PREVALENCE OF LICE SPECIES ON COWS AND BUFFALOES OF QUETTA, PAKISTAN

The prevalence of lice with species identification was studied during April to November 2006 in cows and buffaloes. During this period, various farm houses of Quetta city were randomly visited for the collection of lice. A total 909 cows and 671 buffaloes were examined for the presence of lice. Out of these, 38.3% cows and 41.2% buffaloes gave positive results for different lice species. Only one lice species i. e Bovicola bovis (38.3%) was recorded from cows and two species belonging to genus Haematopinus i. e. H. quadrpertusis (23.5%) and H. eurysternus (17.7%) were encountered in buffaloes. Lice seem to be host specific with B. bovis occur in cows, while both H. quadripertusus and H. eurysternus usually infest buffaloes

Leishmaniases in Pak-Afghan region: a review

ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis, a protozoan disease in the Old and New World is being transmitted by Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae). The disease is spreading continuously and slowly in Pakistan and neighboring country Afghanistan. Therefore, in view of importance of leishmaniasis this investigation was undertaken to collect, sort-out, consolidate, compile and update account of information on the prevalence of leishmaniasis, vector species, Leishmania parasites and mammalian reservoir host (s) in Pak-Afghan region. New endemic areas of leishmaniasis and species of phlebotomine sand flies have been identified in recent years in Pak-Afghan region. Leishmania (L.) infantum causative organism of visceral leishmaniasis, Leishmania (L.) tropica and Leishmania (L.) major causative parasites of cutaneous leishmaniasis have also been detected in the region. Phlebotomus sergenti was identified as vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kabul city, whereas P. papatasi was observed with a low susceptibility to Afghan L. tropica. P. kazeruni was found naturally infected with amphibian Trypanosoma sp. in Sindh (Pakistan). However, the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis has not so far been incriminated in Pakistan. The situation of prevalence of leishmaniasis is much alarming and needs to be readdressed by the Health authorities

Mouth-parts, male and female genitalia as identification tools of Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei and phylogenetic relationships

Sergentomyia (Sintonius) clydei (Sinton) is for the first time recorded from the endemic localities of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sindh, Punjab and N.W.F province (Pakistan). In view of the published reports about the detection of encephalitis viruses from the species of the genus Sergentomyia Franca & Theodor from the Indian localities and their possible role in kala-azar transmission, the correct identification of sand flies becomes of significant value in the study of epidemiology of leishmaniases and other viral diseases. In the present paper, species of the subgenus Sintonius Nitzulescu are not only keyed and their distributional ranges are given but in order to facilitate zoologists and medical researchers, the morphology of diagnostic characters of S. clydei, especially mouth parts and male and female genitalia are studied, and results presented. In this light, their phylogenetic relationships are also briefly discussed