The scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) of Iran with the description of Mahabadphora aesthesphora as a new genus and species.

Scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) are mega-diverse and often synanthropic insects that play superb roles in various ecosystems. Identification of this group of insects is challenging due to their small size, morphological identification difficulties, niche diversity, and lack of taxonomic keys. To pave the way, an in-depth investigation was directed toward the scuttle flies in Iran using morphological and molecular data. A dichotomous key was also developed to identify the genus and species of the phorids reported in the country. The faunistic findings revealed the presence of about 22,000 (13,903 male and 8,097 female) phorid materials organized into 11 genera. Megaselia species (n = 13768), made up about 99% of the specimens studied. Moreover, 71 morphologically defined species belonging to nine genera were molecularly characterized using COI, 28S rRNA, and Arginine kinase datasets. Excluding four Megaselia Rondani, 1856 species, our results specified that morphologically delimited species were in agreement with the molecular analyses inferred from the COI/28S rRNA and COI/Arginine kinase sequences with genetic distances and phylogenetic trees. According to the results of the present study and previously published data, the Phoridae recorded for Iran are a total of 97 species that are ordered in 13 genera and three subfamilies, including Chonocephalinae, Metopininae and Phorinae. By comparing the known world phorid genera, a new monotypic genus of scuttle flies, Mahabadphora aesthesphora gen. nov., sp. nov., was identified based on its morphological and molecular characteristics and included in an updated key. Our results could comprehensively determine the taxonomic status of scuttle flies in Iran, scrutinize their phylogenetic structures and facilitate their identification

Nine new species of scuttle flies, including one new genus (Diptera: Phoridae) from Iran

AbstractNamaki-Khameneh and Disney describe nine new species and one new genusIranphora sharafkhaneensisgen. n., sp. n.,Megaselia caveonectergatasp. n.,M. distinctasp. n.,M. fereagaricisp. n.,M. flavucrurussp. n.,M. paluventersp. n.,M. polysetosissp. n.,Phalacrotophora flavidussp. n., andPhora iranensissp. n. from Iran. As a result, this study increased the total number of reported phorids genera and species from Iran to 12 and 78, respectively.</jats:p

Co-infection of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) gut bacteria with Leishmania major exacerbates the pathological responses of BALB/c mice

Clinical features and severity of the leishmaniasis is extremely intricate and depend on several factors, especially sand fly-derived products. Bacteria in the sand fly’s gut are a perpetual companion of Leishmania parasites. However, consequences of the concomitance of these bacteria and Leishmania parasite outside the midgut environment have not been investigated in the infection process. Herein, a needle infection model was designed to mimic transmission by sand flies, to examine differences in the onset and progression of L. major infection initiated by inoculation with “low” or “high” doses of Enterobacter cloacae and Bacillus subtilis bacteria. The results showed an alteration in the local expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in mice receiving different inoculations of bacteria. Simultaneous injection of two bacteria with Leishmania parasites in the low-dose group caused greater thickness of ear pinna and enhanced tissue chronic inflammatory cells, as well as resulted in multifold increase in the expression of IL-4 and IL-1β and a decrease in the iNOS expression, without changing the L. major burden. Despite advances in scientific breakthroughs, scant survey has investigated the interaction between micro and macro levels of organization of leishmaniasis that ranges from the cellular to macro ecosystem levels, giving rise to the spread and persistence of the disease in a region. Our findings provide new insight into using the potential of the vector-derived microbiota in modulating the vertebrate immune system for the benefit of the host or recommend the use of appropriate antibiotics along with antileishmanial medicines

Bioactivities of rose-scented geranium nanoemulsions against the larvae of Anopheles stephensi and their gut bacteria.

Anopheles stephensi with three different biotypes is a major vector of malaria in Asia. It breeds in a wide range of habitats. Therefore, safer and more sustainable methods are needed to control its immature stages rather than chemical pesticides. The larvicidal and antibacterial properties of the Pelargonium roseum essential oil (PREO) formulations were investigated against mysorensis and intermediate forms of An. stephensi in laboratory conditions. A series of nanoemulsions containing different amounts of PREO, equivalent to the calculated LC50 values for each An. stephensi form, and various quantities of surfactants and co-surfactants were developed. The physical and morphological properties of the most lethal formulations were also determined. PREO and its major components, i.e. citronellol (21.34%), L-menthone (6.41%), linalool (4.214%), and geraniol (2.19%), showed potent larvicidal activity against the studied mosquitoes. The LC50/90 values for mysorensis and intermediate forms were computed as 11.44/42.42 ppm and 12.55/47.69 ppm, respectively. The F48/F44 nanoformulations with 94% and 88% lethality for the mysorensis and intermediate forms were designated as optimized formulations. The droplet size, polydispersity index, and zeta-potential for F48/F44 were determined as 172.8/90.95 nm, 0.123/0.183, and -1.08/-2.08 mV, respectively. These results were also confirmed by TEM analysis. Prepared formulations displayed antibacterial activity against larval gut bacteria in the following order of decreasing inhibitory: LC90, optimized nanoemulsions, and LC50. PREO-based formulations were more effective against mysorensis than intermediate. Compared to the crude PREO, the overall larvicidal activity of all nanoformulations boosted by 20% and the optimized formulations by 50%. The sensitivity of insect gut bacteria may be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the effect of toxins on target insects. The formulations designed in the present study may be a good option as a potent and selective larvicide for An. stephensi

