RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The optimal strategy for difficult-to-treat (D2T) rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been identified, and the ultrasound characteristics of D2T RA have not been reported. We investigated the clinical characteristics and factors contributing to the outcome in D2T RA in a multicentre RA ultrasound observational cohort. METHOD: We reviewed 307 Japanese patients diagnosed with RA who underwent treatment with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). We compared the differences in patient characteristics between the D2T RA and non-D2T RA groups. We examined the factors contributing to a good response [defined as b/tsDMARD continuation and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) ≤ 10 at 12 months] in the D2T RA patient group. RESULTS: Forty-three patients (14%) were categorized as D2T RA and the remaining 264 (86%) as non-D2T RA at baseline. The grey-scale (GS) score, disease duration, and CDAI at the initiation of treatment were significantly higher in the D2T RA group than in the non-D2T RA group. In contrast, the power Doppler (PD) score was not significantly different between the two groups. Of the 43 D2T RA patients, 20 achieved a good response. The introduction of CTLA4-Ig (n = 5) was significantly associated with a good response in analysis based on inverse probability weighting with propensity score. GS and PD scores at baseline were not significantly associated with therapeutic response at 12 months in D2T RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with D2T RA had high clinical and ultrasound activity and poor responses to treatment with b/tsDMARDs. CTLA4-Ig was associated with a good response at 12 months in D2T RA patients.
Assuntos
Antirreumáticos , Artrite Reumatoide , Humanos , Abatacepte/uso terapêutico , Antirreumáticos/uso terapêutico , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico por imagem , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Artrite Reumatoide/complicações , Estudos de Coortes , Ultrassonografia , Ultrassonografia DopplerRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effectiveness of treatment with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) assessed by ultrasonography (US) activity, and the influence of patient characteristics and previous treatments. METHOD: This prospective study assessed 60 treatment initiations among 53 Japanese patients diagnosed with RA who underwent treatment with JAK inhibitors during June 2013 to February 2020. Of the 53 patients, seven patients were enrolled in duplicate because they were treated with two different JAK inhibitors at different periods. For each case, the improvement rate on the power Doppler (PD) score was assessed at 6 month follow-up. Median improvement rate of PD score was used to classify cases as either US responders or non-responders, and patient characteristics were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: All indicators of clinical disease activity and US activity showed a significant improvement at 3 months compared with baseline. Although the JAK inhibitor-cycler group and the interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitor inadequate response (IR) group tended to show a later improvement for US activity, all indicators of clinical disease activity and US activity showed a significant improvement at 6 months compared with baseline for both groups. Multivariate analysis showed that concomitant methotrexate use and an IR to the previous biologic or targeted-synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (b/tsDMARD) treatment were independently and significantly associated with US responders. CONCLUSION: Use of a JAK inhibitor in combination with methotrexate and an absence of IR to any previous b/tsDMARDs demonstrated superior effectiveness for patients with RA.
Assuntos
Antirreumáticos , Artrite Reumatoide , Inibidores de Janus Quinases , Antirreumáticos/uso terapêutico , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico por imagem , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Inibidores de Janus Quinases/uso terapêutico , Japão , Metotrexato/uso terapêutico , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
Objectives: Using multicentre ultrasound (US) cohort data among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we aimed to identify baseline factors that permit differentiation between two patient cohorts achieving US remission and clinical remission, and to determine the factors contributing to the discrepancy.Method: We reviewed 248 Japanese patients diagnosed with RA who underwent treatment with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs at 13 centres. We performed US assessments of the synovia of 22 joints. We assessed the percentages of patients with clinical remission and US remission, defined as total power Doppler scores of 0 at 12 months.Results: The 87 patients who achieved US remission were divided into a group that achieved both clinical and US remission (n = 53) and a group that achieved US remission only (n = 34). Baseline factors that were significantly and independently associated with clinical remission at 12 months among patients who also achieved US remission included short disease duration, the presence of concomitant methotrexate use, and low patient global assessment score (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p < 0.005, respectively).Conclusions: RA patients with baseline high patient global assessment scores and long disease duration at baseline were unlikely to achieve clinical remission even after achieving US remission. Objective joint assessments using US provide additional information of potential importance for the management of RA.
