Fleas of the Lake Evoron vole (Siphonaptera)

In Lower Priamurje in summer of 1977-1979 Microtus evoronensis was parasitized mainly by fleas of Ceratophyllus calcarifer. Other seven species of fleas recorded from this animal are very rare. They are connected, in general, with other small mammals and birds.     

Fleas (Siphonaptera) associated with mammals and birds in the Ciscaucasia

The flea fauna of the Ciscaucasia comprises 76 species, 13 of which are associated with birds and the rest, with mammals. Rodent parasites are the most numerous; fleas associated with carnivores, bats, and insectivores are less abundant. Fleas parasitize different species of birds of the orders Passeriformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, and Strigiformes. Among 41 flea genera known from the Caucasus, species of the genera Amalaraeus, Araeopsylla, Atyphloceras, Caenopsylla, Callopsylla, Doratopsylla, Paraneopsylla, Peromyscopsylla, Phaenopsylla, Tarsopsylla, and Wagnerina are absent in the Ciscaucasia. Only two subendemic species were revealed in the region; 33 flea species are distributed over the entire Ciscaucasia, while the distribution of others is limited to landscapes of one or two natural zones.     

Fleas (Siphonaptera) infesting birds of West Siberian plain

The four species of fleas associated with birds in West Siberian Plain have been recorded. Ceratophyllus styx is a specific parasite of Riparia riparia. Ceratophyllus garei, C. gallinae, and C. tribulis parasitize various setting of birds.     

Fleas (Siphonaptera) of Rodents in the Eastern Caucasian Highland Natural Plague Focus

Entomological Review - The Eastern Caucasian highland natural plague focus is located on the northern slope of the Main Caucasian Range. This peculiar region has a rich fauna of rodent fleas...     

The Origin of the Northern Palaearctic Fauna of Bloodsucking Insects,by the Example of Fleas (Siphonaptera), Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), and Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae)

The territory of Fennoscandia and northwestern European Russia was released from the glacier cover in the Upper Pleistocene and has been recolonized by bloodsucking insects during the last 11 thousand years. The sources of formation of the Northern Palaearctic fauna of such groups of bloodsucking insects as fleas (Siphonaptera), mosquitoes (Culicidae), and blackflies (Simuliidae) were different in the postglacial period. One of the sources was the fauna of the ancient Mediterranean and southern Europe, while others were the faunas of northeastern China and Primorye. In turn, the two latter sources are closely related to the ancient faunal centers of the East Asian Subregion of the Palaearctic and also of the Indomalayan Region. Besides, some species and genera have spread from the West American Subregion of the Nearctic through Beringia.     

Patterns of formation of the flea (Siphonaptera) fauna in the Caucasus

Fleas of the Caucasus belong to 155 species of 40 genera, constituting 17% and 43% of the species and generic composition of the Palaearctic fauna, respectively. The Caucasian fauna includes 23 endemic species but no endemic genera or subgenera. In the number of species, the Caucasian fauna is similar to that of the Mediterranean Subregion and is significantly poorer than the faunas of the Euro-Siberian (by 2.2 times) and Irano-Turanian (by 1.7 times) Subregions. Based on taxonomic diversity, we can propose a hypothesis on the West and East Palaearctic sources of the Caucasian fauna. The West Palaearctic source has determined the distribution of pulicomorph fleas of the families Pulicidae and Coptopsyllidae from Africa, on the one hand, and of fleas of the genera Ctenopthalmus and Palaeopsylla from Europe, on the other hand. Fleas of the Holarctic genera, such as Ceratophyllus and Megabothris, entered the Caucasus by the north Asian route; fleas of the genera Neopsylla, Rhadinopsylla, and Hystrichopsylla migrated to the Caucasus from east and central Asia by the south Asian route, through Middle and Western Asia.     

Gene typing of infectious tularemia strains isolated from the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories

The typing of F. tularensis strains by four variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci has been carried out. Among the strains isolated in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories seven genotypes have been detected and their spread in different natural foci has been analyzed. The data thus obtained suggest that the VNTR analysis may become an important instrument for studying the structure of the natural foci of tularemia and evolutionary relationships between individual areas of these foci.     

Bartonella Genotypes in Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) Collected from Rodents in the Negev Desert,Israel

