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There are few data on leishmaniases and sandflies in Oman Sultanate. We carried out an eco-epidemiological study in 1998 in the two main mountains of the country, the Sharqiyah and the Dhofar. This study allowed us to isolate and identify three Leishmania strains from patients exhibiting cutaneous leishmaniasis. The typing carried out by isoenzymatic study and by molecular biology were congruent: two strains of Leishmania donovani zymodeme (Z) MON-31 isolated in the Sharqiyah and one L. tropica ZROM102 (ZMON-39 variant for 4 isoenzymes) from the Dhofar. No strain was isolated from canids. The study of sandflies identified 14 species distributed in the genera Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia and Grassomyia: Ph. papatasi, Ph. bergeroti, Ph. duboscqi, Ph. alexandri, Ph. saevus, Ph. sergenti, Se. fallax, Se. baghdadis, Se. cincta, Se. christophersi, Se. clydei, Se. tiberiadis, Se. africana, and Gr. dreyfussi. In Sharqiyah, the only candidate for the transmission of L. donovani was Ph. alexandri, but the low densities observed of this species do not argue in favor of any role. In Dhofar, Ph. sergenti is the most important proven vector of L. tropica, but Ph. saevus, a locally much more abundant species, constitutes a good candidate for transmission.

The ultrastructure of Toxocara canis eggs is described before and after exposure to microwaves. The morphology of normal eggs is compared to that of eggs from other helminths. Following treatment, the complete disorganization of the surface structure of the shell and the loss of much turgidity of the egg are observed. The destruction of the internal structure is most marked in the center of the egg and is associated with the disappearance of some layers of the shell. In addition, there is substantial damage to the synthesis apparatus (ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, lipid cisternae). An explanation based on the specific action of microwaves and micro-overheating is proposed, and the prophylactic use of this technique is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. . Larval instars 2, 3 and 4 of Phlebotomus tobbi Adler, Theodor & Lourie from the Greek islands of Corfu and Zakynthos were found to have two caudal setae instead of the four usually present on these instars of Phlebotomus larvae. In a scanning electron microscope comparison with larvae of P.papatasi (Scopoli), a sensillum was seen in place of each outer seta of P. tobbi larvae, suggesting secondary loss of the setae. As the larvae of less than a tenth of the species and subspecies of the genus Phlebotomus have been seen and described, it cannot be assumed that those of P. tobbi are unique in having only two caudal setae. However, four caudal setae in late instars can no longer be considered as a constant character of the genus Phlebotomus. Observations on the larvae of P. tobbi also raise the question of the unknown function of the caudal setae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inventory of Phlebotomine sandflies was carried out in the Ankarana tsingy located in far northern Madagascar. A total of 723 sandflies were used for morphological, morphometric, and molecular studies (sequencing of partial cytochrome B (mtDNA) and partial 28S (rDNA)). Nine species were identified: Phlebotomus fertei, Sergentomyia anka, Se. sclerosiphon, Se. goodmani, two species of the genus Grassomyia, as well as three new species described herein: Se. volfi n. sp., Se. kaltenbachi n. sp., and Se. ozbeli n. sp. The recognition of these new species is strongly supported by molecular analyses. The first two of the new species could not be classified into any existing subgenus, therefore we proposed two new subgenera (Ranavalonomyia subg. nov., and Riouxomyia subg. nov.), with combinations as: Sergentomyia (Ranavalonomyia) volfi and Sergentomyia (Riouxomyia) kaltenbachi. Our study reveals important molecular variability in Se. anka, with the recognition of a population whose taxonomic status remains below that of species. Our research confirms the need to further study the specific diversity of Malagasy sandflies, which until the start of this millennium remained mostly unknown.

No Phlebotomine sandflies had ever been reported in the Comoros Archipelago, including the three islands of the Republic of the Union of Comoros (Grande Comore, Mohéli and Anjouan) and the French oversea department of Mayotte. During three field surveys carried out in 2003, 2007 and 2011, we provided the first record of Phlebotomine sandflies in this area. A total of 85 specimens belonging to three species were caught: a new species S. (Vattieromyia) pessoni n. sp. (two females from Grande Comore), a new subspecies of Sergentomyia (Rondanomyia) goodmani (80 specimens from Grande Comore and one from Anjouan) and Grassomyia sp. (two females from Mohéli). The individualisation of these taxa was inferred both from morphological criteria and sequencing of a part of the cytochrome b of the mitochondrial DNA. These taxa are closely related to Malagasy sandflies.

Trois espèces nouvelles de Phlébotomes appartenant au genre Sergentomyia França & Parrot sont décrites de Madagascar : Sergentomyia sclerosiphon n. sp., S. namo n. sp. et S. anka n. sp. Les appariements mâles-femelles chez S. sclerosiphon n. sp. et chez S. anka n. sp. s’appuient sur les homologies d’une partie des séquences du cytochrome b de l’ADN mitochondrial. La morphologie originale des spermathèques (forme du corps et sclérification d’une partie des conduits individuels) autorise la création d’un nouveau sous-genre, Vattieromyia subg. nov., regroupant ces trois espèces.

Une espèce nouvelle de Phlébotome, Sergentomyia majungaensis n. sp. est décrite de Madagascar. La femelle s’individualise des autres espèces du genre Sergentomyia par une formule antennaire originale (1/IV-V à VII ; 2/VI à VIII-XV) et la forme particulière des spermathèques, lisses, étroites, à conduit commun, rappelant à la fois celles des sous-genres Sergentomyia et Parrotomyia. Les mâles partagent avec les Grassomyia la formule antennaire 1/IV-XV. Ils s’en individualisent par la vestiture du mésanepisterne et la longueur du troisième segment antennaire.