Assuntos
Artrite Reumatoide , Antirreumáticos/uso terapêutico , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico por imagem , Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Estudos de Coortes , Humanos , Japão , Indução de Remissão , Resultado do Tratamento , UltrassonografiaAssuntos
Artrite Reumatoide/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores do Fator de Necrose Tumoral/uso terapêutico , Proteína 3 Induzida por Fator de Necrose Tumoral alfa/genética , Adalimumab/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Artrite Reumatoide/genética , Povo Asiático , Etanercepte/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Infliximab/uso terapêutico , Japão , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Prognóstico , Falha de TratamentoRESUMO
A multi-locus approach was used to examine the DNA sequences of 10 nominal species of blackfly in the Simulium subgenus Gomphostilbia (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Malaysia. Molecular data were acquired from partial DNA sequences of the mitochondria-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes, and the nuclear-encoded 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes. No single gene, nor the concatenated gene set, resolved all species or all relationships. However, all morphologically established species were supported by at least one gene. The multi-locus sequence analysis revealed two distinct evolutionary lineages, conforming to the morphotaxonomically recognized Simulium asakoae and Simulium ceylonicum species groups.
Assuntos
Simuliidae/classificação , Simuliidae/genética , Animais , Evolução Biológica , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Proteínas de Insetos/genética , Malásia , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Análise de Sequência de DNARESUMO
Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) brinchangense and S. (G.) tanahrataense, are described on the basis of reared adult females, males, pupae and larvae from Cameron's Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia. These new species are assigned to the asakoae species-group within Simulium (Gomphostilbia) and taxonomic notes are given to distinguish each new species from six known species in Malaysia. Revised keys to identify all 21 species including 13 species from other countries are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. The species diversity of the asakoae species-group in Cameron's Highlands is briefly noted.
Assuntos
Dípteros/anatomia & histologia , Dípteros/classificação , Animais , Demografia , Dípteros/fisiologia , Feminino , Larva/anatomia & histologia , Larva/classificação , Larva/fisiologia , Malásia , Masculino , Pupa/anatomia & histologia , Pupa/classificação , Pupa/fisiologia , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
SH2D1A, also known as signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP), is an adaptor protein. Recently, it was reported that SAP deficient mice were protected from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we postulated SH2D1A gene to be a candidate susceptibility gene for SLE and analyzed its association with SLE. A case-control association study was conducted on 5 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SH2D1A region in 506 Japanese female SLE patients and 330 healthy female controls. The luciferase assay was performed to determine the functional role of the SNP associated with SLE. One SNP in the intron 2, rs2049995, showed association with SLE (p=0.0110, odds ratio (OR) 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-3.34, under the dominant model). The association of rs2049995 seemed to be stronger in the subset with the age of onset less than 20 years (p=0.0067, OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.28-5.46). Functional evaluation of rs2049995 showed that reporter gene activity was increased 1.9-fold for the susceptible allele compared with the resistant allele. An intronic SNP of SH2D1A is associated with SLE.
Assuntos
Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/genética , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/genética , Adulto , Povo Asiático , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/metabolismo , Íntrons , Japão , Células Jurkat , Leucócitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Leucócitos Mononucleares/patologia , Luciferases , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Proteína Associada à Molécula de Sinalização da Ativação LinfocitáriaRESUMO
ABSTRACT A new black fly species, Simulium (Comphostilbia) langkawiense, is described based on adult female, adult male, pupal, and larval specimens collected from Langkawi Island, Malaysia. This new species is similar in the configuration of the pupal gill to Simulium (Comphostilbia) gombakense Takaoka & Davies, 1995, originally described from Peninsular Malaysia, but differs from the latter species by the female genital fork with an anterolaterally angulated plate on each arm, the female tarsal claw tooth shorter than one half of the claw, the small number of male upper-eye large facets, the ventral plate with its ventral margin nearly flat in the middle when viewed posteriorly, and the inflated structure of the pupal gill with a less produced middle portion (width of middle inflated portion: length of inflated structure = 0.24). Taxonomic notes are also given to separate this new species from two other related species from Nepal and India. This represents another example of a unique species of black fly on one of the continental islands of Peninsular Malaysia.
