Novos dados relativos à morfologia de Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae)

The study was carried out on the basis of 208 specimens of both sexes from a wide geographical range, from central Brazil to central Argentina. The morphology of diagnostic features of Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) including the presence or absence of the ductus of the spermatheca with a thick wall, the shape of the posterior margin of seventh sternum in females, and the size of the angle between the distal and the proximal arms of the basal part of the aedeagal tubus, and the number of convolutions made by the coil of the aedeagal tubus interior in males, have been studied. The results obtained are important in clarifying some difficulty in species recognition. Besides, the variability of some characteristics between specimens from disjoint localities in Brazil and Argentina is also noticed.O estudo baseou-se em 208 espécimes, coletados em urna ampia faixa geográfica situada entre os centros do Brasil e da Argentina. Morfológicamente, as características utilizadas para a idcntificacáo de Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) foram estudadas. tais como a presenta ou ausencia do duto da espennateca com margens espessadas e a forma da margena posterior do estemito VII, entre asfémeas, bem como o ángulo entre os bracos proximal e distal do tubo interno do aedeagus e o número de suas circunvolucocs. nos exemplares machos. Os resultados obtidos sao importantes para subsidiärem o reconhecimento da espécie. A variabilidade de algumas características entre exemplares de localidades disjuntas no Brasil e Argentina é também noticiada.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Flea parasites of small mammals in the Monte Desert biome in Argentina with new host and locality records

Fleas associated with small mammals from the Argentinean Monte Desert, were examined. The research was carried out in Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (34°02´S, 67°58´W), in the Chaqueña Biogeographic Subregion of the Neotropical Region. Mammal species trapped were as follows: Rodentia, Muridae, Sigmodontinae: Akodon molinae Contreras, 1968 (N = 44), Graomys griseoflavus (Waterhouse, 1837) (N = 15), Calomys musculinus (Thomas, 1913) (N = 12), and Eligmodontia typus F. Cuvier, 1837 (N = 7); Didelphiomorphia, Didelphidae, Mamorsinae: Thylamys pusillus (Desmarest, 1804) (N = 1). A total of 236 fleas were collected: Stephanocircidae, Craneopsyllinae: Craneopsylla minerva wolffhuegeli (Rothschild, 1909); Rhopalopsyllidae, Rhopalopsyllinae: Polygenis (Polygenis) bohlsi bohlsi (Wagner, 1901), Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis cisandinus (Jordan, 1939) and Polygenis (Neopolygenis) puelche Del Ponte, 1963; Rhopalopsyllidae, Parapsyllinae: Ectinorus (Ectinorus) barrerai Jordan, 1939. High values of total mean abundance (MA = 2.99) and total prevalence (P = 73.41%) were obtained. A. molinae (MA = 3.14; P = 93.18; flea specific richness S = 5; Shannon specific diversity index H = 1.25) and G. griseoflavus (MA = 6.40; P = 100%; S = 5; H = 0.76) showed the highest values of the infestation parameters. No fleas were collected from E. typus, possibly because of its habits. Fleas associated with T. pusillus are reported for the first time. Our collections extend the western limits of the distribution of both P. (N.) puelche and P. (P.) b. bohlsi. In addition, new host species are reported for every flea species and subspecies, and seven host-flea associations are mentioned for the first time.Fil: Lareschi, Marcela. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Ojeda, Ricardo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas; ArgentinaFil: Linardi, Pedro M.. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Científico e Tecnológico; Brasi

A new species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its armadillo host in Argentina and redescription of the male of Tunga terasma

