Coxiella burnetii in ticks and wild birds.

The study objective was to get more information on C. burnetii prevalence in wild birds and ticks feeding on them, and the potentialities of the pathogen dissemination over Europe by both. MATERIALS: Blood, blood sera, feces of wild birds and ticks removed from those birds or from vegetation were studied at two sites in Russia: the Curonian Spit (site KK), and the vicinity of St. Petersburg (site SPb), and at two sites in Bulgaria: the Atanasovsko Lake (site AL), and the vicinity of Sofia (site SR). METHODS: C. burnetii DNA was detected in blood, feces, and ticks by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). All positive results were confirmed by Sanger's sequencing of 16SrRNA gene target fragments. The antibodies to C. burnetii in sera were detected by CFR (complement fixation reaction). RESULTS: Eleven of 55 bird species captured at KK site hosted Ixodes ricinus. C. burnetii DNA was detected in three I. ricinus nymphs removed from one bird (Erithacus rubecula), and in adult ticks flagged from vegetation: 0.7% I. persulcatus (site SPb), 0.9% I. ricinus (site KK), 1.0% D. reticulatus (AL site). C. burnetii DNA was also detected in 1.4% of bird blood samples at SPb site, and in 0.5% of those at AL site. Antibodies to C. burnetii were found in 8.1% of bird sera (site SPb). C. burnetii DNA was revealed in feces of birds: 0.6% at AL site, and 13.7% at SR site. CONCLUSIONS: Both molecular-genetic and immunological methods were applied to confirm the role of birds as a natural reservoir of C. burnetii. The places of wild bird stopover in Russia (Baltic region) and in Bulgaria (Atanasovsko Lake and Sofia region) proved to be natural foci of C. burnetii infection. Migratory birds are likely to act as efficient "vehicles" in dispersal of C. burnetii -infested ixodid ticks.

[EXPERIENCE IN THE APPLICATION OF DATABASES ON BLOODSUCKING INSECTS IN ZOOLOGICAL STUDIES].

The paper summarizes long-term experience of accumulating and summarizing the faunistic information by means of separate databases (DB) and information analytical systems (IAS), and also prospects of its representation by modern multi-user informational systems. The experience obtained during development and practical use of the PARHOST1 IAS for the study of the world flea fauna and work with personal databases created for the study of bloodsucking insects (lice and blackflies) is analyzed. Research collection material on type series of 57 species and subspecies of fleas of the fauna of Russia was approved as a part of multi-user information retrieval system on the web-portal of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. According former investigations, the system allows depositing the information in the authentic form and performing its gradual transformation, i. e. its unification and structuring. In order to provide continuity of DB refill, the possibility of work of operators with different degree of competence is provided.

[MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF FLEAS' STRUCTURES (SIPHONAPTERA) PART 3: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES OF THORACIC SETATION].

The paper continues a series of publications (Medvedev, 2015a, b) devoted to the analysis of flea structural features. In the present publication, structural features of flea thoracic setation are analyzed for the first time. Six characters with 53 states in the structure of the chaetom of the pronotum, meso-, and metathoracic. segments are distinguished. The author analyzes the cases of the formation of similar states stipulated by processes of reduction or, by contrast, by strengthening of the chaetom in fleas of separate genera belonging to different superfamilies in relation to the type or peculiarities of parasitism in different flea species. In spite of the presence of strong variability in arrangement and number of thoracic setae, some examples of marking of groups in the range families and superfamilies by certain states of the chaetotaxy of the pronotum and metepimera are revealed.

[Fleas of small mammals from the northeastern Russian Far East].

Results of the study of fleas (Siphonaptera) collected from small mammals (insectivores and rodents) in the Russian Far East (Magadan Province, and Khabarovsk and Kamchatka Territories) are represented. Fourteen flea species were revealed in 17 species of small mammals.

[Fleas of small mammals in St. Petersburg].

In the territory of St. Petersburg, 26 sites situated in areas with 4 types of forest vegetation, were examined. Fleas of 16 species were collected from small mammals belonging to 13 species. The flea Ctenophthalnius agyrtes was the most abundant species. Two types of flea communities can be distinguished, including communities of fleas of forests and forest parks and communities of fleas of urban parks and cemeteries.