Assuntos
Simuliidae/anatomia & histologia , Simuliidae/classificação , Animais , Ecossistema , Feminino , Larva/anatomia & histologia , Larva/classificação , Malásia , Masculino , Pupa/anatomia & histologia , Pupa/classificação , Simuliidae/fisiologiaRESUMO
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) okinawense Takaoka and S. (G.) tokarense Takaoka, both from the Nansei Islands, Japan, were morphologically reexamined and genetically analysed by using the COI gene sequences. The female, male, pupa and mature larva of the two species are redescribed. Morphological reexamination shows that both species are more similar to species in the S. asakoae species-group than to those in the S. ceylonicum species-group, by having a medium-long female sensory vesicle, yellow tuft hairs (S. (G.) okinawense) or yellow tuft hairs mixed with a few to several dark hairs (S. (G.) tokarense) at the base of the radial vein in the female and male, and medium-long larval postgenal cleft. However, the body of the male ventral plate (viewed ventrally) is parallel-sided (S. (G.) okinawense) or parallelsided or slightly narrowed (S. (G.) tokarense) and not emarginated basally, differing from those of most species in the S. asakoae species-group. Our genetic analysis shows that S. (G.) tokarense is in the S. asakoae species-group, and S. (G.) okinawense formed a separate sister clade with other members of the S. asakoae species-group with high bootstrap support. From the results of morphological and genetic analysis combined, S. (G.) okinawense and S. (G.) tokarense are transferred from the S. ceylonicum species-group to the S. asakoae species-group.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Simuliidae/anatomia & histologia , Japão , Ilhas , Larva/genética , Pupa/genéticaRESUMO
Simulium takahasii (Rubtsov), which was originally described from Japan, and recorded from Korea and China, is the first among the 19 species of the subgenus Wilhelmia Enderlein recorded from East Asia. It is striking in mating, blood-feeding and ovipositing in captivity and in experimentally transmitting Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) and Brugia pahangi (Buckley & Edeson), and it is a severe biter of cattle and horses, rarely of humans. Nevertheless, updated information about its morphological characteristics was lacking, making comparisons with related species described from China difficult, since species of the subgenus Wilhelmia are almost indistinguishable from one another, in particular, in their female terminalia, male genitalia and most of larval features. In this study, as many morphological characteristics as possible of S. takahasii based on specimens from Japan are redescribed. New information about many features of this species including the length of the female sensory vesicle against the third palpal segment, number of male upper-eye (large) facets, arrangement of the eight pupal gill filaments, presence or absence of tiny dark setae on the dorsum of the larval abdomen and the number of rows and hooklets of the larval posterior circlet will be useful in evaluating the species status of several Wilhelmia species in China including the species regarded as S. takahasii.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Animais , Bovinos , Cavalos , Ásia Oriental , China , Japão , LarvaRESUMO
Studies of blackfly vectors of Onchocerca dewittei japonica Uni, Bain & Takaoka (Spirurida: Onchocercidae), a parasite of wild boar implicated in the aetiology of zoonotic onchocerciasis in Japan, and six other zoonotic Onchocerca species of this country are reviewed. Molecular identification of infective larvae found in wild-caught female blackflies showed that Simulium bidentatum (Shiraki) (Diptera: Simuliidae) is a natural vector of O. dewittei japonica, and also Onchocerca sp. sensu Fukuda et al., another parasite of wild boar. Inoculation experiments demonstrated that Simulium arakawae Matsumura and four other Simulium species are putative vectors. Similarly, S. arakawae, S. bidentatum and Simulium oitanum (Shiraki) are putative vectors of Onchocerca eberhardi Uni & Bain and Onchocerca skrjabini Rukhlyadev, parasites of sika deer. Morphometric studies of infective larvae indicated that Onchocerca lienalis Stiles, a bovine species, is transmitted by S. arakawae, Simulium daisense (Takahasi) and Simulium kyushuense Takaoka, and that Onchocerca sp. sensu Takaoka & Bain, another bovine species, is transmitted by S. arakawae, S. bidentatum, S. daisense and S. oitanum. Prosimulium sp. (Diptera: Simuliidae) and Simulium japonicum Matsumura are suspected vectors of Onchocerca suzukii Yagi, Bain & Shoho and O. skrjabini [Twinnia japonensis Rubtsov (Diptera: Simuliidae) may also transmit the latter], parasites of Japanese serow, following detection of the parasites' DNA genes in wild-caught blackflies.
