1%), P. papatasi (0.3%), and Sergentomyia minuta (9.5%). P. perniciosus, P. perfiliewi and S. minuta have been reported in almost all the regions samples, P. major only in 3 regions of South Italy (Apulia, Calabria and Sicily), P. mascitti in 4 regions of Central Italy (Tuscany, Latium, Abruzzo, Molise) and in Campania, P. papatasi in 6 regions without any definite geographical distribution. From the analysis of sticky trap captures P. perniciosus seems to be the prevalent species in the domestic habitat (65.6%) even if present in the sylvatic one (21.8%). The report of P. perniciosus in both situations might indicate the ability of the species to colonize a large range of habitats. P. perfiliewi resulted as the predominant species (88.1%) in the domestic area from collections with CDC light traps. S. minuta was the most abundant species in the sylvatic conditions (76.6%) while P. papatasi showed a clear endophilic behaviour reaching high percentages only in bedrooms and stables. Moreover, taxonomic characters of spermathecae utilized in species identification are reported.

A study of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae) in Yunnan Province. V. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) lengi sp. nov

A new species of the subgenus Larroussius Nitzulescu 1931, named Phlebotomus lengi in honour of the Chinese sandfly taxonomist Professor Yan Jia Leng, was found amongst the phlebotomine sandflies collected in Yunnan Province, China, in 1989. A full description of the male and female of this species is provided. The ascoid formula of P. lengi distinguishes it from all previously described members of the subgenus Larroussius.

A study of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae) in Yunnan Province. III. Phlebotomus (Adlerius) fengi sp. nov

Among the phlebotomine specimens collected from Yunnan, China, in 1984, a new species of the subgenus Adlerius Nitzulescu 1931 was identified. The name Phlebotomus fengi is proposed for this species, in memory of the late medical entomologist, Professor Lan Chow Feng. Although generally similar to P. longiductus, P. fengi had distinct pharyngeal armature, style spines, paramere and aedeagus. Phlebotomus fengi may be a vector of visceral leishmaniasis in southern China.

First cases of gynandromorphism in Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead 1911 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Two gynandromorphic specimens of Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, 1911 are described and illustrated for the first time. The specimens were collected in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain).

Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, southern India, in relation to visceral leishmaniasis

The Phlebotomine sandfly fauna of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in South India is described. Two morphologically different forms of Phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of Indian visceral leishmaniasis, are reported from Madras, a known focus of visceral leishmaniasis. A new species, Sergentomyia shettyi sp. nov., is described and Sergentomyia babu and Sergentomyia insularis stat. nov. are considered distinct species on the basis of their parapatric distribution. Phlebotomus papatasi and P. argentipes were the most abundant species around houses (37% and 29% of the catch, respectively), based on 1 year's sampling in villages near Pondicherry. The incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in Tamil Nadu since 1903 is summarized.