Revision of fleas of the genus Plocopsylla belonging to the 'angusticeps-lewisi' complex in the Andean biogeographic region, with the description of a new species.

In Argentina, the Andean biogeographic region accommodates the most diverse population of fleas in the country. The Craneopsyllinae (Siphonaptera: Stephanocircidae) represent one of the most commonly found subfamilies in this region and show some endemism and high diversity. Plocopsylla is the most diverse genus of Craneopsyllinae; it includes 10 species mainly distributed in the Patagonian subregion, which parasitize sigmodontine rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae). We describe and illustrate the morphology of the aedeagus in species of Plocopsylla that belong to the 'angusticeps-lewisi' complex. This character is of diagnostic value in differentiating among species. A new species of this complex, Plocopsylla (Plocopsylla) linardii sp. n., is described and identified by the shape and chaetotaxy of the distal arm of sternite IX, as well as by the shape of the median dorsal lobe of the aedeagus. New host associations for this complex and range extensions for most of its species are reported. Plocopsylla (P.) silewi is recorded for the first time in Argentina. The southern limits of the distributions of Plocopsylla (P.) lewisi and Plocopsylla (P.) wilesi are extended to Santa Cruz Province. The angusticeps-lewisi complex is found for the first time in San Juan Province. The information may be useful in epidemiological studies of flea-borne diseases.

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora from the three-striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, in Java.

Three new species of fleas belonging to the genus Macrostylophora (Siphonaptera, Ceratophyllidae) are described from the three-striped ground squirrel, Lariscus insignis, from Tjibodas, West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia at an elevation of 1500 m. Macrostylophora larisci sp. n. is described from three male specimens, Macrostylophora debilitata sp. n. is described from one male and Macrostylophora wilsoni sp. n. is described from one female. Non-genital morphological characters of the female specimen, including ctenidial spine shapes and lengths, show that it is not the corresponding female for either M. larisci sp. n. or M. debilitata sp. n. It is unusual for three different species of congeneric fleas to parasitize the same host species in the same geographical location. These three new species represent the first known records of Macrostylophora from Java and they could be enzootic vectors between rodents of flea-borne zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia typhi and Yersinia pestis, both of which are established on Java. A list is provided of the 43 known species and 12 subspecies of Macrostylophora together with their known geographical distributions and hosts. A map depicting the distributions of known Indonesian (and Bornean) species of Macrostylophora is also included.

[The genus Tunga Jarocki, 1838 (Siphonaptera: Tungidae). I: taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and pathogenicity]. / Le genre Tunga Jarocki, 1838 (Siphonaptera : Tungidae). I - Taxonomie, phylogénie, écologie, rôle pathogène.

This is the first review of the taxonomy and geographical range of the 12 known species of the genus Tunga. Their biology and pathogenic roles are considered, with particular emphasis on their phylogeny, chorology, phenology, sex-ratio, and dermecos.

[Description of Tunga bonneti n. sp. from Chile (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) with notes on specificity, chorology, dermecos and phenology]. / Description de Tunga bonneti n. sp. du Chili (Siphonaptera : Tungidae) et notes sur sa spécificité, sa chorologie, son dermecos et sa phénologie.

Smit (1968) misreported Tunga libis from Chile. Here we describe this flea as a new species. We analyzed free life females, male and embedded females. Moreover, we include data about its natural history and biology. These data will allow a better understanding about other Tunga fleas, and particularly for collecting males, which remain unknown to date.

[Description of Nosopsyllus (N.) atsbi n. sp. (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Ethiopia, and revision of the related species N. (N.) incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913); biogeographical discussion]. / Description de Nosopsyllus (N.) atsbi n. sp. (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae) d'Ethiopie et révision de l'espèce affine N. (N.) incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913) ; discussion biogéographique.

