Molecular characterization of six Hyalomma species using mitochondrial markers.

Hyalomma species (Acari: Ixodidae) are vectors of several human and animal pathogens. However, due to their similar morphological properties, classification of related Hyalomma species is often challenging. Here we describe a combined approach for molecular characterization of six Hyalomma species: H. aegyptium, H. dromedarii, H. excavatum, H. impeltatum, H. marginatum and H. turanicum. This procedure was developed using a combination of PCR amplification of four molecular markers, followed by sequencing and species-specific restriction analysis. Segments from the following genes were used as markers: 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, Cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), and Cytochrome B (CytB). Phylogenetic analysis based on the amplified sequences was consistent with the morphology-based classification. It revealed relative close proximity of H. excavatum, H. marginatum and H. turanicum, and close proximity of H. aegyptium and H. dromedarii to each other. H. impeltatum was examined using the COX1 and CytB markers, and in both cases was located on a separate clade from the other five species. Digestion of the amplified products using specific restriction enzymes enabled clear distinction between the six species. This report is the first to describe CytB marker sequences of the studied species, and the first to describe COX1 marker sequences of H. aegyptium, H. excavatum, H. impeltatum and H. turanicum. The information obtained in this study may therefore be useful for future combined morphological-molecular Hyalomma characterization.

Distribution and Dispersal of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus, the Northern Negev, Israel.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis has long been endemic in Israel. In recent years reported incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis increased and endemic transmission is being observed in a growing number of communities in regions previously considered free of the disease. Here we report the results of an intensive sand fly study carried out in a new endemic focus of Leishmania major. The main objective was to establish a method and to generate a data set to determine the exposure risk, sand fly populations' dynamics and evaluate the efficacy of an attempt to create "cordon sanitaire" devoid of active jird burrows around the residential area. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Sand flies were trapped in three fixed reference sites and an additional 52 varying sites. To mark sand flies in the field, sugar solutions containing different food dyes were sprayed on vegetation in five sites. The catch was counted, identified, Leishmania DNA was detected in pooled female samples and the presence of marked specimens was noted. Phlebotomus papatasi, the vector of L. major in the region was the sole Phlebotomus species in the catch. Leishmania major DNA was detected in ~10% of the pooled samples and the highest risk of transmission was in September. Only a few specimens were collected in the residential area while sand fly numbers often exceeded 1,000 per catch in the agricultural fields. The maximal travel distance recorded was 1.91km for females and 1.51km for males. The calculated mean distance traveled (MDT) was 0.75km. CONCLUSIONS: The overall results indicate the presence of dense and mobile sand fly populations in the study area. There seem to be numerous scattered sand fly microsites suitable for development and resting in the agricultural fields. Sand flies apparently moved in all directions, and reached the residential area from the surrounding agricultural fields. The travel distance noted in the current work, supported previous findings that P. papatasi like P. ariasi, can have a relatively long flight range and does not always stay near breeding sites. Following the results, the width of the "cordon sanitaire" in which actions against the reservoir rodents were planned, was extended into the depth of the agricultural fields.

Revision of the Palaearctic genus Gonaporus Ashmead, 1902 of spider wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae).

Twelve species (including six new ones) of the spider wasp genus Gonaporus Ashmead, 1902 are revised. The composition of the genus is discussed. Six new species of Gonaporus are described: G. simulator Wahis & I. Zonstein, sp. nov. (♀ ♂, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania), G. emiratus I. Zonstein & Wahis, sp. nov. (♀ ♂, United Arab Emirates), G. jaziratensis Wahis & I. Zonstein, sp. nov. (♂, United Arab Emirates), G. mirabilis I. Zonstein & Wahis, sp. nov. (♀ ♂, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan), G. setitarsus I. Zonstein & Wahis, sp. nov. (♀ ♂, Pakistan), and G. spinosissimus Wahis & I. Zonstein, sp. nov. (♀ ♂, Oman). A new synonymy is proposed for G. ecbatanus Wolf, 1990 = G. flamingo S. Zonstein, 2001, syn. nov. Gonaporus israelicus (Wolf, 1990), comb. nov. is transferred from Micraporus Priesner, 1955. An emended diagnosis to genus and a key to species are provided. The Gonaporus species inhabit open arid sandy biotopes of the Mediterranean Region, Africa, Near East and Central Asia. The subgenus Stigmaporus S. Zonstein, 2001 is elevated to full generic rank, stat. nov. A new combination is proposed for S. centralasiaticus (Wolf, 1990), comb. nov., S. lystracantha (Wolf, 1988), comb. nov. and S. wolfi (S. Zonstein, 2001), comb. nov. (all are from genus Gonaporus).