Diversity of Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in mountainous and plain areas of an endemic focus of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Objective: To determine the diversity of sand flies in different biotopes of mountainous and plain areas of Bam County as the most infected focus of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeast Iran, and synanthropic index of Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot, and Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli as the main vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran.Methods: Sand flies were captured once a month using sticky traps in domestic, peri-domestic, agricultural, and sylvatic biotopes in the plain and mountainous areas. Alpha diversity indices, including richness, evenness, Shannon-Wiener; beta diversity indices (Jaccard's and Sorensen's similarity indices) and synanthropic index were calculated. Results: A total of 2664 specimens of 9 sand fly species were collected from mountainous (47％) and plain (53％) areas. Species richness, species evenness, and Shannon-Wiener indices were obtained as 9, 0.637, and 1.399, respectively in the mountainous area. Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus papatasi were constant species with the synanthropic index of -18.463 and -29.412, respectively. In addition, species richness, species evenness, and Shannon-Wiener indices were 4, 0.690, and 0.956, respectively in the plain area. Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus papatasi were dominant species with the synanthropic index of +9.695 and +36.207, respectively. Similarity indices were low among different biotopes of plain and mountainous areas. Conclusions: A basic knowledge about the diversity of sand flies in various biotopes is essential to design sound control programs. Biodiversity and synanthropic indices of sand flies are different in plain and mountainous areas due to the difference in biotic and abiotic factors between the two areas.

Diversity of Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in mountainous and plain areas of an endemic focus of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran

Objective: To determine the diversity of sand flies in different biotopes of mountainous and plain areas of Bam County as the most infected focus of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in southeast Iran, and synanthropic index of Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot, and Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli as the main vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Methods: Sand flies were captured once a month using sticky traps in domestic, peri-domestic, agricultural, and sylvatic biotopes in the plain and mountainous areas. Alpha diversity indices, including richness, evenness, Shannon-Wiener; beta diversity indices (Jaccard's and Sorensen's similarity indices) and synanthropic index were calculated. Results: A total of 2 664 specimens of 9 sand fly species were collected from mountainous (47%) and plain (53%) areas. Species richness, species evenness, and Shannon-Wiener indices were obtained as 9, 0.637, and 1.399, respectively in the mountainous area. Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus papatasi were constant species with the synanthropic index of-18.463 and-29.412, respectively. In addition, species richness, species evenness, and Shannon-Wiener indices were 4, 0.690, and 0.956, respectively in the plain area. Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus papatasi were dominant species with the synanthropic index of +9.695 and +36.207, respectively. Similarity indices were low among different biotopes of plain and mountainous areas. Conclusions: A basic knowledge about the diversity of sand flies in various biotopes is essential to design sound control programs. Biodiversity and synanthropic indices of sand flies are different in plain and mountainous areas due to the difference in biotic and abiotic factors between the two areas.

Synanthropy of Sarcophagidae (Diptera) in La Pintada, Antioquia-Colombia / Sinantropía de Sarcophagidae (Diptera) en La Pintada, Antioquia-Colombia

Recently, populations of flies have increased in numbers given the elevated levels of organic matter waste produced by anthropic activities and domestication of animals. Such increase represents a worldwide health concern, since flies can be vectors of human diseases. The great variety of feeding and developmental habits of flies of the family Sarcophagidae taking place on animal corpses, feces and decomposed organic matter make them potential vectors of pathogens. Herein, we evaluated the synanthropic index (SI), as well as other ecological aspects of this family, through simultaneous monthly samplings in three areas with different degrees of human disturbance (urban, rural and forest). Each area had four van Someren Rydon traps, each one with a different bait (i.e., human feces, chicken viscera, fish and decomposing onion). Traps were active during 48 hours each month, and specimen collection was made every 12 hours. A total of 7 446 Sarcophagidae individuals were collected (1 275 males and 6 171 females), belonging to 27 species and nine genera. Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) canuta (SI=+96.67), Oxysarcodexia taitensis (SI=+93.85), Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (SI=+90.00) and Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua (SI=+88.76) exhibited the highest values of synanthropy index, revealing a strong preference for human settlements. The most abundant species were Oxysarcodexia conclausa (21.80%), Ravinia effrenata (18.67%), Oxysarcodexia bakeri (11.45%) and Oxysarcodexia taitensis (10.20%), all of which exhibited preference for urban environments. Additionally, we are reporting seven new records of Sarcophagid flies for Colombia: Oxysarcodexia angrensis, Oxysarcodexia bakeri, Oxysarcodexia diana, Oxysarcodexia similata, Oxysarcodexia timida, Peckia (Peckia) pexata and Titanogrypa (Cucullomyia) placida.