[In memory of Yuri Sergeevich Balashov (25.XII.1931-28.IX.2012)].

Biographical notes describe the life and scientific activities of Yuri Balashov, an outstanding Russian parasitologist, the Chief Editor of Parazitologiya.

[Organization of studies of the "gnus" complex of bloodsucking dipterans (Diptera: Culicidae, Ceratopogonidae, Tabanidae) by Yu. S. Balashov].

The paper gives a historical account of investigations of mosquitoes, black flies and horseflies carried out by the staff of the Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoological Institute RAS, supervised by a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof Yu. S. Balashov, during 1979-1994. The research team of the laboratory explored the local fauna, relative abundance, seasonal dynamics, diurnal activity, longevity of a mass flight activity, annual fluctuations of the number, and age content of populations of various mosquito, black fly and horsefly species in the territory of Leningrad, Novgorod and Pskov Provinces. Attack peculiarities of various horse fly species were studied with the use of individual labeling.

[The fauna of bloodsucking insects of the "gnus" complex (Diptera) in Leningrad Province and Saint-Petersburg].

The history of the study of bloodsucking mosquitoes, sand flies, black flies, and horse flies in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province is observed. At present, 38 mosquito species of 5 genera, 67 black fly species of 17 genera, 24 species of bloodsucking sand flies of the genus Culicoides, and 36 horse fly species of 6 genera were revealed in the territory of the region. The analysis of 267 collecting sites of 165 species of 30 genera of bloodsucking insects allowed revealing the most widespread species. The species composition of bloodsucking dipterans in the region is examined insufficiently. Till present, eastern and central (near the Ladoga Lake) parts of the region examined, and also the northern part of the Karelian Isthmus remain poorly studied. The last collections of bloodsucking insects of the "gnus" complex were performed more that 30 years ago.

[Ways of the fleas (Siphonaptera) fauna formation in the Caucasus].

Fleas fauna of the Caucasus is considered, possible ways of its formation are discussed. Caucasian fleas belong to 155 species and 40 genera; 23 species are endemics. Hypothesis on Western Palearctic and Eastern Palearctic sources of the Caucasian fleas' fauna formation are proposed.

[Ecological characteristics and distribution of the mosquito Aedes communis (De Geer, 1776) in the Northwestern part of European Russia].

According to recent data, Aedes communis is a polytopic species inhabiting both zonal and intrazonal biotopes. It has a wide Holarctic nemoral-tundra-steppe range, which can be characterized as European-Asiatic-North-American. In the North-West of the European part of Russia, A. communis occurs in early spring and summer, being a monocyclic species. It is distributed everywhere, both in zones of tundra and forest-tundra and in all taiga subzones. Aedes communis is a psychrophilic species, but attacks of its females were recorded under the temperatures from 2.5 to 28 degrees C. The species occurs in biotopes of different types, but in the taiga zone it is distributed mainly in swampy coniferous forests and, particularly, in fir-woods where its quantity is steadily high, amounting to 70% and more of the mosquito females collections. When fir-woods are cut down, A. communis develops in the reservoirs situated in the small-leaved forests forming in taiga after deforestation.

[Species composition and ecological peculiarities of the mosquito genera Culex, Culiseta, and Coquillettidia (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Novgorod Region].

Nine mosquito species from the genera Culex, Culiseta, and Coquillettidia are found in the Novgorod Region as a result of eight-year investigation (1997-2004). The species Culex torrentium is for the first time recorded in the Novgorod Region.

[Species composition and ecological peculiarities of the mosquito genera Aedes and Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Novgorod Region].

Five mosquito species form the genera Aedes and Anopheles are found in the Novgorod Region as a result of eight-year investigation (1997-2004). The species Ae. rossicus is for the first time recorded in the Novgorod Region.

[Species composition and ecological peculiarities of the blood-sucking mosquito genus Ochlerotatus (communis species group) (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Novgorod Province].

Eleven mosquito species of the communis species group (genus Ochlerotatus, family Culicidae) were found in the Novgorod Province as a result of nine-year investigations (1996-2004). Ochlerotatus impiger, O. nigrinus, and O. sticticus are recorded in the Novgorod Province for the first time.

