On the true identity of Sergentomyia gemmea and description of a closely related species: Se. raynali n. sp.

Several species of Leishmania are responsible for leishmaniases in Thailand, although little is known about their transmission. Sergentomyia gemmea has been suspected several times to transmit Leishmania martiniquensis. Some captures carried out in Thailand and Lao People's Democratic Republic have emphasized the scarcity of Se. gemmea, comprising only 1% of the collected females. The sequencing of cytochrome B mtDNA of our specimens showed that our specimens are not grouped with other Se. gemmea previously deposited in GenBank. The latter are grouped with some Se. khawi and Se. hivernus that we processed in the present study. We suspect misidentifications and propose focusing on the most useful characters for identification of Se. gemmea based on the examination of type-specimens. The examination of the ascoids exhibiting anterior spurs is the most important one. However, we also describe Se. raynali n. sp. exhibiting comparable spurs but differing from Se. gemmea by its original cibarium. Finally, the vectorial role of Se. gemmea appears very questionable in the absence of new evidence.

Mitochondrial DNA Intraspecific Variability in Sergentomyia minuta (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Recently, there has been growing interest in analysis of the geographical variation between populations of different Phlebotomus spp. and American sand flies by comparing the sequences of various genes. However, little is known about the genetic structure of the genus Sergentomyia França & Parrot. No study has been carried out on Sergentomyia minuta Rondani. Most authors recognize this as a species with a high degree of morphological polymorphism, and some suspect that there are two subspecies: Se. minuta minuta Rondani in Europe, having about 40 horizontal cibarial teeth (sticks aligned along a straight line in the cibarial cavity), and Se. minuta parroti Adler & Theodor in North Africa, having about 70 cibarial teeth. Here we analyzed phylogeographic patterns using cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome C oxidase I mtDNA for 29 populations from 10 countries: Algeria, Cyprus, France (continental and Corsica), Greece (continental and Crete), Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal (continental and Atlantic Savage Islands), Spain, and Tunisia. We analyzed intra- and interpopulation patterns of genetic diversity. Our results from Bayesian inference showed a complex genetic structure of Se. minuta with four haplogroups including many different haplotypes. One haplogroup includes all the specimens from North Africa. A second haplogroup includes a few specimens from the south of France, Spain, and one from Portugal. The third includes many specimens from southern France, all the specimens from Corsica, one from Spain, and all specimen from Portugal except one. A fourth branch includes specimens from the Balkans, Malta, Crete, Cyprus, and curiously some from the Atlantic Savage Islands; settlement of the latter population remains unexplained. However, our results suggest that the settlement of the Mediterranean basin could have occurred at the same time for Se. minuta and both Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead and Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir. The spatial distribution of haplotypes was congruent with phylogenetic findings.

Paraphyly of the subgenus Anaphlebotomus and creation of Madaphlebotomus subg. nov. (Phlebotominae: Phlebotomus).

The systematic position of the Malagasy Phlebotomus (Diptera: Psychodidae) species was assessed in molecular phylogenetic studies. Three molecular markers were sequenced: cytochrome b of the mitochondrial DNA; ITS2, and the D8 domain of the ribosomal DNA. The following species were studied: Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) berentiensis, Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei, Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fontenillei, Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) vaomalalae and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) vincenti from Madagascar; Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) stantoni from Asia, and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) rodhaini from Africa. The following outgroups were selected: Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) argentipes, Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) barguesae, Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi s.l. and Phlebotomus (Adlerius) simici. Each marker analysed by maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood supports the monophyly of the Malagasy Phlebotomus spp. Consequently, we create a new subgenus for these species: Madaphlebotomus subg. nov. This molecular individualization is reinforced by the originality of their spermathecae and by the fact that their geographical distribution is limited to Madagascar, and considers the high level of endemism on this island.

Molecular and morphological systematics of the sandfly Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei Sinton, 1928 and questions about its record in the Seychelles.

In the Phlebotomine sandflies, a few molecular studies related on the genus Sergentomyia have been published. The present study explored the genetic variability within Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei (Diptera, Psychodidae). The sampling included 15 populations originating from 12 countries. A morphological approach was coupled to the sequencing of two molecular markers (cytochrome b mtDNA and cacophony nuclear DNA). The most variable morphological characters resided in the cibarium of the females, especially (i) the pigment patch pattern and (ii) the number of cibarial teeth and denticles in the armature. However this morphological approach was unable to individualize any population within S. clydei. The NJ trees based on both molecular markers individualized the specimens from the Aldabra group of islands in the Seychelles. Surprisingly, cyt b variability was not compatible with the known data about the complete submersion of Aldabra occurring relatively recently some 125,000 years ago. The settlement of these islands by S. clydei from continental Africa, the Middle East or Asia, and the value of mtDNA markers are discussed.

