Morphometric characterization of thalassohaline Artemia franciscana populations from the Colombian Caribbean

Aim To establish possible interpopulation relationships among Colombian Artemia franciscana (Crustacea, Anostraca) populations. Location Colombian Caribbean coast (Manaure, Galerazamba, Salina Cero and Tayrona) and a similar thalassohaline reference population from San Francisco Bay (SFB‐USA). Methods Morphometric characters of male and female cultured individuals of A. franciscana were measured. The populations were grouped according to: (1) population type (populations grouped according to two broad regions of origin: North America and the Caribbean coast), and (2) specific geographical origin (populations selected according to five specific local origins: Manaure, Galerazamba, Salina Cero, Tayrona and SFB) and evaluated using forward stepwise discriminant analysis (SPSS, Ver. 10). Results Optimal discriminant variables for males grouped by the type of population were left setae and antenna length, and for females they were abdominal length and antenna length. However, for males grouped by their specific geographical origin, the optimal variables were furca length, left setae, antenna length, eye separation, abdominal width and abdominal length, and for the females, they were furca length, abdominal length, left setae and eye separation. Male and female Colombian Caribbean populations were separated from the North American populations. However, our results show that the classification based on male characters provides better group membership than females. Main conclusions Male morphometric characters separated the type of population groups more clearly than the female characters, because all Colombian populations were correctly positioned in the Caribbean coast region and the SFB population in the North American region, with no overlapping between the two types, as was the case for the female individuals. Likewise, male individuals correctly position the Salina Cero population to its neighbouring Galerazamba population and to the other Colombian populations. In contrast, female individuals from Salina Cero did not cluster with the other Colombian coast populations (Galerazamba, Tayrona and Manaure) or with the SFB population.     

Effect of Temperature and Salinity on the Biochemical Composition of Artemia franciscana KELLOGG 1906, from Araya (Venezuela) and San José (México)

The effect of different temperature and salinity combinations on the biochemical composition of Artemia franciscana from Venezuela and Mexico, is analyzed. Temperatures were 22 ± 0.5 °C, 26 ± 0.5 °C and 30 ± 0.5°C; salinities were 30‰, 60‰, and 120‰. Chaetoceros sp. was used as food. According to Tukey's Multiple Range Analysis for the A. franciscana population from Araya and San José, there were differences in the biochemical parameters and survival percentages among treatments and between populations. A positive correlation is observed among proximate composition values and survival, total length and growth rates. The observed variations reflect a genetic component resulting from the life history of the populations, and a non-genetic component produced by the experimental conditions.     

Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers in the brine shrimp Artemia (Branchiopoda, Anostraca)

The brine shrimp Artemia is a complex genus containing sexual species and parthenogenetic lineages. Artemia franciscana is native to America and its cysts (diapausing eggs) are used worldwide as a food source in aquaculture. As a consequence, this anostracan has become an invasive species in many hypersaline aquatic ecosystems of other continents. Parthenogenetic Artemia lineages occur only in the Old World. Ten and five microsatellite markers were developed to characterize two populations for A. franciscana and two populations for diploid parthenogenetic Artemia, respectively. For A. franciscana the number of alleles ranged from 11 to 58 per locus, while for parthenogens the number of alleles ranged from three to 10. The levels of heterozygosity in A. franciscana and in parthenogens ranged from 0.115 to 0.976 and from 0.000 to 0.971, respectively. These microsatellite loci showed a high population assignment power, which will be useful for future studies of population genetics and invasive processes in Artemia.     

Extraction of DNA from anostracan cysts (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) for use in RAPD-PCR analyses

The total lipid content in Artemia franciscana (21–23% ofdry weight (DW)) when enriched with either Super Selco or DHA Selco wastwice as high as in the adult copepods Temora longicornis and Eurytemora sp.(9–11% of DW). In Brachionus plicatilis the total lipid contentwas 11 and 6.6% for cultures growing at high and low growth rate,0.12 d^–1 and 0.38 d^–1, respectively. In thecopepodid stages I, II and III of Calanus finmarchicus the total lipid levelwas 12–13%, increasing to 24% in copepodid stage IV, Vand the adults. In T. longicornis and Eurytemora sp. the predominant fattyacids were DHA (22:6n-3), EPA (20:5n-3) and the saturated fatty acid 16:0,which constituted 40–45%, 21–24% and8–12% of total fatty acids, respectively. C. finmarchicuscontained the same dominant fatty acids. In both the cultivated live feedorganisms DHA, EPA and 18:1 were the predominant fatty acids. In A.franciscana the content of these fatty acids varied according to theenrichment medium and in B. plicatilis according to the growth rate.     

