ABSTRACT
Numerical analyses (correspondence analysis, ascending hierarchical classification, cladistic approach) were applied to the morphological characters of the adults of the genus Phlebotomus Rondani & Berté 1840. They confirm the reliability of the classic classifications, and also redefine the taxonomic and phylogenetic position of certain taxa. Thus, Spelaeophlebotomus Theodor 1948. Idiophlebotomus Quate & Fairchild 1961 and Australophlebotomus Theodor 1948 deserve generic rank. Among the vectors of leishmaniasis, the subgenus Phlebotomus Rondani & Berté 1840 is probably ancient. The results attribute an intermediate taxonomic and phylogenetic position to the taxa Euphlebotomus Theodor 1948 and Anaphlebotomus Theodor 1948, and reveal the probable artificial nature of the latter. The comparatively large numbers of species of subgenera Paraphlebotomus Theodor 1948, Synphlebotomus Theodor 1948 and, above all, Larroussius Nitzulescu 1931 and Adlerius Nitzulescu 1931, suggest that they are relatively recent. The development of adult morphological characters, the validity of their use in taxonomy and proposals for further studies are discussed.
Subject(s)
Phlebotomus/classification , Animals , Classification/methods , Phlebotomus/cytology , Phylogeny , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Numerical analyses (correspondence analysis, ascending hierarchical classification, and cladistics) were done with morphological characters of adult phlebotomine sand flies. The resulting classification largely confirms that of classical taxonomy for supra-specific groups from the Old World, though the positions of some groups are adjusted. The taxa Spelaeophlebotomus Theodor 1948, Idiophlebotomus Quate & Fairchild 1961, Australophlebotomus Theodor 1948 and Chinius Leng 1987 are notably distinct from other Old World groups, particularly from the genus Phlebotomus Rondani & Berté 1840. Spelaeomyia Theodor 1948 and, in particular, Parvidens Theodor & Mesghali 1964 are clearly separate from Sergentomyia França & Parrot 1920.
Subject(s)
Phlebotomus/classification , Animals , Classification/methods , Phlebotomus/cytology , Phylogeny , Species SpecificitySubject(s)
Phlebotomus , Phlebotomus/anatomy & histology , Animals , Female , French Guiana , Phlebotomus/classificationABSTRACT
Lutzomyia davisi (Root, 1934) and two related South American species are distinguished. Both sexes of L. robini n. sp. and the female of L. claustrei Abonnenc, Léger et Fauran, 1979 are described and illustrated for the first time. A redescription of both sexes of L. davisi is provided. The known distribution in French Guiana and Brazil for each species is given.
Subject(s)
Phlebotomus/anatomy & histology , Animals , Brazil , Female , French Guiana , Male , Phlebotomus/classificationSubject(s)
Insect Vectors , Phlebotomus , Animals , Female , French Guiana , Humans , Leishmaniasis/transmission , Male , Phlebotomus/classificationABSTRACT
The authors describe two new sandflies from Saül and Maripasoula (French Guyana). They give for each of them mensurations, drawings and differential diagnostic with related species or subspecies.
Subject(s)
Phlebotomus/anatomy & histology , Animals , Female , French Guiana , Male , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The "miracidial chaetotaxic index" of a human strain of Schistosoma mansoni from West-Africa displays an abrupt decrease following three first transmissions Biomphalaria pfeifferi, white mouse. Then it increases gradually up to a new balance. The value of the index permits to estimate the human or murine characteristic of the natural infections in Guadeloupe. According to stations the index of miracidia issued from rats is widely different. Stations where both rat and man are infected show strong differences from a station where infection seems exclusively murine (Grand-Etang). Results agree with these concerning cercariae. Possibility of intervention of murine strains infecting man in Guadeloupe and apt to cause an especially severe bilharziasis is called up.
Subject(s)
Mice/parasitology , Rats/parasitology , Schistosoma mansoni/anatomy & histology , Adaptation, Biological , Animals , Humans , Schistosomiasis/parasitology , West IndiesABSTRACT
The authors discuss about the lack of bilharziasis in French Guyana and report the experimental infestation of Biomphalaria glabrata coming from Cayenne with a porto-rican strain of Schistosoma mansoni.
Subject(s)
Schistosomiasis/parasitology , Biomphalaria/isolation & purification , Disease Reservoirs , French Guiana , Humans , Schistosoma mansoni/isolation & purification , Schistosomiasis/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The evolution of immunological reactions in two Rat strains, namely Rattus rattus from Guadeloupe and Rattus norvegicus var. albinos, was studied. Both have beem experimentally infested by three different strains of Schistosoma mansoni. We observed that Rattus rattus infested by the American strains reacts poorly and shows a persistant infection contrary to the results obtained with other infestations. So it appears that a special pathogenic complex might be present in Guadeloupe which could explain the role played by this rodent in the bilharziosis endemy.
Subject(s)
Rats/immunology , Schistosomiasis/immunology , Animals , Schistosoma mansoni/immunology , Schistosomiasis/transmission , Species Specificity , West IndiesABSTRACT
In Guadeloupe (French Lesser Antilles), because they are simultaneously infested with Schistosoma mansoni, which causes the human intestinal schistosomiasis, and Ribeiroia marini, a Trematode which sterilizes the Mollusk-host of the schistosoma, the rats (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) seem able to influence, at least locally, the infestation of the human population.
Subject(s)
Rats/parasitology , Schistosoma mansoni/growth & development , Schistosomiasis/transmission , Animals , Trematoda/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The rats in Guadeloupe (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus) may play a part in schistosomiasis in three ways: - by harbouring fertile S. mansoni, a fact which serves to increase the total population of the parasite and may eventually take part in the infestation of man; - by harbouring a great number of Ribeiroia marini, a trematode whose larval stages sterilize Biomphalaria glabrata, the vector of schistosomiasis; - simply by eating B. glabrata. The quantitative influence of these contradictory roles played by the rats upon schistosomiasis in Guadeloupe has yet to be studied.