Loxosceles niedeguidonae (Araneae, Sicariidae) a new species of brown spider from Brazilian semi-arid region

A new species of recluse spider, Loxosceles niedeguidonae sp. n., is described from the Parque Nacional Serra da Capivara, State of Piauí, Brazil. This is the first endemic species described from Brazilian semi-arid environment. The species is included in gaucho group of Gertsch (1967) due to its spermathecal shape and is considered close to Loxosceles chapadensis Bertani, Fukushima & Nagahama, 2010 by the unusual long male palpal tibia, a character not common for species of this group. An updated key for Loxosceles species of gaucho group is presented

Premolis semirufa (Walker, 1856) Envenomation, Disease Affecting Rubber Tappers of the Amazon: Searching for Caterpillar-Bristles Toxic Components

Pararama, the popular name of the larval form of the moth Premolis semirufa inhabits rubber plantations in the Amazon region and the accidental contact of the skin with the caterpillar's bristles or cocoons results in immediate and intense heat, pain, edema, and itching. In many cases a chronic inflammatory reaction with immobilization of the joints occurs. The current study has evaluated the biological and immunochemical characteristics of the Pararama caterpillar bristles extract. Electrophoretic analysis showed the presence of several components, including a very intense 82 kDa band. This latter component was endowed with intense gelatinolytic activity, as observed in zymography assays. Further analysis revealed that the extract also contained hyaluronidase activity but is devoid of phospholipase A2 activity. In vivo assays, using mice, showed that the extract was not lethal, but caused significant edema and induced intense infiltration of inflammatory cells to the envenomation site. The extract also induced high specific antibody titers, but no autoantibodies were detected. The data obtained, so far, demonstrate the existence of a mixture of different enzymes in the bristles of Premolis semirufa caterpillar, which can act together in the generation and development of the clinical manifestations of the Pararama envenomation

Characterization of a gene coding for the complement system component FB from loxosceles laeta spider venom glands

The human complement system is composed of more than 30 proteins and many of these have conserved domains that allow tracing the phylogenetic evolution. The complement system seems to be initiated with the appearance of C3 and factor B (FB), the only components found in some protostomes and cnidarians, suggesting that the alternative pathway is the most ancient. Here, we present the characterization of an arachnid homologue of the human complement component FB from the spider Loxosceles laeta. This homologue, named Lox-FB, was identified from a total RNA L. laeta spider venom gland library and was amplified using RACE-PCR techniques and specific primers. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence and the domain structure showed significant similarity to the vertebrate and invertebrate FB/C2 family proteins. Lox-FB has a classical domain organization composed of a control complement protein domain (CCP), a von Willebrand Factor domain (vWFA), and a serine protease domain (SP). The amino acids involved in Mg2+ metal ion dependent adhesion site (MIDAS) found in the vWFA domain in the vertebrate C2/FB proteins are well conserved; however, the classic catalytic triad present in the serine protease domain is not conserved in Lox-FB. Similarity and phylogenetic analyses indicated that Lox-FB shares a major identity (43%) and has a close evolutionary relationship with the third isoform of FB-like protein (FB-3) from the jumping spider Hasarius adansoni belonging to the Family Salcitidae