First record of Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Comoros Archipelago with description of Sergentomyia (Vattieromyia) pessoni n. sp. and S. (Rondanomyia) goodmani comorensis n. ssp.

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.

Chinius eunicegalatiae n. sp. (Diptera; Psychodidae), a cavernicolous sandfly from Laos.

A description is given of Chinius eunicegalatiae n. sp. (Diptera; Psychodidae) from Laos. This is the third known species belonging to the Asiatic genus Chinius Leng, 1987. Like C. junlianensis Leng, 1987 and C. barbazani Depaquit, Léger and Beales, 2006, C. eunicegalatiae n. sp. is a cavernicolous species. An absence of the R2 vein is shared with C. barbazani. A differential diagnosis with the two other known species of the genus is given. The main differential characters are the lengths of the genital filaments and of the spermathecal ducts.

[Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). VI--A new subgenus (Vattieromyia) including three new species: Sergentomyia (V.) sclerosiphon, S. (V.) namo and S. (V.) anka]. / Les phlébotomes de Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). VI--Un sous-genre nouveau (vattieromyia) avec trois espèces nouvelles: sergentomyia (V) sclerosiphon, S. (V.) namo et s. (V.) anka.

Three new species of Phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the genus Sergentomyia França & Parrot are described from Madagascar: Sergentomyia sclerosiphon n. sp. S. namo n. sp. and S. anka n. sp. The taxa are created on the basis of the morphology of females. The males of S. sclerosiphon n. sp. and of S. anka n. sp. have been associated to the females according to the homologies of a fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome b sequences. The original morphology of the spermathecae and the sclerification of a part of the individual spermathecal ducts allow the creation of a new subgenus, Vattieromyia subg. nov., which includes these three new species.

[Parvidens heischi (Kirk et Lewis, 1950) (Diptera-Psychodidae) firstly reported in Cameroon]. / Première mention de Parvidens heischi (Kirk et Lewis, 1950) (Diptera-Psychodidae) au Cameroun.

Parvidens heischi (Kirk et Lewis, 1950) (Diptera: Psychodidae) has been reported in Cameroon. This is the first record in West Africa of this species which can be eventually caught in large number on man and therefore must be considered as a potential vector for leishmaniasis.

[Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). V--description of Sergentomyia majungaensis n. sp]. / Les phlébotomes de Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). V--description de Sergentomyia majungaensis n. sp.

Sergentomyia majungaensis, a new species of Phlebotomine sandfly, is described from Madagascar. The female is characterised by an unusual antennal formula (1/IV-V to VII; 2/VI to VIII-XV) and smooth and narrow spermathecae, with a common duct, whose shape is intermediate between Sergentomyia and Parrotomyia subgenera. The male has the same antennal formula than Grassomyia (1/IV-XV) but no hairs on the mesanepistern and a longer third antennal segment.

Chinius junlianensis Leng 1987 (Diptera: Psychodidae): new morphological data.

For the first time, dissection and microscopical examination of several specimens of Chinius junlianensis Leng 1987 have revealed the antennal and palpal formulae of both males and females of this species and the true morphology of the spermathecae in the females. The latter have smooth elongated reservoirs and a very long common duct, which matches the long genital filaments of the males. There are no setae on the mesanepisternum, a feature shared with another 'primitive' genus, Warileya, and with Sergentomyia.

[Chinius barbazani n. sp. from Thailand (Diptera: Psychodidae)]. / Chinius barbazani n. sp. de Thailande (Diptera: Psychodidae).

A new species of sandfly is described from limestone caves in Thailand. The inclusion of this species in the genus Chinius, which up until now was monospecific, is discussed. It is justified on the basis of characteristics of the head (eyes, pharynx, cibarium, complete interocular suture and length of the mouth pieces), thorax (rounded wings), abdomen (presence of trumpet glands on the tergites 4 and 5 of the male) and genitalia (morphology of the male genitalia and of the spermathecae in the female). Detailed descriptions and drawings are given. The wing of C. barbazani n. sp. lacks of vein R2 in both sexes. This anomaly, regarding to Phlebotominae, is discussed and considered as a probable autapomorphic regression. The differential diagnosis with Chinius junlianensis Leng, 1987, rests on a number of characteristics of the wing venation, antennal formula and the length of the male and female genital ducts, which are five times shorter in C. barbazani n. sp.