Une espèce nouvelle de Phlébotome, Chinius barbazani est décrite de grottes de Thaïlande. Son inclusion dans le genre Chinius, monospécifique jusqu’à présent, est discutée et argumentée sur la base de caractères céphaliques (yeux, pharynx, cibarium, suture interoculaire complète, longueur des pièces buccales), thoraciques (ailes arrondies), abdominaux (présence de glandes en trompettes chez le mâle) et génitaux (morphologie du génitalia chez les mâles et des spermathèques chez les femelles). L’aile de Chinius barbazani est dépourvue de nervure R2 dans les deux sexes ce que les auteurs discutent et considèrent comme une vraisemblable régression autapomorphique. La diagnose différentielle avec C. junlianensis Leng, 1987 repose sur de nombreux caractères dont la nervation alaire, la formule antennaire et la longueur des conduits génitaux ou des spermathèques, cinq fois plus courts.

Une espèce nouvelle de phlébotome, Sergentomyia goodmani est décrite de Madagascar. Elle est placée dans le sous-genre Rondanomyia dont la validité est rétablie. Si l’on considère le taxon Grassomyia comme un genre à part entière, il s’agit de la première mention de Sergentomyia à Madagascar.

Le mâle de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fonlenillei n. sp. est décrit de la réserve de Namoroka (Madagascar). Son rattachement au sous-genre Anaphlebotomus repose sur la présence de quatre épines sur le style, l'absence de lobe basal sur le coxite et un paramère bilobé. La diagnose différentielle avec P. berentiensis et P. fertei est discutée et une clé de détermination des Anaphlebotomus mâles de Madagascar est proposée, le séquençage du second espace interne transcrit (ITS 2) de l'ADN ribosomique vient confirmer l'observation de différences morphologiques importantes existant entre P. fertei, P. huberti et P. fontenillei n. sp. et la proche parenté entre P. berentiensis et P. fontenillei n. sp.

Une étude entomologique a été réalisée afin de compléter les données épidémiologiques concernant la Leishmaniose au Liban. Cette étude a permis d'établir un inventaire faunistique révélant la présence de 19 espèces : 13 du genre Phlebotomus et six du genre Sergentomyia. Parmi elles, une espèce du genre Synphlebotomus (P. saltiae) nouvelle pour la science ainsi que huit espèces jamais signalées au Liban : P neglectus, P. brevis, P. langeroni, P. balcanicus, S. fallax, S. taizi, S. tiberiadis et S. christophersi. Les conditions écologiques de chaque espèce et leur éventuel rôle dans la transmission des Leishmanioses sont discutés dans ce travail.

Deux nouvelles espèces de phlébotomes sont décrites de Madagascar : Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei n. sp. à partir de trois mâles et Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) huberti n. sp. à partir de deux femelles. Leur rattachement au sous-genre Anaphlebotomus repose chez le mâle sur la présence de quatre épines sur le style, l'absence de lobe basal sur le coxite, un paramère bilobé, la présence de soies antéro-inférieures sur le mésanépisterne et, chez la femelle, proche des espèces asiatiques du sous-genre, de l'ornementation du pharynx et du cibarium et de la présence de spermathèques annelées avec un conduit commun. Une importante différence de taille du second espace interne transcrit (ITS2) de l'ADN ribosomique nous a amenés à décrire le mâle et la femelle sous deux binômes différents. Ces deux espèces sont les deux premières du genre Phlebotomus observées à Madagascar. Elles portent à six le nombre de taxons du sous-genre Anaphlebotomus (si on en exclut P. fortunatarum) et s'ajoutent aux espèces connues : P. rodhaini, P. rousettus, P. stantoni et P. colabaensis.

Phlebotomine (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) taxonomy has been studied extensively, primarily due to the role of these flies as vectors of various parasites, including species of Leishmania, Bartonella and arboviruses that cause diseases in humans and other vertebrates. We present some topics discussed at a round-table on phlebotomine taxonomy held at the Ninth International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sandflies (ISOPS IX) in Reims, France, in June 2016. To date, approximately one thousand phlebotomine species have been described worldwide, although in varying languages and mostly without standardization of characters and terminology. In the interest of standardization, we list the characters that should minimally be considered in the description of new phlebotomine taxa as well as annotated illustrations of several characters. For these characters, multiple illustrations are provided to show some of the variations. The preferred terms for all pertinent characters are listed as well as their synonyms in English, Portuguese, and French. Finally, we offer an updated list of abbreviations to be used for generic and subgeneric names.

Phlebotomus riouxi Depaquit, Killick-Kendrick & Léger 1998 was described as a species closely related to Phlebotomus chabaudi Croset, Abonnenc & Rioux 1970, differing mainly by the size and number of setae of the coxite basal lobe. Molecular studies carried out on several populations from Algeria and Tunisia and based on mitochondrial genes cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) supported the typological validity of these two species. Recently, specimens from a single population in southern Tunisia were morphologically identified as Ph. riouxi, Ph. chabaudi and intermediates, but were clustered in the same clade according to their Cytb and nuclear gene elongation factor-1 α (EF-1α) sequences. These species were thus synonymized. To further explore this synonymy, we carried out a molecular study on specimens from Algeria and Tunisia using the same molecular markers and a part of 28S rDNA. We did not find any morphologically intermediate specimens in our sampling. We highlighted differences between the genetic divergence rates within and between the two species for the three markers and we identified new haplotypes. The sequence analysis did not reveal any signature of introgression in allopatric nor in sympatric populations such as in the Ghomrassen population. Phylogenetic analyses based on our specimens revealed that the two main clades are Ph. chabaudi and Ph. riouxi, in agreement with the morphological identification. These results support the validity of Ph. riouxi and Ph. chabaudi as typological species.