Phylogenetic analysis of Lutzomyia França, 1924 genus (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Flebotomíneos são insetos da ordem Diptera, família Psychodidade, subfamília Phlebotominae, cujo hábito hematofágico das fêmeas determina a importância das espécies para a saúde pública, uma vez que muitas são reconhecidas como vetores de leishmanioses e bartonelose, e como hospedeiras de diversos microorganismos incluindo arbovírus. Até o momento, mais de 800 espécies foram descritas, 464 delas endêmicas da região Neotropical e cerca de 40 identificadas como capazes de transmitir Leishmania Ross, 1903 (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae). Frente a essa diversidade, ampla distribuição geográfica e importância, classificações para o grupo, baseadas principalmente em caracteres morfológicos internos e externos, vêm sendo propostas por diversos autores que têm divergido quanto a considerar um menor ou maior número de gêneros ou categorias supra e subgnéricas. Na maioria dos sistemas de classificação o gênero Lutzomyia França, 1924 é considerado o mais importante da América, pois embora sua composição de espécies seja variável em cada uma delas, sempre estão presentes, nesse táxon, vetores de leishmaniose visceral e tegumentar. Assim sendo, foi feita análise cladística de 63 espécies de Lutzomyia com matriz composta por 63 caracteres polarizados segundo o método de comparação com o grupo externo. Como grupo externo utilizaram-se 19 táxons de outros gêneros de Phlebotominae e de Bruchomyiinae. O cladograma obtido revelou que Lutzomyia é monofilético e que contém apenas dois subgrupos monofiléticos considerados como os subgêneros Lutzomyia s. str. e Helcocyrtomyia. Uma classificação para o gênero é proposta. A topologia do cladograma é mostrada em notação parentética: (((L. ischnacantha (L. bifoliata ((L. souzalopesi ((L. gaminarai ((L. alencari (L. cruzi. L. ischyracantha)) (L. longipalpis L. pseudolongipalpis)))) (L. dispar (L. lichyi ((L. castroi (L. amarali L. caligata)) (L. falcata (L. cruciata (L. gomezi ((L. diabolica (L. marinkellei (L. evangelistai (L. carvalhoi (L. spathotrichia (L. araracuarensis L. legerae)))))) (L. flabellata L. sherlocki))))))))))) (L. bicornuta (L. battistinii (L. forattinii (L. almerioi (L. cavernicola L. renei)))))) ((L. pallidithorax ((L. pescei (L. osornoi (L. tejadai (L. galatiae.(L quillabamba ((L. caballeroi. (L. castanea (L. larensis, ((L. ceferilloi,L. herreri),(L. munaypata L. rispaili))))) (L. strictivilla,(L. wattsi (L. gonzaloi (L. hartmanni (L. kirigetiensis (L. sanguinaria (L. sp de Pichinde (L. cirrita (L. scorzai, (L. tortura (L. guderiani (L. adamsi,L. monzonensis)))))))))))))))))) (L. ayacuchensis L. peruensis))) (L. blancasi (L. chavinensis L. noguchii)).Phlebotomines are insects from the Diptera order, Psychodidade family, Phlebotominae subfamily, whose haematophagous habit of the females determines the species importance for public health, once many are recognized both as leishmaniasis and bartonelose vectors, and also as hostesses for several microorganisms, including arbovirus. So far, more than 800 species have been described, 464 of wich are endemic in the Neotropical region and about 40, identified as transmiters of Leishmania Ross, 1903 (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae). Considering such diversity, wide geographical distribution and importance, classifications have been proposed by several authors, based on internal and external morphological characters. These authors have diverged about the number of genders informal categories. In the majority of the classification systems, Lutzomyia França, 1924 is considered the most important in America, because, although the species composition is variable, visceral and tegumentar leishmaniasis vectors are always present in this taxon. Thus, a cladistic analysis of 63 Lutzomyia\'s species was performed, using 63 polarized characters. As outgroup, it has been used 19 species of other Phlebotominae\'s genus and Bruchomyiinae subfamily. The analysis of the cladogram has shown that Lutzomyia is monophyletic and contains two monophyletics subgroups, which can be considered as the subgenus Lutzomyia s. str. and Helcocyrtomyia. A classification to Lutzomyia genus is proposed. The cladogram topology is presented in parenthetic notation (((L. ischnacantha (L. bifoliata ((L. souzalopesi ((L. gaminarai ((L. alencari (L. cruzi. L. ischyracantha)) (L. longipalpis L. pseudolongipalpis)))) (L. dispar (L. lichyi ((L. castroi (L. amarali L. caligata)) (L. falcata (L. cruciata (L. gomezi ((L. diabolica (L. marinkellei (L. evangelistai (L. carvalhoi (L. spathotrichia (L. araracuarensis L. legerae)))))) (L. flabellata L. sherlocki))))))))))) (L. bicornuta (L. battistinii (L. forattinii (L. almerioi (L. cavernicola L. renei)))))) ((L. pallidithorax ((L. pescei (L. osornoi (L. tejadai (L. galatiae.(L quillabamba ((L. caballeroi. (L. castanea (L. larensis, ((L. ceferilloi,L. herreri),(L. munaypata L. rispaili))))) (L. strictivilla,(L. wattsi (L. gonzaloi (L. hartmanni (L. kirigetiensis (L. sanguinaria (L. sp de Pichinde (L. cirrita (L. scorzai, (L. tortura (L. guderiani (L. adamsi,L. monzonensis)))))))))))))))))) (L. ayacuchensis L. peruensis))) (L. blancasi (L. chavinensis L. noguchii))

First record on Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet, 1849) (Araneae, Sicariidae) in the West Zone of São Paulo City, São Paulo, Brazil, and considerations regarding its geographic distribution

Loxosceles laeta spiders were captured in the West zone of São Paulo City, this being the first record of the specie in this area. Since loxoscelism is an important public health problem in the South region of Brazil, it is necessary to investigate the presence of this spider in São Paulo City

Presença de Loxosceles similis Moenkhaus, 1898 (Araneae, Sicariidae) na Serra da Bodoquena, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil Presence of Loxosceles similis Moenkhaus, 1898 (Araneae, Sicariidae) in Bodoquena Range, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

O veneno das aranhas do gênero Loxosceles causa lesão dermonecrótica e induz hemólise intravascular dependente de complemento, configurando um quadro clínico de intensa gravidade. No Brasil, as espécies L. gaucho L. intermedia e L. laeta, presentes no ambiente antrópico, têm sido apontadas como principais agentes do loxoscelismo. Além destas, existem outras espécies, que por predominarem no ambiente natural, não têm sido avaliadas quanto ao risco à saúde do homem, como é o caso de Loxosceles similis. O desenvolvimento de projeto de pesquisa, na Serra da Bodoquena, para observações ecológicas e identificação de insetos de interesse médico, possibilitou a captura de espécimens de Loxosceles similis na Serra da Bodoquena, Município de Bonito, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, nas grutas Pitangueiras e do Lago Azul. Os parâmetros para identificação, características ambientais do habitat da espécie, bem como atualização de sua distribuição geográfica são objetos deste trabalho.The venom of Loxosceles spiders causes dermonecrotic lesion and induces complement-dependent intravascular haemolysis that characterizes a severe systemic effect. In Brazil, L. gaucho, L. intermedia and L. laeta, present in the anthropic environment, have been pointed out as the most important agents of the loxoscelism. Besides these species there are others that, by predominating in the natural environment, have not been evaluated regarding human health risk, as in the case of Loxosceles similis. The development of a research project in Bodoquena Range, for ecological observation and identification of insects of medical interest, enabled the capture of Loxosceles similis specimens in the "Pitangueiras" cave and "Lago Azul" cave, in Bodoquena Range, municipality of Bonito, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The objectives of this study were to define the parameters for identification, environmental features of the habitat of this species, as well as an update of its geographical distribution