International study on Artemia. LVI. Characterization of two Artemia populations from Namibia and Madagascar: cytogenetics, biometry, hatching characteristics and fatty acid profiles

Two parthenogenetic Artemia populations from southern Africa, one from Swakopmund saltworks (Namibia) and another from Ankiembe saltworks (Madagascar) have been studied. The population from Namibia is mainly diploid (2n=42) with few tetraploid individuals (4n=84), while the one from Madagascar was found to be triploid (3n=63). No chromocenters have been observed in either of the two populations. The Namibian population has smaller cysts and nauplii compared to those of the Madagascar population. Discriminant analysis revealed significant differences in the biometry of the adults from the two populations. The two populations exhibited very good hatching characteristics. The study of fatty acid methyl esters revealed that the Namibian population belongs to the fresh water type of Artemia showing low levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, whereas the population from Madagascar displayed exceptionally high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, belonging to the marine water type.     

Dispersal of Artemia franciscana Kellogg (Crustacea; Anostraca) populations in the coastal saltworks of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil

In spite of the presence of Artemia franciscana Kellogg in several saltworks in the State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) (northeastern Brazil) that were colonized from inoculations made in Macau (RN) in April 1977 with cysts from a San Francisco Bay (California, U.S.A.) stock, there is no recent data on the degree of regional dispersal of this anostracan. For 12 months (July 1996 – June 1997), 55 saltworks located in the municipalities of Areia Branca, Grossos, Galinhos, Guamaré and Macau in RN were visited and sampled for the presence of Artemia franciscana and the occurrence of its cysts. Populations of Artemia franciscana were found in all 55 saltworks, although significant amounts of cysts were only found in six sites. The presence of Artemia franciscana in all visited sites brings further evidence to the ample dispersal of this anostracan throughout the saltwork region of RN. However, the relatively low incidence of cysts suggests that most of these populations are reproducing ovoviviparously.     

AFLP characterization of natural populations of Berberis (Berberidaceae) in Patagonia, Argentina

 AFLP markers were used to analyse the intra- and interspecific relationships among 22 natural populations of 13 Patagonian species of Berberis and the relationships among the taxa belonging to homoploid and polyploid complexes. Seven primer combinations gave rise to 231 AFLP bands, of which 199 were polymorphic. Correspondence between AFLP data, morphological traits and seed protein bands was also assessed. The dendrogram inferred from AFLP fingerprints showed that, in general, populations of the same species formed closely related groups with high coefficients of similarity. Principal co-ordinates analysis showed two separate subgroups: (i) B. bidentata and their putative ancestors –B. darwinii and B. linearifolia– which form a homogamic group, and (ii) B. buxifolia, B. heterophylla and B. parodii– which could form a polyploid hybrid complex. Received March 21, 2001 Accepted September 11, 2001     

不同饵料对卤虫生长、总脂含量及脂肪酸组成的影响

为了提高养殖卤虫的饵料营养价值,了解其不同生长阶段营养成分变化情况,采用单因子试验研究了8种饵料（三角褐指藻、小球藻、微绿球藻、酵母液、三角褐指藻＋小球藻＋微绿球藻、三角褐指藻＋酵母液、小球藻＋酵母液和微绿球藻＋酵母液）对卤虫生长、总脂含量及脂肪酸组成的影响,结果表明：不同饵料种类对卤虫生长、总脂含量及脂肪酸组成的影响显著（P＜0.05）,增长率,以三角褐指藻＋酵母液最优;总脂含量、以三角褐指藻最优（19.67%）,除酵母液外,与其它饵料相差不显著（P＞0.05）;脂肪酸组成效果,以微绿球藻组最优（EPA：18.01%,DNA：0.55%,（n-3）HUFA：19.08%）,与三角褐指藻组相差不大（P＞0.05）,显著高于其它各组（P＞0.05）.同时以三角褐指藻为饵料,研究了卤虫不同生长阶段（体长2、4、6、8、10 mm）总脂含量、脂肪酸组成变化,结果表明：卤虫体长2～10 mm总脂含量为14.27%～20.93%,随体长的增长降低;EPA、DHA及（n-3）HUFA的含量,均随体长的增长降低,EPA含量为：10.47%～20.77%,DNA含量为：0～0.70%,（n-3）HUFA含量为：10.85%～22.01%.结论认为,卤虫以三角褐指藻或三角褐指藻＋酵母液为饵料培养营养价值最佳,其体长小于6 mm营养价值较佳.     