A new species of Tunga (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) collected from armadillos in Argentina is described. The new species is characterized by large and pigmented eyes, the presence of two bristles on antennal segment II, two bristles at the base of the maxilla, and a discoid neosome compressed anteroposteriorly. The gravid female is located in the carapace of the host, perforating the osteoderms. The new species resembles Tunga penetrans and Tunga terasma in general appearance. However, it differs by the greater anteroposterior compression of the neosome, a more angular head, and a manubrium with a pointed proximal end and convex ventral margin (the proximal end of the manubrium is rounded or slightly pointed in T. terasma, and the ventral margin is straight in both T. penetrans and T. terasma). In addition, specimens of T. penetrans have more bristles in antennal segments II and III, and lack bristles in the posterior tibia. This is the first report of a species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its host and thereby showing a high degree of specialization. Tunga terasma is recorded for the first time in Argentina; the male is described again and the characteristics of the species amended. This information may be useful in epidemiological studies of diseases caused by species of Tunga.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Novos dados relativos à morfologia de Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae)

The study was carried out on the basis of 208 specimens of both sexes from a wide geographical range, from central Brazil to central Argentina. The morphology of diagnostic features of Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) including the presence or absence of the ductus of the spermatheca with a thick wall, the shape of the posterior margin of seventh sternum in females, and the size of the angle between the distal and the proximal arms of the basal part of the aedeagal tubus, and the number of convolutions made by the coil of the aedeagal tubus interior in males, have been studied. The results obtained are important in clarifying some difficulty in species recognition. Besides, the variability of some characteristics between specimens from disjoint localities in Brazil and Argentina is also noticed.O estudo baseou-se em 208 espécimes, coletados em urna ampia faixa geográfica situada entre os centros do Brasil e da Argentina. Morfológicamente, as características utilizadas para a idcntificacáo de Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus (Jordan) foram estudadas. tais como a presenta ou ausencia do duto da espennateca com margens espessadas e a forma da margena posterior do estemito VII, entre asfémeas, bem como o ángulo entre os bracos proximal e distal do tubo interno do aedeagus e o número de suas circunvolucocs. nos exemplares machos. Os resultados obtidos sao importantes para subsidiärem o reconhecimento da espécie. A variabilidade de algumas características entre exemplares de localidades disjuntas no Brasil e Argentina é também noticiada.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Los ectoparásitos de los roedores sigmodontinos (Cricetidae) de La Rioja: resultados preliminares

El conocimiento sobre la fauna parasitaria es escasa o nula en muchas regiones de Argentina siendo La Rioja una de las provincias con menos registros, debido a los escasos muestreos de roedores sigmodontinos. El objetivo de este trabajo es reportar nuevos hospedadores y nuevas localidades geográficas para sifonápteros y ácaros parásitos de roedores sigmodontinos de la provincia de La Rioja. Las siguientes nuevas asociaciones fueron identificadas: Andalgalomys olrogi-Hectopsylla gracilis, Graomys chacoensis-Hectopsylla gracilis y Oligoryzomys cf. longicaudatus-Laelaps paulistanensis. Para la provincia se citan por primera vez Hectopsylla gracilis y las tres especies de ácaros registradas; y se da a conocer por primera vez un sifonáptero parásito para A. olrogi.In many regions of Argentina the knowledge of parasitic fauna is scarce or null; being the La Rioja one of the provinces with less record, due to scarce survey of sigmodontine rodents. In this paper, we report new hosts and new localities for fleas and mites parasites of sigmodontine rodents of La Rioja Province. The following new associations were identified: Andalgalomys olrogi-Hectopsylla gracilis; Graomys chacoensis-Hectopsylla gracilis; and Oligoryzomys cf. longicaudatus-Laelaps paulistanensis. Hectopsylla gracilis and the three recorded mites are reported of the first time from La Rioja Province and for the first time a flea on A. olrogi is cited.Fil: Lopez Berrizbeitia, M. F.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Lareschi, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Rocío Tatiana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Transferencia Tecnológica de Anillaco; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, María Mónica. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Programa de Investigación de Biodiversidad Argentina; Argentina. Programa de Conservación de los Murciélagos de Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán; Argentin

Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis (Jordan & Rothschild) (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae, Rhopalopsyllinae), um Novo Registro no Brasil