Assuntos
Artiodáctilos/parasitologia , Insetos Vetores/parasitologia , Onchocerca/fisiologia , Oncocercose/transmissão , Simuliidae/parasitologia , Zoonoses/transmissão , Animais , Ceratopogonidae/classificação , Ceratopogonidae/parasitologia , Insetos Vetores/classificação , Japão , Onchocerca/anatomia & histologia , Onchocerca/classificação , Oncocercose/parasitologia , Simuliidae/classificação , Zoonoses/parasitologiaRESUMO
The males of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) miblosi Takaoka in the S. epistum species-group, and S. (G.) apoense Takaoka in the S. ceylonicum species-group, both from Mindanao, the Philippines, are described for the first time. The male of S. (G.) miblosi is characterized by the hind tibia yellowish white on the basal three-fifths, elongate calcipala 1.5 times as long as its basal width, and ventral plate triangular ventrally (0.74 times as high as its greatest width) when viewed caudally. Tubercles on the frons and trichomes on the head and thorax of the pupa of this species are illustrated for the first time. The male of S. (G.) apoense is characterized by the small sensory vesicle 0.16-0.19 times as long as the third palpal segment, and enlarged hind basitarsus 1.0 and 1.2-1.3 times as wide as the hind tibia and femur, respectively. Taxonomic notes of these two species relevant to related species in each species-group are given.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Larva , Masculino , Filipinas , PupaRESUMO
Simulium (Wallacellum) tuyense Takaoka, one of the 14 Philippine species in the subgenus Wallacellum Takaoka, is a rare species in having the pupal antennal sheath with a row of stout spines on the apex of each protuberance corresponding to flagellomeres 2-9. The female of this species is described for the first time based on specimens from Mindoro, the Philippines. It is characterized by an elongate sensory vesicle, triangular ovipositor valve, genital fork with two projections, and paraproct not produced anteriorly. This species is morphologically indistinguishable in the female, as in the male and pupa, from S. (W.) yonakuniense Takaoka from Yonakuni Island, Japan and Lanyu Island, Taiwan. Taxonomic notes on the female of this species relevant to those of related species are provided. Collection data to validate earlier distribution records of S. (W.) tuyense and S. (W.) suyoense Takaoka from Mindanao are presented.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Feminino , Larva , Masculino , Filipinas , Pupa , Simuliidae/anatomia & histologiaRESUMO
The Simulium gombakense species-group, one of the 15 species-groups of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein, is small, being represented by only 12 species, all of which are distributed in the Oriental Region. It is characterized by the pupal gill composed of an inflated structure and eight or ten slender filaments. Among the 12 species, S. sachini Takaoka & Henry, and S. williei Takaoka & Thapa were originally described from two pupae, and one pupa and two larvae, respectively, from Darjeeling, India. In the present paper, the adult females and males of these species are described for the first time from specimens reared from pupae collected at the type locality. Simulium sachini is distinctive in the female by the claw with a medium-sized basal tooth, and in the male by the somewhat enlarged, spindle- shaped hind basitarsus and ventral plate with its ventral margin much depressed medially, while S. williei is characterized by the small number of male upper-eye (large) facets in 12 vertical columns and 13 or 14 horizontal rows and ventral plate much produced posteroventrally. Taxonomic notes are given to separate these two species in the adult stage from their related species.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Feminino , Índia , Larva , Masculino , PupaRESUMO
Cytoform C, one of three cytoforms in the Simulium angulistylum Takaoka & Davies complex from a high mountain in northeastern Thailand was morphologically and molecularly investigated. All known life stages (larva, pupa, adult male and female except egg) were morphologically similar to, but distinguishable from S. angulistylum s. str. and S. isanense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung in the adults by the relative length of the fore and hind basitarsi and relative length of the tooth to the claw. It is also morphologically distinct from other species of the S. epistum species-group. Here, it is formally described as a new species, S. prayooki. Molecular genetic data based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) also supported the morphological similarity between the new species and the two related known species (S. angulistylum s. str. and S. isanense) as phylogenetic analysis retrieved them all from a single clade and with a low level of interspecific genetic divergence (1.74%). This might possibly have resulted from incomplete lineage sorting as they are likely to share a recent common ancestor. Despite limitation of molecular genetic differentiation, the new species was distinctly different from two other cytoforms of S. angulistylum complex based on polytene chromosome banding patterns and ecology of the immature stages. Thus, this study highlights the necessity of using an integrated approach for fully understanding black fly biodiversity.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Feminino , Larva/genética , Masculino , Filogenia , Pupa , Simuliidae/anatomia & histologia , TailândiaRESUMO
