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Biomedical subjects

M Maroli

Publications and source records attributed to M Maroli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Temporal distribution of ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) in "Macchia Grande" park in Manziana in the province of Rome].

Temporal distribution of tick species was studied in the woodland "Macchia Grande" of Manziana in the province of Rome, Italy. A total of 2,494 ticks was collected by means of drag sampling during one year of survey (1993). Among the species identified, Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) (95.9%) was the most abundant, followed by Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula, 1895) (2.2%), Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini e Fanzago, 1877) (1.8%), Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776) (0.1%). I. ricinus was present during the whole year, showing a diphasic trend, with peaks in January-April (95-173 specimens per drag) and in November-December (29-126); H. inermis was recovered only during the cold season (January-April and in December) with the highest density in February (7); Rh. bursa was collected from May to October showing maximum occurrence in July (10). The presence of I. ricinus and H. inermis, proven vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and TBE virus, is discussed in relation to the possible exposure risk for park visitors and operators.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Carbon dioxide anesthesia in phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae): CO2 effect upon two laboratory colonies.

Gravid females of 2 sand fly species, Phlebotomus papatasi and P. perniciosus, were exposed to carbon dioxide anesthesia for 5, 10 and 20 minutes. Recovery time, mortality at 0 min and 24 h, percentage of females laying eggs, time to oviposition, and egg productivity for each exposure time were registered. Survival, fecundity and oviposition time in the 2 species were not adversely affected by the short period of CO2 anesthesia routinely used in the sand fly colony maintenance.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1992

Ootaxonomy and eggshell ultrastructure of Phlebotomus sandflies.

The eggshell structure of four sandfly species: Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, P.perfiliewi Parrot, P.papatasi Scopoli and P.duboscqi Neveu-Lemaire, was examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). At the TEM level, the eggshell appears to have a homogeneous vitelline envelope and a thick chorion. At SEM level, the eggshell of all species is characterized by the outer chorion forming a series of fifteen to twenty longitudinal sinuous ridges, cross-linked in places to form a pattern of polygons, each line of the chorion consisting of columns arranged in a palisade. The aeropyle region of the egg is described for the first time in phlebotomine sandflies. Specific characters of the eggshell topography are described for distinguishing between these and other species of Phlebotomus.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) inermis Birula, 1895, in a wooded area of Latium].

Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) inermis Birula specimens have been collected in a woody land of Manziana in the province of Rome. This is the first report in Latium region and suggests the presence of autochthonous populations of the species in Central Italy since no exotic fauna has been introduced in the past in the area studied. The role of H. inermis on the transmission of pathogens for humans and animals is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Free amino acids in wild-caught Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Free amino acids occurring in wild Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. For both species the total concentration of amino acids, per unit weight, is over three times greater in females than in males. Qualitative inter-sex differences in amino acid compositions were also discovered: the most significant involving higher proportions of taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in females and higher proportions of arginine and glutamic acid in males. Although amino acid composition is consistent between females of both species, there are significant differences between males. The most important difference between males is an increase in tyrosine levels, at the expense of taurine, in P. perniciosus (as compared with P. perfiliewi). It is suggested that the intra- and inter-specific variation in amino acid composition identified in these studies could be due to ecological factors, such as differences in the sandflies natural amino acid sources (honeydew and/or plants), although a physiological explanation is not ruled out.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1991

Laboratory reared sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae) and studies on phleboviruses.

Virus-vector relationship of two Pleboviruses, Toscana and Arbia viruses, were studied in laboratory reared sandflies of the species Plebotomus perniciosus which is implicated as natural vector of both viruses. Two techniques of infection were used: intrathoracic inoculation and membrane feeding. This paper reports the growth characteristics and the frequency of transovarial and venereal transmission among P. perniciosus experimentally infected with the two viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Permethrin-impregnated curtains against phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae): laboratory and field studies.

The efficacy of permethrin-impregnated nets against vectors of leishmaniases was evaluated in laboratory and field studies. Permethrin-impregnated curtains were tested at different dosages in experimental tunnel against Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. papatasi. The influence on feeding behaviour and the mortality rate post contact with the impregnated curtain were investigated. The vapour effect of permethrin on P. perniciosus adults confined less than 1 cm away from a treated net was also evaluated. From laboratory studies it seems that permethrin shows low or any barrier effect against sandfly species tested, and that the high insecticidal activity (mortality rate greater than 90%, 24 hours after the contact with treated net, 1 g/m2) and the reduction of biting rate observed (between 53.56% and 85.24%) are the main effects that make permethrin-impregnated nets very effective for sandfly control. In field studies carried out in cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of Italy, it was demonstrated that permethrin-impregnated curtains around windows and around CDC light traps, reduce the number of sandflies entering the stables and traps. In Burkina Faso, indoor use of wide-mesh cotton curtains impregnated with permethrin 1 g/m2 almost completely eliminate the occurrence of endophilic sandfly species. In conclusion the use of permethrin-impregnated curtains could be an alternative to residual house-spraying for the control of endophilic vectors of leishmaniases.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Studies on mating plug of two sandfly species, Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae).