We describe a new Nosopsyllus s. sto., N. atsbi, from the north of Ethiopia, that shows phyletic similarities with N. incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913), a species from the oriental part of the afrotropical region. This led us to reconsider the classification of the incisus populations based on the unique criteria of telomere's setation (three robust marginal bristles, instead of the two typically present in members of this genus and subgenus). It appears that N. incisus s. sto. occurs in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania. In the north and south of this region (respectively central Ethiopia, on one hand, Zambia and Malawi, on the other hand), two taxa are morphologically distinct and we erect them here to the rank of subspecies: Nosopsyllus (N.) incisus traubi n. ssp. and N. (N.) incisus lewisi n. ssp. Actually, four taxa are in "incisus complex", namely: N. atsbi n. sp., N. incisus traubi n. ssp., N. incisus incisus (Jordan & Rothschild, 1913), and N. incisus lewisi n. ssp.

Bartonella clarridgeiae, B. henselae and Rickettsia felis in fleas from Morocco.

A total of 554 fleas were collected in the Moroccan Casablanca and Tiznit regions from domesticated animals and ruminants between August 2007 and October 2008 and were tested for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. using molecular methods. For the first time in Morocco, we found Rickettsia felis, the agent of flea-borne spotted fever in Ctenocephalides felis; B. henselae, an agent of cat scratch disease; and Bartonella clarridgeiae, a cat pathogen and potentially a human pathogen.

[Two new species of fleas (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae & Rhopalopsyllidae) from Chile]. / Deux espèces nouvelles de puces (Siphonaptera : Ctenophthalmidae & Rhopalopsyllidae) du Chili.

Agastopsylla guzmani n. sp. (Ctenophthalmidae) and Delostichus degus n. sp. (Rhopalopsyllidae) are described. A key is proposed for the genus Agastopsylla; for the genus Delostichus, a brief comparison is made with D. incisus and D. ojedai described after the issue of the Catalogue of Smit (1987).

[Gryphopsylla segregata Beaucournu & Sountsov, 1999: new status for G. jacobsoni segregata, description of the female and proposition of a new key for the genus Gryphopsylla (Siphonaptera - Pygiopsyllidae - Stivaliinae)]. / Gryphopsylla segregata Beaucournu & Sountsov, 1999 : nouveau statut pour G. jacobsoni segregata, description de la femelle et proposition d'une nouvelle clé pour le genre Gryphopsylla Traub, 1957 (Siphonaptera - Pygiopsyllidae - Stivaliinae).

The recent collection of a female of Gryphopsylla jacobsoni segregata Beaucournu & Sountsov, 1999 from northern Borneo allowed us to better clarify the taxonomic status of this flea and confirm that G. jacobsoni and G. segregata are distinct species. We describe the female of G. segregata and revised the identification key of the genus.

Host specificity and niche partitioning in flea-small mammal networks in Bornean rainforests.

The diversity of ectoparasites in Southeast Asia and flea-host associations remain largely understudied. We explore specialization and interaction patterns of fleas infesting non-volant small mammals in Bornean rainforests, using material from a field survey carried out in two montane localities in northwestern Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia) and from a literature database of all available interactions in both lowland and montane forests. A total of 234 flea individuals collected during our field survey resulted in an interaction network of eight flea species on seven live-captured small mammal species. The interaction network from all compiled studies currently includes 15 flea species and 16 small mammal species. Host specificity and niche partitioning of fleas infesting diurnal treeshrews and squirrels were low, with little difference in specialization among taxa, but host specificity in lowland forests was found to be higher than in montane forests. By contrast, Sigmactenus alticola (Siphonaptera: Leptopsyllidae) exhibited low host specificity by infesting various montane and lowland nocturnal rats. However, this species exhibited low niche partitioning as it was the only commonly recorded flea from rats on Borneo. Overall complementary specialization was of intermediate intensity for both networks and differed significantly from random association; this has important implications for specific interactions that are also relevant to the potential spread of vector-borne diseases.