Polygenis (Polygenis) platensis s. l. (Jordan & Rothschild) is recorded for the first time from Brazil in the municipalities of Capão da Canoa, Tramandaí and Osório, RS. New host records for this flea include Ctenomys flamarioni (Travi) and Ctenomys minutus (De Blainville). Morphological variations were also observed among the flea specimens collected on the same species of host at the same municipality, evidencing some hybridization between the two subspecies and disabling the determination of the subspecific status. The number of known species of Brazilian Siphonaptera is now 60.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Sigmodontinae rodents as hosts for larvae and nymphs of Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 (Acari: Ixodidae)

Larvae and nymphs of Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899 ticks (confirmed by morphological characters and by comparison of 16S mitochondrial rDNA sequences) were collected from Sigmodontinae Wagner, rodents in central and northern Argentina and Uruguay. A total of 100 larvae and 38 nymphs of I. loricatus were collected on the genera Akodon Meyen (n = 36 individuals), Calomys Waterhouse (n = 2), Oligoryzomys Bang (n = 12), Oxymycterus Waterhouse (n = 9), and Scapteromys Waterhouse (n = 13). 72 larvae and 18 nymphs were collected on Akodon. Adults of I. loricatus were found in central Argentina and Uruguay on Didelphimorphia of the genera Didelphis Linnaeus and Lutreolina Thomas. Ixodes loricatus has been considered a species with strict total specificity to Didelphimorphia. Our results show that this statement may not be justified. Sigmodontinae rodents are sympatric and share habitats with the phylogenetically distant Didelphimorphia; infestation with I. loricatus seems to be its consequence. We tentatively consider I. loricatus moderately specific to Didelphimorphia.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

La pulga humana Pulex irritans (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) en el noroeste argentino, una investigación de Bartonella y Rickettsia spp.

Pulex irritans es la única especie cosmopolita y la más estudiada dentro del género Pulex. Tiene importancia en la salud pública ya que comúnmente parasita a los seres humanos causando dermatitis y también ha sido implicada en la transmisión de patógenos bacterianos. Pulex irritans se ha confundido con la especie cercana Pulex simulans durante años. En este sentido, se identificaron los especímenes de Pulex recolectados de un zorro pampeano y un pecarí del Chaco del noroeste de la Argentina por comparación con los ejemplares tipo. Además, se investigó la presencia de Bartonella spp. y Rickettsia spp. utilizando ensayos de PCR. Nuestros resultados aportaron caracteres de importancia diagnóstica para identificar a P. irritans, que incluyen la forma del esternito VII en las hembras y del esclerito aedeagal, clasper y crochet en los machos. Además, se reporta por primera vez a P. irritans parasitando un pecarí. Este hallazgo refuerza la hipótesis del origen de esta pulga asociada con este mamífero y luego coloniza humanos y mamíferos domésticos. No hubo evidencia de ADN de Bartonella ni de Rickettsia en las pulgas analizadas. Esta información, si bien negativa, puede ser considerada relevante para P. irritans de Argentina.Pulex irritans is the only cosmopolitan flea species and the most studied one within the genus Pulex. It has importance in public health since it commonly parasitizes humans causing dermatitis, and it has been also implicated in the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Pulex irritans has been confused with the closely related Pulex simulans species for years. Herein, Pulex specimens collected from a Pampas fox and a Chacoan peccary from northwestern Argentina were identified by comparison with type specimens. In addition, the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. was investigated using PCR assays. Our results provided characters of diagnostic importance to identify P. irritans, which include the shape of sternite VII in the females, and of the aedeagal sclerite, clasper and crochet in the males. Besides, we report for the first time P. irritans parasitizing a peccary. This finding reinforces the hypothesis of the origin of this flea associated with this mammal, and then colonizing humans and domestic mammals. There was no evidence of Bartonella or Rickettsia DNA in the analyzed fleas. This information even if negative may be considered relevant for P. irritans from Argentina.Fil: Lareschi, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; ArgentinaFil: Venzal, José M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mangold, Atilio Jose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Portillo, Aránzazu. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Palomar Urbina, Ana María. Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja; EspañaFil: Oteo Revuelta, José Antonio. Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja; Españ