Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) of human leishmaniosis sites in Tunisia.

In order to identify the phlebotomine sandfly populations in Tunisian leishmaniosis foci, an entomological survey was carried out through three entomological seasons (2002-2003-2004) in 19 visceral and cutaneous leishmaniosis areas, located in six bioclimatic zones. Sandfly collections were based on light and sticky traps placed around human leishmaniosis cases. 8,722 phlebotomine sandflies belonging to 12 species were collected. The dominance of subgenus Larroussius species in northern foci, Phlebotomus papatasi in south-western foci and their co-dominance in the centre of the country is in accordance with the distribution of Leishmania infantum and L. major in Tunisia. The low density found in the historical zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniosis focus of Metlaoui in the south-west may indicate the high competence of the local populations. Studied phlebotomine settlements have showed a low specific diversity in most of the studied sites. In L. infantum areas, the dominant species were respectively: P. perfiliewi in the cutaneous leishmaniosis site of the humid bioclimatic stage, P. perniciosus in the cutaneous and visceral leishmaniosis foci of semi-arid and arid bioclimatic stages and P. longicuspis in the visceral leishmaniosis focus of saharan bioclimate. In the zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniosis foci, P. papatasi was a dominant species. In the well-known south-eastern foci of cutaneous leishmaniosis due to L. killicki, P. sergenti was a dominant species with P. perniciosus. In the central emerging foci of L. killicki, P. perniciosus was a dominant species in some sites whereas it was very rare in others. In these sites, the subgenus Paraphlebotomus was always present with a higher abundance of P. alexandri than P. sergenti.

[Tick-transmitted arbovirus in Maghreb]. / Arbovirus transmis par des tiques au Maghreb.

The problem of arbovirus infections in Maghreb has been relatively neglected in the pst in spite of a rich diversity of biotopes, the presence of potential reservoirs and vectors, and their position on the flight path of the Palearctic-african bird migration systems, western branch. Moreover, West Nile virus has been isolated from southern Algeria since 1968. From 1979 to 1989, ticks were collected from wild birds, pigeons, bats, rodents, poultry, camels, wild boars, domestic mammals and man, and assayed for viruses. On the whole, 424 ticks were virologically studied from Morocco, 582 from Algeria and 601 from Tunisia. Four tick-borne arboviruses have been isolated so far: three from Morocco, Soldado (Nairovirus), Essaouria (Orbivirus) and Kala Iris (Orbivirus) from Ornithodoros (A.) maritimus ticks parasitizing marine birds, and one from Tunisia, Tunis (Phlebovirus), from Argas reflexus hermanni infesting domestic pigeons. Soldado virus may infect man working into colonies of gulls for ornithological or entomological purposes and this infection is associated with a self-limited febrile illness and pruritus. In addition, antibody to Essaouira virus was detected in a wild rodent in Morocco. On the contrary it is unlike that Tunis virus may infect man because A. r. hermanni is a strickly ornithophilic tick. However, Uukuniemi group antibody has been previously evidenced in wild rodents in Tunisia. Finally, it is not excluded that other, more pathogenic, arboviruses such as Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever might be accidentally introduced in this sensitive geographical area.

Tunis virus: a new Phlebovirus from Argas reflexus hermanni ticks in Tunisia.

A new Phlebovirus provisionally named Tunis virus has been isolated from Argas reflexus hermanni ticks parasitizing domestic pigeons. It is the first isolation of an arbovirus from Tunisia and the fourth tick-borne virus to be isolated from the Moghreb following Soldado, Essaouira and Kala Iris in Morocco. The pathogenic potential of this virus is briefly discussed according to the behaviour of its vector and previous serosurveys in the country.

[An entomological survey in the focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania major) of Sidi Bouzid (Tunisia) in 1985]. / Enquête entomologique dans le foyer de leishmaniose cutanée zoonotique (Leishmania major) de Sidi Bouzid (Tunisie) en 1985.

An entomological survey carried out in 1985 in the zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of the Center of Tunisia (Sidi Bouzid Governorate), showed the presence of 7 phlebotomine species. Phlebotomus (P) papatasi, the most abundant species (84.6%), was essentially trapped in rodent burrows. Its anthropophily was demonstrated by man-baiting catch. The highest population density was observed during July and August, for P. papatasi. Its role in the transmission of Z. C. L. in Tunisia is discussed. P. perniciosus, less abundant (13.2%) was mostly trapped in animal resting places. Only few specimens of P. longieuspis, P. perfiliewi, Sergentomyia (S) minuta, S. antennata and S. dreyfussi were observed.

[Natural infestation of Phlebotomus papatasi in a focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tunisia]. / Infestation naturelle de Phlebotomus papatasi dans un foyer de leishmaniose cutanée zoonotique en Tunisie.

The presence of Phlebotomus papatasi naturally infected with Leishmania (2 females out of 24), is reported for the first time, in a Tunisian zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis focus.

[Geography of major parasitosis in Tunisia]. / Géographie des parasitoses majeures en Tunisie.

Basing on their personal investigations, literature data and statistic archives, the authors have tried to establish the geographical distribution of the main parasitic diseases in Tunisia which require a curative action together with an action on the environment for their eradication. Three of these disease are transmitted by vectors: Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Schistosomiasis; and three others are transmitted by soil: Hydatidosis, Ancylostomiasis and Strongyloidiasis.

[Arbovirus infections in Tunisia: new serological survey of small wild mammals]. / Infections à arbovirus en Tunisie : nouvelle enquête sérologique chez les petits mammifères sauvages.

Sera of 103 small wild mammals (rodents, insectivora, cheiroptera) trapped at the beginning of 1980 in different areas of Tunisia were studied for antibody against 15 arboviruses. In inhibition haemagglutination tests, positive reactions were found against Dengue type 2 (2.2%), Tahyna (18.4%), Arumowot (42.7%) and Sicilian sandfly fever (31%) viruses. No antibody was found for 8 tick-borne viruses. In comparison with previous sero-surveys, our results indicated a fall of West Nile virus activity and the emergence of Tahyna virus. The possibility that wild cycles involving small mammals and the two phleboviruses may exist in Tunisia is discussed.