First report of filarial nematodes in the genus Onchocerca infecting black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Iran

Abstract Black flies are blood-sucking insects of public health importance, and they are effective vectors of pathogens and parasites, such as filarial nematodes of the genus Onchocerca. Our previous surveys have shown that individuals of Simulium turgaicum are annoying pests of humans and livestock in the Aras River Basin of Iran. In the present study, adult black flies of S. turgaicum were trapped from different ecotopes of five villages in Khoda-Afarin County, Iran. By using a sensitive nested PCR assay and targeting the nuclear 18S rDNA-ITS1 marker, filarial infections were found in 38 (1.89%) of 2005 black flies. Homology exploration of 360 bp of the sequences indicated that the filarial worms are members of the family Onchocercidae, with maximum alignment scores of 93–95%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that two Iranian Onchocerca isolates were clustered in the O. fasciata–O. volvulus lineage and were well separated from other filarial nematodes. Both the entomological evidence (empty abdomen of the specimens) and climatologic data (adequate accumulated degree days for development) suggest that the filarial DNA was probably that of infective larvae of vertebrates. This is the first report of an infection by Onchocerca species in S. turgaicum and the first record of onchocercids in black flies in Iran; however, more research is required to demonstrate transmission of these filarial worms by black flies in nature

Twenty one new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from Iran

Khameneh, Roya Namaki, Khaghaninia, Samad, Disney, R. Henry L., Maleki-Ravasan, Naseh (2019): Twenty one new species of Megaselia Rondani (Diptera: Phoridae) from Iran. Zootaxa 4711 (1): 1-50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4711.1.

Morphological Characteristics and Molecular Markers in Identification of Anopheles gambiae Complex and Anopheles stephensi Members as Main Malaria Vectors in Africa and Asia

Introduction and purpose: Human malaria is one of the widespread vector-borne diseases worldwide. Lots of efforts have been made to control and eliminate the vectors of the disease. Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi (A. stephensi) are the main vectors of malaria in Africa and Asia. The members of Anopheles gambiae complex contain the vector and non-vector species. A. stephensi has three biological forms with different vector  capacities. The phenotypic and genotypic diversity has made it more difficult to identify vector populations and consequently the surveillance and control of malaria. The present study aimed to compare the morphological and molecular diagnostic characteristics of the two important malaria vectors in the two world continents. Methods: After searching, studying, and organizing published papers related to the subject, Anopheles gambiae and A. stephensi species were compared based on the morphological and molecular characteristics. Different morphological keys for the two species, the specimens from the insectarium of Urmia University of Medical Sciences, as well as the present species of national insectarium in Pasteur Institute of Iran, were used for morphological comparison. In addition, all the present sequences of five molecular markers, including COI, COII, D3, ITS2, and OBP1, were extracted from GenBank and analyzed using bioinformatics software. Results: Based on the obtained results of the present study, the number of ridges on  Anopheles gambiae eggs was more than that on A. stephensi eggs. However, unlike A. stephensi in Anopheles gambiae, the number of ridges was not a diagnostic characteristic for the identification of Anopheles gambiae complex. There were four diagnostic characteristics in the larvae comparison of the two species and there were three different characteristics in adults. All the molecular markers were capable of separating the two species; however, ITS2 and D3, as well as COI, COII, and OBP1 markers were preferred for inter-species and intra-species comparisons, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of traditional diagnostic and new molecular methods can be simultaneously used in inter-species separation. As a result, in order to eliminate malaria in Iran and the countries covered by The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, it is recommended that the combination of morphological, molecular, and field epidemiological data can provide practical solutions for vector control programs. Obviously, none of these data exclusively respond to the needs of the mentioned programs. Furthermore, the coordination, design, implementation, and evaluation of applied projects, as well as executive actions, are necessary for the success of these programs regarding the elimination and eradication of malaria and other vector-borne diseases