The introduction of Old World crops (wheat, barley and peach) in Andean Argentina during the 16th century a.d.: archaeobotanical and ethnohistorical evidence

It was believed for a long time that the first Old World crops were introduced to the northwest of Argentina in a.d. 1550 during the foundation of Barco, and that the indigenous people incorporated them into their subsistence almost passively. However, since wheat, barley, and peach have been recovered from El Shincal, an Inka (Inca) administrative centre, new questions have arisen about who first brought these crops to the study region, as well as about where they were grown for the first time and which routes they followed after that. This paper will try to solve these questions during a period ranging from the 16th to the 18th century. This time span, although arbitrary, is consistent with the major damage to the original social structure caused by the Spaniards to the local indigenous populations. Our approach includes the comparison of ethnohistorical with archaeobotanical evidence. It is concluded that the first Old World crops were brought from Chile to Santiago del Estero by Spanish soldiers in a.d. 1556, and to Londres in a.d. 1558. These crops were taken up by local indigenous people during the period of the encomenderos and used to carry out a pachamanca ceremony at El Shincal during a Diaguita rebellion. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at     

Geographical distribution and evolutionary divergence times of Asian populations of the brine shrimp Artemia (Crustacea,Anostraca)

The brine shrimp Artemia represents a widespread genus of microcrustaceans adapted to hypersaline environments. The species of this genus have been the subject of numerous phylogenetic studies, but many open questions remain, especially for Eurasian Artemia lineages. Artemia sinica Cai, 1989 and Artemia tibetiana have a restricted geographical distribution, whereas the Eurasian haplotype complex (EHC) and especially Artemia urmiana Günther, 1899 show wider ranges. We examined the geographic distribution, evolutionary age, and historical demography of the Asian Artemia lineages (A. urmiana, A. sinica, A. tibetiana, and the Eurasian haplotype complex) using samples from 39 geographical localities and based on the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Asian Artemia taxa clusters into four distinctive clades with high nodal support, consisting of 69 unique haplotypes. A star‐like haplotype pattern was visible in EHC lineages (comprising pathenogenetic populations), which were genetically close to two sexual species, A. urmiana and A. tibetiana. The Bayesian approach of molecular clock estimation indicated that A. sinica had already diverged in the late Miocene (19.99 Mya), whereas A. urmiana, A. tibetiana, and EHC shared a common ancestor in the late Pliocene (5.41 Mya). Neutrality tests indicated a recent population expansion in A. urmiana and EHC lineages. The diversification within A. urmiana and EHC lineages occurred in the Pleistocene (1.72 Mya) and Holocene (0.84 Mya), respectively. Overall, these results suggest a much longer evolutionary history of A. sinica and the possible evolutionary origin of EHC lineages from Asian sexual ancestors. Our findings point to the importance of species structure and divergence time variations of Asian Artemia, highlighting interspecific diversification and range expansion of local species in Asia. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London     