Phlebotomine sand flies from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: first record of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) longicuspis south of the Sahara.

During a brief entomological survey carried out in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in March 2002, 178 phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) were caught using CDC miniature light traps. They were identified as Phlebotomus duboscqi Neveu-Lemaire, P. longicuspis Nitzulescu, Sergentomyia adleri (Theodor), S. affinis vorax (Parrot), S. antennata (Newstead), S. bedfordi (Newstead), S. christophersi (Sinton), S. fallax (Parrot), S. magna (Sinton) and S. schwetzi (Adler, Theodor & Parrot). This is the first record south of the Sahara of P. longicuspis sensu lato. This proven vector of Leishmania infantum Nicolle is a species closely related to P. perniciosus. It was identified by morphology and by the sequencing of a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome b. There was 100% sequence homology with typical Tunisian specimens, and all characters identified the specimen as P. longicuspis sensu stricto. Epidemiological and biogeographical consequences are discussed.

[Phlebotomine sandflies from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). IV--Description of Sergentomyia (Rondanomyia) goodmani n. sp. Reinstatement of the subgenus Rondanomyia Theodor]. / Les phlébotomes de Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). IV--Description de Sergentomyia (Rondanomyia) goodmani n. sp. Rétablissement du sous-genre Rondanomyia Theodor.

This work is the fourth related to species recently described from Madagascar. The authors describe Sergentomyia goodmani on females and males. The female has tubular spermathecae with internal spines. It has an aspect, in Canada balsam, of transversally striped spermatheca, without being completely segmented. The spermathecal ducts share a proximal common part. The pharynx is narrow. The cibarial armature is comb-like. Based on these characters, the authors consider that S. goodmani belongs to the subgenus Rondanomyia. They reinstate this subgenus and consider Neophlebotomus sensu Lewis, 1977 as invalid. Considering Grassomyia as a genus, this is the first record of Sergentomyia in Madagascar.

[Phlebotomus from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). III--Description of Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fontenillei n. sp]. / Les Phlébotomes de Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). III--Description de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fontenillei n. sp.

The male of Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fontenillei n. sp. is described from Namoroka area (Madagascar). Its belongs to the subgenus Anaphlebotomus: style with four spines, coxite without basal process and paramere with two branches. It shares with P. berentiensis an original and exclusive antennal formula: 2/III-XII which distinguishes them from P. fertei. P. fontenillei n. sp. differs mainly from P. berentiensis by about 40 setae in tuft on the ventral face of the coxite, the length of the genital ducts and the position of the spines on the style. Sequence of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is very informative: the male of P. fontenillei n. sp. cannot be linked to the female of P. huberti (male unknown) regarding the size of amplified DNA fragment (459 bp versus 600 respectively) and the high degree of variability. There are few differences (10 mutations) between the sequences of P. fontenillei n. sp. and P. berentiensis which are closely related species.

[Phlebotomus from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). II--Description of the female Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei Depaquit, Léger & Robert, 2002; description of the male and new data for the female Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) berentiensis (Léger & Rodhain, 1978) comb. nov]. / Les phlébotomes de Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). II--Description de la femelle de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei Depaquit, Léger & Robert, 2002; description du mâle et redescription de la femelle de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) berentiensis (Léger & Rodhain, 1978) comb. nov.

The female of Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei Depaquit, Léger & Robert, 2002 is described from Madagascar. The spermathecae have separated ducts, a body with an enlarged-sclerified dilatation and a deriviated large bladder with thin walls and long head. P. fertei female has the following characters: long antennal segments, pharyngeal armature with small teeth and cibarium with 15 to 30 denticles, and very long legs. Its remarkable spermatheca is closely related to that of P. berentiensis. The status of P. (Anaphlebotomus) berentiensis (Léger & Rodhain, 1978) is revised into this paper. The female is redescribed and the male is described for the first time. The latter has an unusual antennal formula (2/III-XII), a cibarium with four teeth and about 30 denticles, no tuft of setae on the coxite, four spines on the style, including a very long proximal one. Males and females were linked to each other based on morphological and molecular characteristics (second internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA and ND4 gene of the mitochondrial DNA). The inclusion of these taxa into the subgenus Anaphlebotomus Theodor, 1948 is exclusively based on male characters as listed by Theodor (style with four spines, no basal lobe on the coxite, paramere with two or three branches). The very heterogeneous characters of the females do not allow their use for the definition of this subgenus, which is probably not homogeneous.