[Description of Trochilopsylla torresmurai n. gen., n. sp. (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Chile, the first flea known to parasitize a humming bird (Aves: Trochilidae)]. / Description de Trochilopsylia torresmurai n. gen., n. sp. (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae) du Chiu, première mention d'une puce parasite d'oiseau-mouche (Aves : Trochiudae).

A new genus and a new species are described from fleas of occupied nest from humming bird, Oreotrichulus estella (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838). This taxa shows, in particular, some affinities with Dasypsyllus Baker, 1908, parasite on birds, cosmopolitan except in afrotropical and austral regions, and Smitipsylla Lewis, 1971, parasite on flying squirrels (Anomaluridae) in oriental region.

[Two new species of Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) from Chile]. / Deux nouvelles espèces de Dasypsyllus (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae) au Chili.

New taxa, known only by the male, are added to chilio-andean fauna. These fleas belong to sub-genus Neornipsyllus, parasites of Birds, essentially "Passeriforms". D. (N.) huinayensis sp. n. is, inter alia, characterized by the place of large setae on telomere; D. (N.) tapaculensis sp. n. show a tergit XI (or proctiger) unusual for the entire Order by the form and the chaetotaxy composed, essentially, of forked setae.

[Siphonaptera from Tanzania. Description of two taxa and complementary description of Ctenophthalmus cophurus Hemingwayi Hubbard, 1963 (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae)]. / Siphonaptères de Tanzanie. Description de deux taxa et compléments a la description de Ctenophthalmus cophurus Hemingwayi Hubbard, 1963 (Siphonaptera : Ctenophthalmidae).

Two new taxa, Ctenophthalmus (Ethioctenophthalmus) iraqwi n. sp. and C. (E.) evidens derocki n. ssp. are described and a complementary description is given for C. (E.) cophurus hemingwayi Hubbard, 1963, all those taxa belonging to the Tanzanian flea fauna.

[Macrostyophora durdeni n. sp. A new plea from Sabah (Borneo) and sympatric species (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae, Pygiopsyllidae)]. / Macrostylophora durdeni n. sp. de Sabah (Ile de Bornéo) et autres espèces sympatriques (Siphonaptera : Ceratophyllidae, Pygiopsyllidae).

We report on fleas collected from small mammals in a lower mountane rainforest in the Crocker Range National Park, Sabah, Borneo. Macrostylophora durdeni n. sp., collected from Dremomys everetti and, of minor importance, Tupaia montana, is described. Further records include Gryphopsylla jacobsoni segragata and Lentistivalius vomerus from T. montana.

[Enderleinellus tamiasis Fahrenholz, 1916 (Anoplura: Enderleinellidae), an introduced species, and a new sucking louse for the French fauna]. / Enderleinellus tamiasis Fahrenholz, 1916 (Anoplura: Enderleinellidae), espèce importée, implantée et nouvelle pour la Faune de France.

A new sucking louse is recorded for the French Anopluran fauna, Enderleinellus tomiasis found on the introduced Sciurid Tamias sibiricus. This observation highlights the maintenance of parasites when introduced with their hosts and when their hosts settle into a novel environments. It suggests a common origin for two out of four populations of Siberian chipmunks examined. The authors describe the morphological criteria that allow the distinction between the two species of Enderleinellus and each infecting a sciurid host found in our country.

[Fleas community in introduced Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus Laxmann) in Forest of Sénart, France]. / Diversité du cortège en siphonaptères chez le tamia de Sibérie (Tamias sibiricus Laxmann) introduit en Forêt de Sénart (Ile-de-France).