南极大磷虾粉对卤虫脂肪酸和氨基酸的营养强化作用

以卤虫(Artemia sp.)Ⅱ龄无节幼体作为试验材料,研究0、75、150、225 mg·L-1的南极大磷虾(Euphausia superba)粉对卤虫体内脂肪酸和氨基酸的强化效果,试验共进行18 h,每6h取样检测一次.结果表明:强化组各时段的二十二碳六烯酸、ω3-系列多不饱和脂肪酸总量以及多不饱和脂肪酸总量均显著高于对照组;除了75和225 mg·L-1组6h的二十碳五烯酸与对照组无显著差异外,其他各时段的二十碳五烯酸亦显著高于对照组;75mg·L-1组18h以及150 mg·L-1组12和18h的二十碳四烯酸亦显著升高;150 mg·L-1组的必需氨基酸总量和总氨基酸含量均显著高于对照组,此外,150 mg·L-1组各时间段的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于其他两个强化组和对照组,225 mg·L-1组12 h的必需氨基酸总量/氨基酸总量比值显著高于对照组;南极大磷虾粉对卤虫的脂肪酸和氨基酸均具有较好的营养强化效果,并以150 mg·L-1的强化浓度,12和18 h的强化时间为宜.     

Reproduction characteristics,survival rate and sex-ratio of four brine shrimp Artemia salina (Linnaeus, 1758) populations from Tunisia cultured under laboratory conditions

Artemia has a remarkable genetic variability that can be expressed in various phenotypic characteristics, such as morphometry, growth rate, reproductive isolation or molecular composition. This study presents reproduction characteristics, survival rate and sex-ratio of four Artemia salina populations from Tunisia cultured under standard conditions. Results show that both low (17.8% and 30.6% in Megrine saltwork and Sabkhet Sijoumi, respectively) and high (83.9% for Sahline saltwork) values were recorded for the percentage of total oviparous offspring. The offspring per brood varied from 70.3?±?41.9 (Megrine saltwork) to 73.6?±?51.4 (Sabkhet El Adhibet). Broods per female varied between 3.1?±?0.9 (Sahline saltwork) and 4.5?±?1.2 (Megrine saltwork), and time between broods ranged from 5.7?±?1.1 to 6.5?±?2.2 days for Megrine and Sahline, respectively. Statistical analysis (one-way analysis of variance, Tukey's HSD test, p?<?0.05) revealed no significant differences between reproductive traits of the four studied populations except for mean of oviparous and oviviparous offspring per female (F?=?9.158, p?<?0.05), and brood per female (F?=?4.779, p?<?0.05). The survival rate of the four studied A. salina populations fluctuated between 31.4% and 64.5% for Megrine and Sahline saltwork, respectively. However, the sex-ratio showed that for Megrine saltwork and Sabkhet El Adhibet, males predominated with 1?:?0.90 and 1?:?0.97 (males?:?females), respectively. The comparison between our results and those reported of other Artemia populations showed that the offspring per brood of Tunisian Artemia are comparable to A. persimilis but different to A. salina from Abu Kammash (Libya) and A. urmiana (Urmia Lake, Iran), and that days between brood, are similar to A. salina from Abu Kammash, A. sinica and polyploid A. parthenogenetica, but different from A. persimilis and A. franciscana.     

Differences in dietary and plasma fatty acids between wild and captive populations of a rare reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Tuatara (Sphenodon) are rare reptiles endemic to New Zealand. Wild tuatara on Stephens Island (study population) prey on insects as well as the eggs and chicks of a small nesting seabird, the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur). Tuatara in captivity (zoos) are fed diets containing different insects and lacking seabirds. We compared the fatty acid composition of major dietary items and plasma of wild and captive tuatara. Fairy prions (eaten by tuatara in the wild) were rich in C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially the n-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In contrast, items from the diet of captive tuatara contained no C20 and C22 PUFA and were higher in medium-chain and less unsaturated fatty acids. Plasma from wild tuatara was higher in n-3 PUFA [including alpha-linoleic acid (C18:3n-3), EPA and DHA], and generally lower in oleic acid (C18:1) and palmitic acid (C16:0), than plasma from captive tuatara in the various fractions (phospholipid, triacylglycerol, cholesterol ester and free fatty acids). Plasma from wild adult tuatara showed strong seasonal variation in fatty acid composition, reflecting seasonal consumption of fairy prions. Differences in the composition of diets and plasma between wild and captive tuatara may have consequences for growth and reproduction in captivity. Accepted: 3 August 1998     

Assessment of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) populations in the wetlands of Corrientes,Argentina

