First report of Litomosa spp. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from Malagasy bats; review of the genus and relationships between species.

The presence of the filarial genus Litomosa in Malagasy bats is demonstrated by the finding of L. goodmani n. sp. from Miniopterus gleni and Litomosa sp. (male unknown) from M. manavi, both in the Special Reserve of Ankarana. These materials are compared to the 22 Litomosa species, including two Indian species originally placed in the genus Litomosoides, L. fotedari (Gupta and Trivedi, 1989) n. comb. and L. tewarii (Gupta and Trivedi, 1989) n. comb., and the new taxon L. seurati n. sp. (= L. beaucournui Bain, 1966 pro parte), type-host Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, Algeria, distinguished by the narrow area rugosa and the female caudal extremity with two conspicuous points, instead of several small ones. The Malagasy material belongs to a group of species close to the type, L. filaria, which have a male area rugosa composed of cuticular bosses and microfilariae folded within the sheath, and which are parasitic in Vespertilionidae, Hipposideridae and Rhinolophidae from Africa and Europe. The two Malagasy species resemble L. seurati n. sp., L. beshkovi Jancev, 1971, L. chiropterum Ortlepp, 1932, L. adami Petit, 1980 and L. ottavianii Lagrange et Bettini, 1948, with the enlarged third segment of the buccal capsule. L. goodmani n. sp. is distinct with its small size and female caudal extremity with a single point, which is suppressed in old mature worms; the females of Litomosa sp. have two conical points. Relationships among Litomosa species appear to be dependent upon both the chiropteran host groups and the geographical region.

[Hemoparasites of bats in Madagascar]. / Hémoparasites des chauves-souris à Madagascar.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in wild malagasy bats. Among the 440 bats, belonging to 14 species sampled in 5 localities in different bio-climatic zones of the island, 93 (21%) showed at least 1 haemoparasite with, by order of frequency, Haemoproteidae (15.7% of 440 bats), microfilariae (7.0%) and Trypanosoma (0.7%). Among these 93 bats, 92 (99%) belonged to the family Vespertilionidae. Four bat species, all endemic to the Madagascar region (Madagascar and Comoros), were found to harbour parasites: Miniopterus manavi with Haemoproteidae (38% of 129 individuals), microfilariae (23%) and Trypanosoma (2%); Myotis goudoti with Haemoproteidae (24% of 68 individuals) and microfilariae (1%); Miniopterus gleni with Haemoproteidae (23% of 13 individuals); and Triaenops furculus with Haemoproteidae (4% of 28 individuals). The sex of bats was not linked to parasite prevalence. Within Miniopterus manavi, those individuals with greater weight also had a higher prevalence of microfilariae; and within the individuals harbouring microfilariae the greatest weights corresponded to the highest density of microfilariae. Ten bat species (with 202 individuals examined) were negative for any haemoparasite. This study is the first to provide evidence of haemoparasites in Malagasy bats; it provides interesting insights, especially concerning the parasite distribution per bat species and families, the pathogenicity of this type of parasitism and the parasite transmission by arthropod vectors.

Hemoparasites des oiseaux sauvages a Madagascar

"Haemoparasites of wild birds in Madagascar"": This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in native Malagasy birds. Among the 387 birds; belonging to 43 species sampled at six localities in different bio-climatic zones of the island; 139 (35.9"

[Hemoparasites in wild birds in Madagascar]. / Hémoparasites des oiseaux sauvages à Madagascar.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of haemoparasites in native Malagasy birds. Among the 387 birds, belonging to 43 species sampled at six localities in different bio-climatic zones of the island, 139 (35.9%) showed at least 1 hemoparasite with, by order of frequency, Plasmodium and/or Haemoproteus (19.9%), microfilariae (13.7% of 387 birds), Leucocytozoon (11.1%) and Trypanosoma (1.0%). An analysis to further elucidate these observations took into account the interaction of different environmental variables (altitude, season, site of collection) or aspects of the birds (age, weight, sex). There is evidence that some parasites preferentially infect some bird species or families. The largest male birds harboured the highest prevalences and densities of haemoparasite, regardless of species. These findings extend knowledge of bird/blood parasite relationships of Malagasy birds and provide interesting insights, especially concerning the pathogenicity of this type of parasitism and the parasite transmission by insect vectors.

[The plague at the Tsenabe Isotry market in Antananarivo: a complex epidemiologic situation]. / La peste dans le marché Tsenabe Isotry à Antananarivo: une situation épidémiologique complexe.

The transmission of Yersinia pestis is intense among rats in the wholesale market Tsenabe Isotry in the capital Antananarivo (anti-F1 sero-prevalence 80%, flea index 8.4 for a cut-off risk index of > 1). However, the number of plague-suspected (not laboratory confirmed) human cases has only been 3 in this district during a four years period from 1995 to 1999. A seroepidemiological survey among the market vendors was undertaken in June 1999 to test the hypothesis that the low incidence of human plague is due to acquired immunity. In addition, surveillance of the rat and the flea populations in the market was carried out. Only 3 (3.2%) of 95 screened vendors were anti-F1 IgG positive, whereas the markers of plague transmission among rodents and fleas were still high. This result suggests that the low incidence of human plague was not due to acquired immunity but to other factors such as the limited contact between humans and the rat fleas because of the abundance of rats, the absence of epizootic due to the resistance of rats in the capital and a particular behaviour of the predominant rat Rattus norvegicus.

La peste dans le marché Tsenabe Isotry à Antananarivo : une situation épidémiologique complexe

La surveillance de la peste murine en 1995 dans le marché de gros Tsenabe Isotry à Antananrivo a montré une circulation intense du bacille pesteux (80% de rats séropositifs) et un index cheopis (8,4) supérieur au seuil classique de risque épidémique (>1). Pourtant, le nombre de malades suspects déclarés dans ce quartier est très faible (3 cas suspects sans confirmation de 1995 à 1999). Dans le but de vérifier si la faible incidence de la peste humaine pouvait être due à l'acquisition d'une immunité, une enquête séroépidémiologique a été menée auprès des marchands en juin 1999 associée à l'analyse des données de la surveillance des rongeurs entre 1998 ­ 1999. La séroprévalence des porteurs d'anticorps anti-F1 est de 3,2% (3/95 marchands), alors que les marqueurs de la transmission de la peste chez les rongeurs et les puces continuent d'être très élevés. Ces résultats suggèrent que l'incidence de la peste parmi les marchands n'est pas liée à une immunité acquise, mais probablement à d'autres facteurs : le faible contact entre l'homme et les puces de rat en raison de l'abondance des rats, l'absence d'épizootie murine due à la résistance des rats de la capitale et le comportement du rongeur prédominant Rattus norvegicus moins commensal que R. rattus