Fauna, Seasonal Activity, and Altitudinal Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Leishmaniasis Endemic Area, Aydin Mountains, and Surroundings in Western Turkey

Objective: Human and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) are endemic in Turkey, and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a primary public health problem among vector-borne diseases, with 1500-2000 autochthonous cases per year. In this study, we aimed to perform a comprehensive entomological survey, including the detection of sand fly fauna, seasonal activity, and altitudinal distribution, together with the ecological features of Aydin Mountains and their surroundings that are endemic areas for CL caused by Leishmania tropica and CanL caused by L. infantum MON-1. Methods: The survey was carried out from June 2009 to July 2010. Ten localities with different altitudes were selected. Sand fly collection was done every 15 days in July and August when sand flies are most active and every 30 days between September and June (14 months, 16 samplings) using CDC light traps and sticky traps. During the collection, the temperature, humidity, and ecological and environmental features were recorded. Sand fly specimens were dissected and identified at species level using written keys. Results: A total of 6712 sand fly specimens (3268 females and 3444 males) were collected from 10 localities throughout all study periods. Species identification revealed that nine and three species belonging to Phlebotomus (P. major s.l. 30.38%, P. tobbi 22.93%, P. papatasi 5.88%, P. sergenti s.l. 4.51%, P. alexandri 4.26%, P. simici 3.50%, P. burneyi 0.63%, P. brevis 0.45%, and Transphlebotomus spp. 0.28%) and Sergentomyia (S. dentata 23.17%, S. minuta 2.43%, and S. antennata 1.58%) were found, respectively. The seasonal activities of these 12 sand fly species were determined, and P. major s.l. and P. tobbi, which were probable vectors of VL and CanL, were present in the study area. P. sergenti s.l., a probable vector of CL, was also found in the region and was active for seven months between April and October. P. sergenti s.l. was found in the 400-600 m altitude in July, while P. major and P. tobbi were found in high densities in the 200-400 m altitude in September. Conclusion: Our results showed that leishmaniasis vectors are present in different altitudes in the Aydin mountains and surroundings. The findings revealed the time intervals of parasite transmission in the area and the period of applying protective measures, such as insecticide application.

[Morphometric variations of the rumen ciliate, Ophryoscolex purkynjei Stein, 1858 (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida) from cypriot domestic goats]. / Kibris evcil keçilerinde yasayan iskembe siliyati Ophryoscolex purkynjei Stein, 1858 (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida)'de morfometrik varyasyonlar.

The species Ophryoscolex purkynjei and its four formae [O. p. f. purkynjei, O. p. f. bifidobicinctus, O. p. f. bicoronatus and O. p. f. tricoronatus] from the Cypriot domestic goats (Capra hircus) have been investigated from the viewpoint of the diagnostic morphometrical characteristics. Moreover, it was demonstrated that there was significant morphometrical variations among the same formae in different host animals. As the result of our investigation, it has been suggested that all of the morphometrical variations determined may originate from the individual physiological differences of the host animals (e.g. the other ciliate fauna, bacterial population, inter-specific antagonism etc.).

Clinical, physiological and serological observations of a human following a venomous bite by Macrovipera lebetina lebetina (Reptilia: Serpentes).

A researcher, a 40 year-old male, was bitten on his finger accidentally by a 75 cm long, adult male blunt-nosed viper, Macrovipera lebetina lebetina (Linnaeus) that had been collected from northern Cyprus during laboratory work in the Zoology Section, Biology Department of the Ege University Faculty of Science. The clinical signs, physiological and biochemical changes soon after the venomous bite by the blunt-nosed viper as well as the electrophoretic separation of plasma proteins of the patient have been presented here. Serious important symptoms (edema, hypotension shock, hemorrhage, tissue necrosis, and melanoderma) developed and major quantitative differences in the fractions of albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin ratios were detected. On the other hand, the measurements carried out in blood smears and biochemical results indicated the decrease in RBC, MCV, MHV and a decrease in the diameter of red blood cells, as well as an increase in WBC.