[Sandflies of Lebanon: faunistic inventory]. / Les phlébotomes du Liban. Inventaire faunistique.

An entomological study was made in order to complete the epidemiological data on leishmaniasis in Lebanon. 19 species of sandflies (13 of the genus Phlebotomus and six of the genus Sergentomyia) were found. The list includes a recently described species of the Synphlebotomus subgenus (P. saltiae) and eight other species mentioned for the first time in Lebanon: P. neglectus, P. brevis, P. langeroni, P. balcanicus, S. fallax, S. taizi, S. tiberiadis and S. christophersi. Ecological records of each species and its possible involvement in Leishmania transmission are discussed.

Failure of an ointment based on IR3535 (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate) to prevent an outbreak of cercarial dermatitis during swimming races across Lake Annecy, France.

Cercarial dermatitis, a re-emerging disease world-wide, may affect those engaged in water sports. Many of those who swim in the annual cross-lake races at Annecy in France, for example, develop such dermatitis. In an attempt to see whether ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (IR3535) would protect swimmers from the dermatitis, the exposed skin on the right side of each of 78 participants in the cross-lake races of 2001 was treated with IR3535-based ointment. When contacted by telephone during the week following the races, 64 (82%) of the subjects reported that they had developed cercarial dermatitis. Subjects with a past history of cercarial dermatitis were more likely to report an attack in 2001 than those who said that they had never had such dermatitis prior to 2001 (P=0.001). The skin lesions were scattered all over the body in 89% of the cases and limited to the left side of the body in 11%. Of the 63 cases who reported time of onset, 32 (51%) had noticed lesions within an hour of the race. The mean duration of clinical manifestations was 4.8 days (range=30 min-18 days). The clinical manifestations were significantly more severe in the subjects aged >16 years than in the younger subjects, although these two age-groups swam in separate races. Thirty-one of the affected subjects attempted to cure their dermatitis, using any of five different treatments. Overall, the results were disappointing, with the IR3535-based ointment, which had initially been developed as an insect repellent, appearing to offer little, if any, protection against cercarial dermatitis.

[First record of Phlebotomus from Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). Description of Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei n. sp. and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) huberti n. sp]. / Première mention de Phlebotomus à Madagascar (Diptera: Psychodidae). Description de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei n. sp. et de Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) huberti n. sp.

First record of Phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the genus Phlebotomus from Madagascar. Description of two new species: Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) fertei n. sp. from three males and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) huberti n. sp. from two females. Their belonging to the subgenus Anaphlebotomus is supported by several characters. Male have four spines on the style, a coxite without basal tubercle, a paramere with two branches, one to three antero-inferior setae on the mesanepisternum. Female, closely related to the Asiatic species of the same subgenus, has a characteristic pharyngeal armature, about ten cibarial teeth, and annealing spermathecae with long ducts including a short basal common part. These two taxa differ by variation in the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA). At the present time, the subgenus Anaphlebotomus includes six species (excluding P. fortunatarum from it), completing the known species from Africa (P. rodhaini and P. rousettus) and from Asia (P. stantoni and P. colabaensis).

[Phlebotomines of the Isle of Cyprus. III. Species inventory ]. / Les phlébotomes de l'Ile de Chypre. III--Inventaire faunistique.

Three surveys on canine leishmaniasis were carried out in Cyprus (1993, 1998 and 1999) emphasise the presence of eleven species of phlebotomine sandflies: Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P. (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P. (Pa.) jacusieli (first mention in Cyprus), P. (Pa.) sergenti, P. (Larroussius) galilaeus, P. (L.) tobbi, P. (Transphlebotomus) economidesi, P. (T.) mascittii, Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) azizi (its specific statute is validated by the authors), S. (S.) fallax et S. (S.) minuta. P. (Adlerius) kyreniae was not caught during the surveys. The authors propose hypothesis of settlement of the island by phlebotomine sandflies according this species inventory. A first migration period took probably place during the Miocene time and a second one during the Pleistocene time.