Wing morphometry of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera:Psychodidae): calibration of methods with a laboratory population.

The wing morphometry of a laboratory-bred population of Phlebotomus perniciosus was studied using a semi-automatic, measurement system. The methods used were found to be precise, reproducible and valid for morphometrical studies. Each of several, different wing indices was found to be similar whether the wing was mounted in Hoyer's medium, Euparal or chloral balm. All samples showed similar differences between the wings of males and females, the wings of the males being smaller than those of the females.

[HERETAIN: a computer-assisted diagnosis system for hereditary retinal syndromes]. / HERETAIN: un système de diagnostic assisté par ordinateur des syndromes héréditaires rétiniens.

The diagnosis of hereditary retinal syndromes may be difficult for a physician because of their number and variability. A computer assisted diagnosis of these syndromes can be useful in such cases. We used an identification software (XPER) for this purpose. The data base contains more than 67,000 elementary data that enable us to define 115 hereditary retinal syndromes. The knowledge is not represented by description of typical cases or diagnostic procedure rules but by structured description of syndromes defined by the group of experts. This CAI software is characterised by specific optimising procedures, deductive algorithms and dissimilarities calculus and enables very fast diagnoses by limiting the number of complementary analyses and thus the cost of this research. This system is extensible and justifies all its conclusions, its user-friendly data representation makes it accessible for any physician even if he does not master computers. The selected pathology field seems very suitable to developing a computer assisted diagnosis system: many low frequency syndromes, meaningful precise diagnosis for genetic and professional counseling, therapeutic expectations due to progress in molecular genetics. According to the authors, HERETAIN is one of the largest computer assisted decision support systems in ophthalmology.

Local predictability in biological sequences, algorithm and applications.

The goal of this paper is to propose an algorithm based on the k nearest neighbours to compute a local predictability measure in biological sequences. Some ideas about the usefulness of this measure are discussed on the basis of preliminary experimentations.

[Wing morphology and species characterization of sandflies]. / Morphometrie alaire et caracterisation specifique des phlebotomes.

We study the information included in sandfly wings in order to test this organ as a source for the specific discrimination. The cartesian coordinates of the vein intersections are collected using a microscope and a graphic table. From these data a specifically developed software searches for discriminant characters. The present study on 32 New World species shows that, in addition to classical wing indices, discriminative characters are available for inter-specific discrimination.

[Note on the relations between vectors of leishmaniasis and forest trees in French Guiana]. / Note sur les relations des vecteurs de leishmaniose avec les essences forestières en Guyane française.

The study of relationships between Phlebotomine sandflies and different species of trees, 0 to 1.5 m above ground, was carried out in the French Guiana forest. We found that certain forest trees are more propitious than others to the development or maintenance of certain leishmaniasis vectors. Lu. umbratilis, vector of Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis, represents between 28 and 88% of samples collected on trunks. The association of Lu. umbratilis and Lu. rorotaensis represents between 58 and 98% Lu. flaviscutellata, vector of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis, frequently caught on humans, was not found on tree trunks.