A study was undertaken to interpret the nature and function of the "plug like formation" observed inside the spermathecae of many phlebotomine sandflies dissected during field surveys. Trials were carried out on two laboratory reared species, Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. papatasi. The results showed that the "plug like formation" is a true mating plug (MP) containing immotile sperms. Our studies showed also that the MP evolves differently according to the physiological state of the mated female. In blood-fed females, it persists 22-25 hrs post mating. Follows a period of 3-4 days in which the spermathecae acquire different form from that of the virgin spermathecae, but sperms are still undistinguishable. Active sperms appear only a few hours before oviposition. After oviposition, however, spermathecae are void as in the virgin female. Thus, during the complete gonotrophic cycle the spermathecae display five different forms: a) normal and void; b) showing MP; c) distended and yellowish, MP absent; d) active sperms present; e) normal and void. In unfed females, MP was observed to last for 6 days post copula. The results show also that MP is interfering with reinsemination.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The spermatozoon of Phlebotominae sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae).

Spermatozoa of Sergentomyia minuta Rondani were examined by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The spermatozoon was seen to have a head and a tail. The first was characterized by an acrosomal complex with a thin space containing granular material which was interpreted as a perforatorium. The tail contained a 9+9+0 axoneme and one mitochondrial derivative. These results were compared with the sperm ultrastructure of other Diptera, particularly Psychodidae.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Sugars in sandflies.

The evidence for the acquisition of different types of sugars by wild caught sandflies is reviewed and the recent results summarised. Studies on Phlebotomus ariasi, P. perfiliewi and P. perniciosus in the Mediterranean region has shown that these sandflies take honeydew derived sugars from aphids or coccids; in a similar study in the New World, Lutzomyia peruensis has also been shown to have taken sugar from such sources. The use of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) as a technique for identification of such sugars is used as a more sensitive method for identifying trisaccharides and disaccharides; this method should supersede the van Handel cold anthrone test for sugar identification which only identifies the presence of fructose moieties. The possible significance of sugar feeding in the biology of sandflies and for the transmission of Leishmania are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Electrophoretic studies on two Phlebotomus species (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Italy.

Two sandfly species of the genus Phlebotomus from three different regions of Italy were examined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Eleven loci were used for allozyme analysis. Data showed that there are two diagnostic loci, Idh and Lap-1, (for which different alleles are fixed in the two species) useful for the identification of these species. The degree of polymorphism for both species is low, with only Mpi and Pgm showing a relatively high polymorphism in P. perniciosus and P. perfiliewi respectively. Estimates of genetic variability are discussed.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Philippo Bonanni and his "Micrographia curiosa".

In this introduction, a short biography of Philippo Bonanni and comments on his "Micrographia curiosa" are presented. P. Bonanni was the first naturalist to describe a phlebotomine sandfly. His work was published in 1691, and on the occasion of the Tricentenary of its publication, the "First International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sandflies" was organized.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Entomological survey of sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo)].

A survey on phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) was carried out in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo region (Italy). Ten collecting sites at altitudes between 700 and 1,070 m a.s.l., produced a total of 324 specimens (81.1% males), 72.86% being Phlebotomus perniciosus, 3.08% P. mascittii, 0.30% P. papatasi and 23.76% Sergentomyia minuta. The collecting sites at 1,070, 950 and 775 m a.s.l. are the highest levels recorded in Italy for P. perniciosus, P. mascittii and P. papatasi, respectively. P. perfiliewi, the proven vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Abruzzo region (Maroli et al., 1987) was absent. The probable role of P. perniciosus in the transmission of the sporadic CL cases reported from the area is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Intraspecific variation in the cuticular hydrocarbons of the sandfly Phlebotomus perfiliewi from Italy.

The cuticular hydrocarbons of Phlebotomus perfiliewi Parrot from representative localities on both sides of Italy show contrasts which support the view of Ward et al., (1981) that there are distinguishable populations of this sandfly on the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. It is suggested that the Appennine mountains form a barrier between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian populations. A third distinct hydrocarbon type of P. perfiliewi was detected in Calabria, southern Italy, where contact between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian types of flies is most likely to occur. P. perfiliewi from a trans-Appennine pass were also of the Calabrian hydrocarbon type. These hydrocarbon contrasts between allopatric populations of P. perfiliewi may result from clinical variation across the Appennines, associated with different host preferences, or they may represent apomictic populations with differential mate recognition systems.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Leishmaniasis vectors (Diptera, Psychodidae) in 3 different environments of western Sicily and 2 of the Aeolian Islands].

Some cases of visceral leishmaniasis in children and in adults have been diagnosed in the last fifteen years in Western Sicily and an increasing number of cases of canine leishmaniasis has been recorded, mainly in the province of Palermo. Such a human leishmaniasis recrudescence, after the antimalaria campaign had reduced the transmission, and the increase of canine leishmaniasis in the city of Palermo and its suburbs suggest that transmission in urban areas may be possible. Using the oiled paper method, a survey of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out during June and July 1988 both in the centre and suburbs of Palermo, and during July and August '88 in the Madonie mountains (at 800 to 1200 meters above sea level) and in two Eolian Islands: Lipari and Filicudi. Details of collected species are given. In both surveys, the oiled paper method did not turn out to be selective towards any given species of sandflies.

Adult↗