A contribution to the study of the haematozoon parasites of bats. A new mammalian haemoproteid, Polychromophilus deanei n. sp

Polychromophilus deanei n. sp. (Haemosporidiidea, Haemoproteidae) is described from a vespertilionid bat, Myotis nigricans nigricans (SCHINZ, 1821), captured on the Rio Maracapuçu, Município of Abaetetuba, Pará, Brasil. Mature oocysts were found in 2 specimens of the ectoparasite Basilia sp., taken form the infected animal. The parasite is probably the same as that previously described in another bat, Glossophaga soricina soricina, from the same general area, by DEANE & DEANE in 1961.

Phlebotominae brasileiros: II - Psychodopygus wellcomei, nova espécie antropófila de flebótomo do grupo squamiventris, do Sul do Estado do Pará, Brasil (Diptera, Psychodidae)

Os autores descrevem os adultos de uma nova espécie de flebótomo do gênero Psychodopygus, grupo squamiventris, que ocorre no sul do Estado do Pará, Brasil, baseando-se em 7 exemplares machos e 8 fêmeas, coletados com isca humana ou animal. Os machos têm genitália complexa, bem característica, distinguindo-se fàcilmente das epécies afins. As fêmeas são muito semelhantes às das demais espécies do grupo, separando-se, porém, pelo aspecto dos dutos individuais inteiramente esclerotinizados, pelo número de dentes verticais do cibário, de 12 a 20, e plo comprimento do terceiro segmento antenal: 265 a 332μ. Ratificam o parecer de Martins et al. sôbre a identidade de "L. squamiventris" do Amapá, segundo Forattini, com P. maripaensis, e mostram o que lhes parece ser o aspecto natural da genitália do macho dessa espécie. Acreditam na importância da nova espécie na transmissão de Leishmaniose tegumentar para o homem, salientando ainda os hábitos diuturnos das fêmeas.

Determination of parous rates in Phlebotomine sandflies with special reference to Amazonian species

Previous work on Phlebotomines has shown that most parous flies in many species may be recognised by the dark residual secretion in the accessory glands; parity can be confirmed by inspection of ovarioles. In the present study 12 species of Lutzomyia were caught in forests near Belém, Brazil, mainly with rodent-baited oil-traps. Many females of the predominant species, L. flaviscutellata (Mangabeira), were parasitised by the protozoan Monocystis. Parous rates based on examination of ovaries were subject to an error of about 5% due to diminution or disappearance of follicular relics. Two successive dilatations of the tunica were seen in L. davisi (Root), suggesting that it had laid two batches of eggs. Biting rates by parous flies varied little during the night, and were somewhat less than those of nullipars. In eight species the dark-gland rate approximated to the parous rate as shown by the ovaries; a small error may have been due to discharge of all secretion, disappearance of follicular relics and premature activity of glands. In contrast to this concordant pattern, four species showed discordance, possibly due to autogeny. It seems advisable to omit oil-trapped blood-fed flies when estimating parous rates by examining glands. Monocystis may increase the dark-gland rate, but it is non-pathogenic or has little effect on life span, and does not hinder blood-sucking.

Considerações sobre a epidemiologia dos primeiros casos autóctones de doença de Chagas registrados em Belém, Pará, Brasil

Quatro casos de doença de Chagas são registrados numa família em Belém, Pará, Brasil. Acredita-se que a infecção foi adquirida em Belém. Como não foram encontrados triatomíneos na casa dos doentes, nem nas residências vizinhas, sugere-se que outros meios de transmissão devem ser considerados, por exemplo a transmissão "per os".

New host records for Plasmodium diploglossi, P. tropiduri Aragão and Neiva, 1909, and P. cnemidophori Carini, 1941

Plasmodium (Sauramoeba) diploglossi Aragão & Neiva, 1909, has been rediscovered in the skink Mabuya mabouya (Scincidae). This appears to be the first time that this malaria parasite has been re-encountered since its original description in the lizard Diploglossus fasciatus (Anguidae). Six out of 20 skinks were infected, all from the Utinga Forest, Belém, Pará, north Brazil.

P. (Sauramoeba) tropiduri Aragao & Neiva, 1909, is redescribed in the samelizard, Mabuya mabouya, representing a new host record. Many of the infections were concomitant with P. diploglossi. Exo-erythrocytic schizonts were encountered in blood and tissue smears but it remains uncertain to which parasite they belong.

P. (Sauramoeba) cnemidophori Carini, 1941, has been found in the teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva, a new host record. Exo-erythrocytic schizonts were abundant in lymphocytes and thrombocytes of the peripheral blood.

The cost of the colour plate was defrayed by the Wellcome Parasitology Unit, Institute Evandro Chagas, Fundacao Servico Especial de Saúde Pública, Belem, Pará, Brazil.

Sarcocystis of rodents and marsupials in Brazil

Sarcocystis species have been described in a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptiles throughout temperate and tropical countries of the world. Although early workers (Alexeieff, 1913; Wenyon, 1926) considered it impossible to differentiate species on the morphology, there are such clear-cut differences in the structure of the cyst wall, morphology of spores and other details, that there at present seems every justification for giving specific rank to these different parasites in their various hosts. Furthermore, with one or two exceptions, attempts to infect laboratory animals have met with little or no success and it would appear that at least some species of Sarcocystis may be highly host-specific.

A new haemosporidian of lizards, Saurocytozoon tupinambi gen.nov., sp.nov., in Tupinambus nigropunctatus (Teiidae)

Saurocytozoon tupinambi gen.nov., sp.nov. (Haemosporidiidea, Leucocytozoidae) is described in the teiid lizard, Tupinambus nigropunctatus, from Pará State, Brazil. This would appear to be the first record of a member of this family in a reptile; the existing genera Leucocytozoon and Akiba are known only in birds.

The gametocytes of S. tupinambi develop within lymphocytes and immature erythrocytes. Only developing and mature gametocytes are found in the peripheral blood: morphologically they are very similar to the gametocytes of Leucocytozoon and Akiba. No mega-schizonts or other tissue stages have yet been detected.

Aedes spp., have been trapped while feeding on Tupinambus in areas where infected lizards have been caught, and may possibly be the vectors.

We are indebted to Professor P. C. C. Garnham, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, who has examined our material and offered his invaluable opinions.

The cost of the colour plate was defrayed by the Wellcome Parasitology Unit, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Fundaçao Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública, Belem, Pará, Brazil.