A rewiew of the subgenus Trichopygomyia Barretto, 1962; with description of a new species from the brazilian Amazon Basin (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

The subgenus Trichopygomyia Barreto, 1962 of the phlebotomine genus Lutzomyia França, 1924 is reviewed. This subgenus corresponds to the informal species group longispina of Theodor (1965). Lutzomyia (Trichopygomya) ratcliffei n.sp. from the Brazilian Amazon Basin is described. Figures, keys, distribution maps and notes on ecology are presented for all the known forms. The better known species are most frequently encountered in armadillo burrows and, therefore, could well be vectors of Leishmania.

First known brazilian species of the genera Scutops and Neoscutops (Diptera: Periscelididae), with comments on the relationships among the species in each genus

Four new species of Periscelididae are described from Brazil - Neoscutops cariri, sp. n., and Scutops marcgrafi sp. n., from the northern extreme of the Atlantic Forest, S. lopesi, sp. n., from southeastern Brazil, and S. goianiensis, from central Brazil. S. chapmani is herein synonymezed to S. fascipennis. A key is provided for the known species of Neoscutops and Scutops. A brief discussion is made about the possiblem phylogenetic relationships among the species of each of these two genera.

New brazilian predaceous midges of the genus Monohelea Kieffer, and redescription of M. guaimiesi (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Two new Brazilian species of Monohelea Kieffer, M. affinis and M. roraimensis are described and illustrated, and a redescription of M. guiaimiesi Lane & Wirth is given.

First report of the genera Macvicaria Gibson & Bray, 1982, Pachycreadium Manter, 1954 and Saturnius manter, 1969 (Trematoda: Digenea), in brazilian marine fishes

Macvicaria crassigula (Linton, 1910) (Opecoelidae) is referred from the intestine of Micropogonias furnieri and from Stellifer rastrifer; and from Stellifer rastrifer, and Saturnius maurepasi Overstreet, 1977 (Bunocotylidae) from the stomach of Mugil liza. This is the first report of these species in Brazil, and a new host records are presented.

Two new Brazilian predaceous midges of the genus Downeshelea Wirth & Grogan (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Two new Brazilian species of Downeshelea Wirth & Gorgan D. fluminensis and D. quasidentica, are described and illustrated.

Culicoides labotoi, a new brazilian biting midge of the Limai Group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

A new Brazilian species of the Culicoides limai group. C. lobatoi from Nova Friburgo, State of Rio de Janeiro, is described and illustrated from female specimens.

Simian malaria at two sites in the Brazilian Amazon: I-The infection rates of Plasmodium brasilianum in non-human primates

The parasite that causes simian malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, Plasmodium brasilianum, is infective to man. In this region, where humans live within and in close proximity to the forest, it was suspected that this parasite could be the cause of a zoonosis. A study was performed in the areas surrounding two hydroelectric plants in the Amazon, Balbina and Samuel, aiming at determining the zoonotic potential of this parasite. P. brasilianum was detected in, respectively, 15.8% and 9.9% of 126 and 252 primates belonging to seven and eight species examined from Balbina and Samuel. The highest malaria infection rates were found among the red-howler monkey Alouatta seniculus straminea (32.3%), the bearded-saki Chiropotes satanas chiropotes (50%) and the spider-monkey Ateles paniscus paniscus (2[1+]) from Balbina and in the squirrel-monkey Saimiri ustus (21%) and the black-faced-spider-monkey Ateles paniscus chamek (28.6%) from Samuel.

Simian malaria at two sites in the Brazilian Amazon - II: Vertical distribution and frequency of anopheline species inside and outside the forest

An anopheline survey was carried out in two simian malaria areas in the Brazilian Amazon, Balbina and Samuel, to determine the potential vectors of Plasmodium brasilianum. The most abundant and/or acrodendrophilic anophelines in the forest and the most likely vector were Anopheles mediopunctatus, An. nuneztovari, An. oswaldoi, An. triannulatus and An. shannoni. An. darlingi and An. marajoara were captured essentially in anthropic habitats outside the forest and are unlikely to be involved in the transmission of P. brasilianum among monkeys within the forests and from monkeys to man in their surroundings in the Amazon.

The Infection Rates of Trypanosomes in Squirrel Monkeys at Two Sites in the Brazilian Amazon

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of natural infections by trypanosome species in squirrel monkeys: Saimiri sciureus (Linnaeus) and Saimiri ustus (Geoffroy) caught respectively near 2 hydroelectric plants: Balbina, in the State of Amazonas, and Samuel, in the State of Rondônia, Brazil. A total of 165 squirrel monkeys were examined by thick and thin blood smears (BS), haemocultures and xenodiagnosis: 112 monkeys, 67.9%,(being 52.7% with mix infections) were positive to trypanosomes. Four species of trypanosomes were found in monkeys from the 2 areas: Trypanosoma (Tejeraia) rangeli Tejera or T. rangeli-like parasites in 58 squirrel monkeys (35.2%), Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) minasense Chagas in 55 (33.3%), Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) saimirii Rodhain or T. saimirii-like parasites in 53 (32.1%) and Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi Chagas in 17 (10.3%). As T. saimirii resembles T. minasense in blood-stream trypomastigotes and T. rangeli in cultural forms and in this survey almost all monkeys presenting trypanosomes morphologically indistinguishable from T. saimirii and/or T. minasense in BS were found through xenodiagnosis and/or haemoculture to be infected by T. rangeli, we suggest that the validity of T. saimirii needs to be evaluated

Morphological Features of Trypanosomes from Squirrel Monkeys from the Brazilian Amazon

A morphometric analysis of blood trypomastigotes identified as Trypanosoma minasense, T. saimirii, and T. rangeli harbored by squirrel monkeys from the Brazilian Amazon was performed. Additionally, morphological and biological comparative analyses were conducted of T. saimirii-like and T. rangeli development forms from haemoculture and xenodiagnosis. Illustrations are given of blood trypomastigotes as well as of developing flagellates in triatomine and axenic culture. Mean values of blood trypomastigotes of T. saimirii differ statistically from those of T. rangeli in only two out of ten morphological characters measured, and ranges overlapped. The developing forms of T. saimrii-like parasites were essentially identical in both xenodiagnosis and haemoculture to those of T. rangeli. Trypanosomes confirmed as T. rangeli were transmitted to mice by the bites of the great majority of triatomines that fed on T. saimirii-like infected monkeys. We conclude that, based on morphology and on the development in triatomine bugs and haemoculture, T. saimirii should not be considered a distinct species. We therefore propose T. saimirii to be a junior synonym of T. rangeli

Estimated Financial Impact of Trypanosoma vivax on the Brazilian Pantanal and Bolivian Lowlands

The financial impact of the first outbreak of Trypanosoma vivax in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland is estimated. Results are extended to include outbreaks in the Bolivian lowlands providing a notion of the potential influence of the disease and an analytical basis. More than 11 million head of cattle, valued at more than US$3 billion are found in the Brazilian Pantanal and Bolivian lowlands. The total estimated cost of the 1995 outbreak of T. vivax is the sum of the present values of mortality, abortion, and productivity losses and treatment costs, or about 4% of total brood cow value on affected ranches. Had the outbreak gone untreated, the estimated losses would have exceeded 17% of total brood cow value.