[Species composition and ecological peculiarities of the blood-sucking mosquito genus Ochlerotatus (cantans and dorsalis species groups) (Diptera, Culicidae) in the Novgorod Region].

Seven mosquito species of the genus Ochlerotatus ("cantans" and "dorsalis" species groups, family Culicidae) were found in the Novgorod Region as a result of our field investigations, which have been carried out in 1996-2004. One species, Ochlerotatus annulipes, was for the first time recorded in the Novgorod Region. Distribution, biotopic and seasonal preferences of all discovered species are considered.

[Peculiarities of thoracic and abdominal combs of fleas (Siphonaptera)]. / Osobennosti stroeniia grudnykh i briushnykh ktenidiev blokh (Siphonaptera).

The structure of pseudosetae, spinelets, and spines of combs (ctenidia) was studied by means of light and SE microscopy in 80% of genera and subgenera of the World fauna. It is found out that peculiarities of ctenidiae in the prothorax and in tergites of the abdomen are characteristics of families and infraorders of fleas. Some characters of ctenidiae found in certain flea genera are reductions and apparently caused by habitation in some extremal conditions. An absence of ctenidiae in the unfraorder Pulicomorpha is compensated by more developed posterior margin of prothorax and general abbreviation of all thoracal segments. Reasons of ctenidiae absence, which is observed in certain genera of the infraorders Ceratophyllomorpha, Pygiopsyllomorpha and Hystricopsillomorpha associated with the same hosts, is not clear. It is confirmed, that distance between ctenidiae in different flea species associated with the same species host species, however it is recovered, that this distance correlates with the diameter of most thin hair of host. In some flea species the distance between ctenidia spices in females is larger, than in males. It is found, that sexual dimorphism by this character may not be expressed in certain species of closely related species group of fleas. It is suggested that ctenidiae were present even in the common ancestor of fleas. The hypothesis on origin of spines and pseudosetae from setae of the posterior walls of toracal and abdominal segments in the common ancestor of fleas is proposed.

Host-habitat relations as an important determinant of spatial distribution of flea assemblages (Siphonaptera) on rodents in the Negev Desert.

We studied flea assemblages on rodents in different habitats of the Ramon erosion cirque in the Negev Desert to examine whether host-habitat relations influence flea spatial distribution. Eleven flea species parasitizing 12 rodent species were recorded. There was significant positive relationship between flea species richness and body mass of the host species; no relationships were found between relative richness of flea assemblage and either the number of habitats occupied by the host species or the size of host geographical range. The differences in pattern of flea parasitism among habitat types within host species were determined by both environmental features of a habitat and the specific pattern of habitat use by rodents. There was replacement of Xenopsylla conformis by Xenopsylla ramesis on Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus among different habitats. The results of ordination of the flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the flea assemblages were segregated mainly along 4 axes, which explained 86% of total variance. Each of the ordination axes corresponded with a change in flea species composition. The directions of these changes were (1) among-hosts within a habitat and (2) among-habitats within a host.

[A new species of flea in the genus Ctenophthalmus (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae)]. / Novyi vid blokha Ctenophthalmus (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae).

A new species, Ctenophthalmus (Euctenophthalmus) parthicus sp. n., is described from social vole (Microtus socialis Pallas) from four localities of the West Kopetdag Mountains of Turkmenia. The new species is close to C.(E.) secundus Wagner and C.(E.) congener nadimi Farhang-Azad. It differs from males of the other known species by the following characters. The movable process has an infra-acetabular process whose length is the same as the height of its supra-acetabular portion. The movable process has the straight front margin, right anterior apical angle. The anterior part of the dorsal margin of the movable process is elevated, the hind part is slightly concave. The posterior apical angle of the movable process is cut. The hind margin of the movable process is convex. The apex of the distal arm of sternum IX is straight, not oblique. The female differs by the following peculiarities. Sternum VII has a well developed dorsal lobe below which there is a smaller rounded lobe and a distinct small ventral process. Unciform sclerotization of tergum VIII (or the place of connection between tergum VIII and its internal lobe) resembles an arc. The front margin of the internal lobe of tergum VIII is not sclerotized. The bursa copulatrix is as long as the dorsal spines of pronotum.