La población de moscas se ha visto incrementada recientemente por la proliferación de residuos de materia orgánica proveniente de la actividad antrópica, así como por la domesticación de animales. Este aumento constituye una gran alerta de salud a nivel mundial, ya que algunas moscas son vectores de enfermedades al humano. Los Sarcophagidae cuentan con una gran variedad de hábitos de alimentación y desarrollo, los cuales tienen lugar en cadáveres de animales, excrementos y materia orgánica en descomposición; haciéndolos posibles vectores de patógenos. En este estudio se evaluó el índice de sinantropía, al igual que otros aspectos ecológicos de esta familia median- te muestreos mensuales simultáneos en tres zonas (urbana, rural y bosque), usando trampas van Someren Rydon ceba- das con excremento humano, vísceras de pollo, pescado y cebolla en descomposición. En cada zona se instalaron cuatro trampas (una por atrayente), durante 48 horas cada mes, realizando recolectas cada 12 horas. Se recolectaron 7 446 individuos de Sarcophagidae (1 275 machos y 6 171 hembras), de 27 especies y nueve géneros. Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) canuta (+96.67), Oxysarcodexia taitensis (+93.85), Peckia (Peckia) chrysostoma (+90.00) y Tricharaea (Sarcophagula) occidua (+88.76) presentaron los índices de sinantropía más altos del estudio, lo que refleja una fuerte preferencia por asentamientos humanos. Las especies más abundantes fueron: Oxysarcodexia conclausa (21.80%), Ravinia effrenata (18.67%), Oxysarcodexia bakeri (11.45%) y Oxysarcodexia taitensis (10.20%), todas exhibiendo preferencia por ambientes urbanizados. Se reportan siete nuevos registros para Colombia: Oxysarcodexia angrensis, Oxysarcodexia bakeri, Oxysarcodexia diana, Oxysarcodexia similata, Oxysarcodexia timida, Peckia (Peckia) pexata y Titanogrypa (Cucullomyia) placida.

Synanthropy of Muscidae (Diptera) in the city of Valdivia, Chile / Sinantropia de Muscidae (Diptera) na cidade de Valdivia, Chile

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar o índice de sinantropia de adultos de espécies de Muscidae coletados em Valdivia, Chile (39°48’S; 73°15’W). Moscas adultas foram coletadas mensalmente entre setembro 1996 e agosto 1997 em três locais representado os ambientes urbano, rurale natural. Carcaças de rato, vísceras de galinha e vísceras de peixe foram utilizadas como isca. Foram coletadas seis espécies de Muscidae: Psilochaeta chalybea (Wiedemann) foi a espécie mais abundante nas áreas rural e urbana, sendo considerada hemissinantrópica. A segunda espécie em abundância foi Hydrotaea acuta (Stein), sendo hemissinantrópica, ocorrendo com mais freqüência no ambiente natural. Ophyra ignava (Harris) foi outra espécie coletada em números relativamente altos, apresentando um comportamento eussinantrópico. As três espécies restantes, Musca domestica L., Palpibracus valdiviensis (Couri & Pamplona), e Muscina stabulans (Fallén) foram capturadas em pequeno número. Foram determinados e discutidos os índices de sinantropia, as abundâncias mensais e a eficiência dasiscas utilizadas na atração das moscas, bem como a importância médico-sanitária das espécies mais importantes.

The objective of the present study was to determine the index of synanthropy of adults of Muscidae species collected in Valdivia, Chile (39°48’S; 73°15’W). The flies were collected monthly between September 1996 and August 1997 at three different locations, representing urban, rural and natural environments. Rat carcasses, chicken viscera, and fish viscera were used as bait. Six species of Muscidae were collected: Psilochaeta chalybea (Wiedemann) was dominant in urban and rural habitats, being eusynanthropic. The second species in importance was Hydrotaea acuta (Stein), being hemisynanthropic and more abundant in the natural environment. Ophyra ignava (Harris) was another species captured in relatively large numbers, and showing eusynanthropic characteristic. The remaining three species, Musca domestica L., Palpibracus valdiviensis (Couri & Pamplona), and Mu scinastabulans (Fallén) were captured in low numbers. In addition to the indexes of synanthropy, monthly abundances were determined and discussed, as well as the efficiency of the different baits used to collect the flies. The medical and sanitary importance of the flies was also assessed.