We examined the fleas community in an introduced population of Siberian chipmunks, Tamias sibiricus, between 2005 and 2007, in the Forest of Sénart (Essonne, France). We collected and identified 383 fleas on 463 chipmunks (total: 1,891 captures on 471 chipmunks). In 2005, 120 fleas were also collected on 65 bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus, and on 25 wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus, trapped within the same area. Ceratophyllus sciurorum sciurorum formed 73.6% of the chipmunks' flea community, with an annual prevalence (P) ranging between 8 and 13% and a mean intensity (I) ranging between 1.1 and 1.6 fleas per individual. Among the six other species infecting this Sciurid, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes impavidus constituted 17.2% (P: 1.6-2.2%; I: 1.1-2.6), and Megabothris turbidus 8.1% (P: 0.8-1.9%; I: 1.0-1.4) of the flea community, respectively. These last two species represented respectively 60.8% and 36.6% of the flea community on the bank vole and the wood mouse. Originated from Asia, chipmunks did not import any flea species to Sénart, probably because they were used as pets before their release in the wild. Abundance in C. s. sciurorum increased with adult chipmunk density and with juvenile density in summer. On adult chipmunks C. s. sciurorum tented to decrease with increasing abundance of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris]. Moreover, the two other flea species mainly infected young chipmunks during the fall, and their number was not related to chipmunk density. However, the distribution of species within the flea community became more balanced with increase juvenile chipmunk density. Overall, these results indicate that the close phyletic relationship between chipmunks and red squirrels contributed in the acquisition and the spread of fleas by chipmunks. Primary and secondary hosts densities, their habitat use, and more specifically burrowing activities and tree canopy use, also played a role in the spread of fleas on chipmunks.

[Ctenopllhaimus (Ethioctrvophthalmus) kemmelberg n. sp. (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae), a new flea from Tanzania and description of unknown small structures in the mecopteroids]. / Ctenophthamus (Ethioctenophthalmus) kemmelberg n. sp. (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae), puce nouvelle de Tanzanie et description de structures internes non signalées chez les Mécoptèroïdes.

We recently described two new taxa of Siphonaptera (Ctenophthalmus (Ethioctenophthalmus) teucqoe teucqaoe et C. (E.) teucqae shumeensis Laudisoit & Beaucournu, 2007) from Lushoto plague focus (West Usambara mountains, Tanzania). A new taxa is here being studied, Ctenophthalmus kemmelberg, an original flea, not only for its genitalia, but also for original structures appearing, and that have not been described yet, at our knowledge, in any Mecopteroid. These are visible in females only. We suggest the name "Teucq's organs" for those remarkable structures.

[Two new Ctenophthalmus (Insecta: Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae) from Tanzania]. / Deux nouveaux Ctenophthalmus (Insecta : Siphonaptera : Ctenophthalmidae) de Tanzanie.

During a recent epidemiological study of Lushoto plague focus, some uncommon specimens of fleas or even totally new species were collected. In this paper, we describe one of those, Ctenophthalmus (Ethioctenophthalmus) teucqae n. sp. Microscopic observation of comparison specimens deposited at National History Museum (London) allows us to create a sub-species, C. (E.) teucqae shumeensis n. ssp.

Three new fleas from Sulawesi, Indonesia (Siphonaptera: Pygiopsyllidae & Ceratophyllidae).

Gryphopsylla maxomydis n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae), Medwayella rubrisciurae n. sp. (Pygiopsyllidae) and Macrostylophora theresae n. sp. (Ceratophyllidae) are described from endemic rodents in Sulawesi. Gryphopsylla maxomydis was collected from the murids Maxomys musschenbroekii and Paruromys dominator in Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah). However, M. musschenbroekii appears to be the true host of this flea because it has spiny pelage and G. maxomydis shows morphological adaptations for parasitizing spiny hosts including a remarkable "beak-like" structure on the head. This adatation is similar to a beak-like structure on the head of Gryphopsyllo hopkinsi (Traub) which parasitizes the spiny murid Maxomys whiteheadi in Borneo (Sabah). Medwayella rubrisciurae was collected from the large tree squirrel Rubrisciurus rubriventer in Central Sulawesi and this represents the first report of this flea genus in Sulawesi. Macrostylophora theresce was recorded from the murids Bunomys fratrorum, P. dominator and Rattus xanthurus in North Sulawesi (Sulawesi Utara); most other members of this flea genus parasitize squirrels in the Oriental and Palaearctic zoogeographical regions.