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) ogatai (Rubtsov) from Japan, the only Palaearctic species in the S. ceylonicum species-group, is morphologically revised. Its female is described for the first time and its male and pupa are redescribed based on specimens from Gifu, Honshu. It is characterized in the female and male by the base of the radius with a tuft of yellow hairs, in the female by the head slightly wider than the thorax, 5.89 times as wide as the greatest width of the frons, and short sensory vesicle 0.21-0.24 times as long as the third palpal segment; in the male by the number of upper-eye (large) facets in 15 vertical columns and 16 horizontal rows, and hind basitarsus spindle-shaped, enlarged, 3.79 times as long as wide, and 0.83 and 1.00 times as wide as the greatest width of the hind tibia and femur, respectively; and in the pupa by the terminal hooks simple and cone-like, and the cocoon with an anterodorsal projection. Taxonomic notes for this species are given relevant to several related species in the Oriental Region, and its assignment to the S. ceylonicum species-group is confirmed.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Feminino , Japão , Larva , Masculino , Pupa , Simuliidae/anatomia & histologiaRESUMO
Simulium triglobus Takaoka & Kuvangkadilok from Thailand, in the Simulium (Simulium) multistriatum species-group, is unique among species in the family Simuliidae in having the female terminalia with three spermathecae (rather than one spermatheca). This species was described from Nan province, northern Thailand based on larvae, pupae and females but its male has remained unknown. In this study, the male of S. triglobus is described for the first time based on adult males reared from pupae collected from the type locality. The most distinctive characteristic of the male of S. triglobus is the shape of the ventral plate, which is hexagonal when viewed ventrally. No other members of S. multistriatum species group known thus far have such a unique ventral plate. In addition, the number of upper-eye (large) facets and color patterns of the legs can be used to differentiate this species in the male from other members of the S. multistriatum species-group. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I sequences enabled association of adult male specimens of S. triglobus with previously known life stages. Phylogenetic analysis based on these sequences revealed that specimens of S. triglobus formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade, being genetically distinct from other members of S. multistriatum species-group in Thailand.
Assuntos
Simuliidae/anatomia & histologia , Animais , Feminino , Larva , Masculino , Filogenia , Pupa , Simuliidae/classificação , Simuliidae/genética , Simuliidae/crescimento & desenvolvimento , TailândiaRESUMO
Japan is a country of high specific diversity of Onchocerca with eight species, the adults of two not yet known. Onchocerca dewittei japonica, a common filarial parasite of wild boar, had been proved to be the agent of five zoonotic onchocerciasis in Kyushu island with morphological and molecular studies. The sixth case, at Hiroshima in the main island, was identified to the same Onchocerca species, based on adult characters observed on histological sections. To consolidate the identification, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene analysis was attempted with the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded parasite specimen. The sequence (196 bp) of a CO1 gene fragment of the parasite successfully PCR-amplified agreed well with those of O. dewittei japonica registered in GenBank, confirming the morphological identification. Moreover a comparison with the CO1 gene sequences of six other Onchocerca species in GenBank excluded the possibility that Onchocerca sp. from wild boar and Onchocerca sp. type A from cattle in Japan, were the causative agents in this case. Mitochondrial DNA analysis proved to be a valuable tool to support the morphological method for the discrimination of zoonotic Onchocerca species in a histological specimen.
Assuntos
DNA de Helmintos/química , Onchocerca/classificação , Oncocercose/parasitologia , Zoonoses/parasitologia , Idoso , Animais , Bovinos , DNA de Helmintos/isolamento & purificação , DNA Mitocondrial/química , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Japão , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Onchocerca/genética , Onchocerca/isolamento & purificação , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Alinhamento de SequênciaRESUMO
A rare non-sex mosaic abnormality represented by genitalia-like appendages on the ventral surface of abdominal segment 8 of a male black fly collected in Hokkaido, Japan, is reported. The appendages consist of a pair of style-like projections each arising from a coxite-like base, inverted-Y shaped ventral plate-like structure, and isolated round structure. This male was morphologically and molecularly identified as an abnormal form of S. (S.) iwatense (Shiraki), the only species in the Simulium (Simulium) ornatum species-group in Japan, although certain morphological characteristics of this male including the reduced number of uppereye (large) facets and elongate cerci are different from those of S. (S.) iwatense.
Assuntos
Simuliidae , Animais , Genitália , Japão , Larva , Masculino , Simuliidae/anatomia & histologia , Simuliidae/classificaçãoRESUMO
Simulium (Simulium) thimphuense sp. nov. is described from a pupa and a mature larva in Bhutan. This new species is placed in the S. multistriatum species-group, and is characterized by the pupal gill with eight thread-like filaments divergent basally at an acute angle when viewed laterally and the cocoon slipper-shaped with several small openings anterolaterally. Four species of Simulium (Simulium) are newly recorded from Bhutan: S. barraudi Puri in the S. multistriatum species-group, S. nodosum Puri in the S. nobile species-group, S. chiangmaiense Takaoka & Suzuki in the S. striatum species-group and S. himalayense Puri in the S. variegatum species-group. Our study increases the number of black fly species known from Bhutan from 18 to 23.