Ten sampling sites were selected to represent six distinct habitat types used by capybaras (clean lagoons, dirty lagoons, cutwaters, fens and marshes, gallery forests, and erosion ditches). The sites were sampled during winter (July and August); densities were expressed as number of capybaras per linear km of shoreline (C/LKS). The sites were classified as protected from poachers (P), under light hunting pressure (LHP), and under heavy hunting pressure (HHP). Clean protected (P) lagoons had three times as many capybaras as LHP ones (30.7 and 10.9 C/LKS, respectively), and thirty times those under HHP (1.0 C/LKS). Protected marshes and dirty lagoons had even higher capybara densities (52.5 and 50.0 C/LKS, respectively). Gallery forests under LHP had low densities (6.3 C/LKS), and protected cutwaters intermediate densities (27.5 C/LKS). Erosion ditches had exceptionally high densities (900 C/LKS), probably because cattle were fenced out, reducing forage competition. These densities, when converted to the standard unit area measurement (individuals/ha), were similar to those obtained by other researchers in the Brazilian Pantanal, and somewhat smaller than those in the Venezuelan Llanos. Mean number of capybaras per group remained relatively constant in all habitats (averages ranged between 9.2 and 11.8 individuals/group) but its coefficient of variation was much higher in LHP sites, probably because social structure was altered severely by hunting. The overall ratio of young to adults and juveniles was 1:7.4. In one of the sites, 13 of 34 groups (38.2%) were with young (average of 17 capybaras per group, 4.7 of which were young), confirming that this species can reproduce all year long.Requests for reprints should be sent to: Dr. J. Rabinovich.     

Effect of water-borne copper on respiratory and cardiac function during the early ontogeny of the brine shrimp,Artemia franciscana Kellogg 1908 (Branchiopoda: Anostraca)

There was no direct effect of copper on the ontogeny or function of the heart of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana in sea water (salinity= 36 mg·ml^-1, 25°C). There was, however, an indirect effect as an increase in copper concentration resulted in a reduced growth rate. There was no difference between the critical O₂ tensions of newly hatched (stage 0/1) nauplii of control and treated (<0.32 and 10.11 mol·l^-1 copper, respectively) individuals. However by developmental stages 4–6, when both the heart and thoracic gills are in the process of differentiating, respiratory performance had improved (i.e. critical O₂ tension decreased from 6.27±0.45 to 4.69±0.24 kPa) in control but not in copper-treated individuals. It is suggested that respiratory impairment of stages 4–6 individuals is unlikely to be related to differences in cardiac performance or cellular respiration. Instead it may be related to metal-related damage to newly differentiating gill tissue and/or by copper in some way compromising the normal ontogenic shift in haemoglobin O₂ affinity. Copper-related respiratory impairment develops at a critical point in brine shrimp organogenesis when a good supply of O₂ is essential for normal development and if compromised may reduce the ability of this species to survive copper exposure.Abbreviations BL body length - BW body weight - HR heart rate - HM heavy metals - SW sea water - P _c critical oxygen tension     

Linoleic acid biosynthesis in the pea aphid,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)

The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) incorporated [1-¹⁴C]acetate into a phospholipid dienoic fatty acid in a time-dependent manner. In 2-h incubations, the incorporation of radioactivity into the 18:2 fraction was minimal, whereas after 45 h 18:2 was the major fatty acid labeled. Ozonolysis of the isolated dienoic fatty acid methyl ester followed by radio-gas-liquid chromatography showed that radioactivity was associated with fragments containing carbons 1–9 and 13–18. These data established the location of the double bonds in the 9,12 positions and indicated that the entire molecule was labeled from [1-¹⁴C]acetate. Tetracycline-treated aphids synthesized linoleic acid in the same proportions as untreated controls. Scanning electron microscopy showed that over 50% of the treated insects had greatly reduced numbers of intracellular symbiotes or lacked them or most of the existing symbiotes had an abnormal appearance. Therefore, we conclude that intracellular symbiotes are not involved in the biosynthesis of linoleic acid in the pea aphid.     

Effects of salinity on growth and survival in five Artemia franciscana (Anostraca: Artemiidae) populations from Mexico Pacific Coast

Salinity is an important factor influencing growth and survival of aquatic organisms such as Artemia, a valuable aquaculture species. This study evaluated the effects of salinity on A. franciscana populations from different water bodies in Mexico's Pacific Coast. With this purpose, five autochthonous bisexual Artemia populations were tested to assess their survival and growth values against salinities of 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 g/l, under laboratory conditions (25 +/- 2 degrees C; pH 8-10; constant light and aeration). The organisms were fed with 100 mL of rice bran and 2L of Tetraselmis suecica (500 000 cel/ml). The culture experiments were made in 200L plastic tanks, and survival and growth final values were obtained after 21 culture days. Survival and growth curves were determined by a regression analysis (R2). The significant differences between salinities were determined by ANOVA test (p < 0.05). The best survival and growth rates were found at salinities of 100-120 g/l. When the Mexican Artemia populations were cultivated at 40 g/l of salinity, 100% mortality was observed in the juvenile stage. This study determined that survival and growth values of A. franciscana populations increased with salinity. The five A. franciscana populations presented significant differences in their survival rate under various salinity regimes. The studied populations experienced high mortality at salinities under 60 g/l and over 200 g/l, and especially during the metanauplius stage. The present study confirms that growth rates in Mexican A. franciscana populations from Pacific Coast habitats are not inversely proportional to salinity. These A. franciscana populations should be cultured at 100-120 g/l of salinity to obtain better survival and growth rates. This data is useful to improve culture systems in aquaculture biomass production systems.     

New Miocene scarabeid and hymenopterous nests and early miocene (santacrucian) paleoenvironments,patagonian Argentina

Three new trace fossils are described from Miocene paleosols of southern Argentina. Celliforma pinturensis, n. ichnosp. and Celliforma rosellii, n. ichnosp. are interpreted as cells of digging bees, possibly Anthophoridae, and Coprinisphaerafrenguellii, n. ichnosp. are brood balls of dung‐beetles. Both burrowing bees and dung‐beetles are common nesters in relatively open areas, confirming previous reconstructions of the paleoenvironment of the Pinturas Formation. A brief review of scarabeid and bee fossil nests from South America is presented, and we propose that constructed nests have a higher preservation potential than excavated nests. This fact explains their more common occurrences as trace fossils in paleosols. A new ethological category, calichnia, is proposed for hymenopterous and coleopterous traces, in which adult individuals make nests exclusively for larvae.     

Aloina and Aloinella (Bryopsida, Pottiaceae) in northern Argentina

Except for a robust habit, two specimens ofAloina collected in northern Argentina are morphologically similar and are tentatively attributed toA. rigida (Hedw.) Limpr. This represents an addition to the moss flora of Argentina. In addition, two specimens ofAloinella represent significant findings: one shows features that agree with those given in the protologue forA. galeata (Müll. Hal.) Broth. and is treated here asA. galeata var.galeata to show the relationship toA. galeta var.andina (Delgad.) Delgadillo & Schiavone stat. nov.; the other belongs inA. cucullifera (Mitt.) Steere, a new record for Argentina. A key to the known species ofAloinella with updated ranges is included.     

Molecular detection of Bartonella in fleas (Hexapoda,Siphonaptera) collected from wild rodents (Cricetidae,Sigmodontinae) from Argentina

Bartonella are facultative intracellular Gram‐negative bacteria, transmitted mainly by hematophagous arthropods, and the rodents act as a natural reservoir. Different species of Bartonella associated with rodents have been implicated as causing human disease. Studies from Argentina are scarce and no Bartonella from fleas have been reported previously. The present study investigated the presence of Bartonella spp. in fleas associated with sigmodontine rodents in four localities of the Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. In total, 51 fleas (four species) were analysed of which 41.2% were found to be positive for the gltA gene fragment via a nested polymerase chain reaction. All positive fleas were of the species Neotyphloceras crackensis from three different localities. Eight of the 21 amplified samples were sequenced, and the presence of three different genotypes was detected with an identity of 95.5–98.8% amongst themselves. Bartonella genotypes from American rodents and rodent fleas were recovered in a monophyletic group. Similarly, most of the Peruvian and all Argentinean variants constitute a natural group sister of the American remainder. The importance of the Bartonella spp. with respect to public health is unknown, although future studies could provide evidence of the possible involvement of N. crackensis in the Bartonella transmission cycles.