Fleas collected from rodents in the Negev Desert in southern Israel were molecularly screened for Bartonella species. A total of 1,148 fleas, collected from 122 rodents belonging to six species, were pooled in 245 pools based on flea species, sex, and rodent host species. Two Bartonella gene fragments, corresponding to RNA polymerase B (rpoB) and citrate synthase (gltA), were targeted, and 94 and 74 flea pools were found positive by PCR, respectively. The Bartonella 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was also targeted, and 66 flea pools were found to be positive by PCR. Sixteen different Bartonella gltA genotypes were detected in 94 positive flea pools collected from 5 different rodent species, indicating that fleas collected from each rodent species can harbor several Bartonella genotypes. Based on gltA analysis, identified Bartonella genotypes were highly similar or identical to strains previously detected in rodent species from different parts of the world. A gltA fragment 100% similar to Bartonella henselae was detected in one flea pool. Another 2 flea pools contained gltA fragments that were closely related to B. henselae (98% similarity). The high sequence similarities to the zoonotic pathogen B. henselae warrant further investigation.Bartonellae are small Gram-negative bacilli belonging to the alpha-2 subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Different Bartonella species were detected in a wide range of vertebrate animals. There are currently 30 known species or subspecies, among which 14 have been associated with human diseases (7). Bartonella organisms are parasites of mammalian erythrocytes and endothelial cells and are transmitted by fleas and lice and potentially by other blood-feeding arthropods such as ticks and flies (2). Infection in the natural host commonly causes a chronic bacteremia, which is asymptomatic in most cases.Rodents are being extensively studied and were found to have a high prevalence of Bartonella infection, with a high diversity of Bartonella spp. and strains (3). The close contacts between human and rodent populations around the world create excellent conditions for transmission of Bartonella spp. from animals to humans (28). The transmission routes of Bartonella bacteria by arthropod vectors among rodents and between rodents and other mammalian hosts have public health implications. In order to understand the extent to which rodents serve as source of human infections, investigations of rodent-borne Bartonella are essential (28). A few cases of human infections with Bartonella bacteria of rodent origin have been reported: B. elizabethae was associated with endocarditis, B. washoensis was associated with cases of myocarditis and meningitis, B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis was reported to cause fever and neurologic symptoms, and B. grahamii was isolated from the intraocular fluids of a patient with neuroretinitis (5, 11, 12, 25, 29).An earlier survey carried out in the Tel Aviv region, Israel, demonstrated the occurrence of Bartonella strains closely related to B. elizabethae and B. tribocorum in commensal rats (Rattus rattus) (8). Another study has surveyed wild rodents and their fleas for Bartonella spp. in 19 geographical locations in Israel from the Upper Galilee in the north to Beer Sheba in the south. Bartonella DNA was detected in spleen samples of 19 out of 79 (24%) black rats (R. rattus), in 1 of 4 (25%) Cairo spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus), and in 15 of 34 (44%) flea pools collected from black rats (R. rattus) (21). The objectives of the current study were to screen fleas collected from rodents inhabiting the Negev Desert south to Beer Sheba for Bartonella infection and to compare Bartonella prevalences between male and female fleas.     

Morphological Diversity of the Skeletal Structures and Problems of Classification of Fleas (Siphonaptera). Part 6

The structure of 76 skeletal elements of adult fleas was analyzed, and the distribution of 114 characters with 446 character states over the body tagmata, segments, and morphofunctional complexes was investigated. Among them, 40% of the characters (40) and their states (163) describe the diversity of the structures of the frontal complex (including those of the head and prothorax), which is related to the specific features of flea parasitism. A large part of the characters (18) and their states (83) describe the structures of the nototrochanteral complex of the meso- and metathorax responsible for jumping. The total number of all types of homoplasies (258 states) is almost 1.8 times as great as the number of the states (145) that may be regarded as synapomorphies. The ancestral states (43) comprise a smaller portion of the total number. The proportion of the synapomorphic and homoplastic character states varies between the morphofunctional complexes.     

Diversity of Plague Vectors: Fleas of the Genus Frontopsylla Wagner et Ioff, 1926 (Siphonaptera,Leptopsyllidae)

Entomological Review - The taxonomic diversity, distribution patterns, and host-parasite relationships of fleas of the Palaearctic genus Frontopsylla (Leptopsyllidae, Paradoxopsyllinae) are...     

The Ability of the Fleas Citellophilus tesquorum and Frontopsylla luculenta luculenta (Siphonaptera,Ceratophyllidae) to Survive Below-Zero Temperatures during Winter

Entomological Review - This comparative study addresses survivorship of the fleas Citellophilus tesquorum and Frontopsylla luculenta from five natural populations in Siberia at below-zero...     

Molecular Genetics and the Ontogeny of Pigment Patterns in Mammals

The conclusion that animal development is guided by a hierarchical system of gene expression and interaction has gained considerable support from recent molecular genetic studies on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and mice (Mus musculus). They demonstrate that the patterns of organization revealed by terminal differentiation of cells is anticipated by a myriad of transient prepatterns that channel the developing embryo toward its genetically-programmed target. The numerous white spotting mutants in mice exhibit some of the most dramatic and variable patterns of cutaneous melanin pigmentation. Until recently, the mechanisms of action of white spotting genes and their relationship to the developmental genetic hierarchy remained unknown. It now appears that certain white spotting genes may encode growth factors essential for melanoblast development. Others may be related to homeobox genes that play a number of developmental roles, the primary one being the determination of regional organization along the anterior-posterior axis of the early embryo. The patterns of homeobox gene expression are consistent with several of the developmental models for white spotting in mice and other mammals. It is evident that white spotting genes are not solely concerned with the terminal differentiation of melanoblasts into melanocytes. They are heterogeneous with regard to action and level of expression within the developmental hierarchy.     

Genetic Patterns of Paternity and Testes Size in Mammals

Background

Testes size is used as a proxy of male intrasexual competition, with larger testes indicative of greater competition. It has been shown that in some taxa, social mating systems reflect variance in testes size, but results are not consistent, and instead it has been suggested that genetic patterns of mating may reflect testes size. However, there are different measures of genetic patterns of mating. Multiple paternity rates are the most widely used measure but are limited to species that produce multi-offspring litters, so, at least for group living species, other measures such as loss of paternity to males outside the social group (extra group paternity) or the proportion of offspring sired by the dominant male (alpha paternity) might be appropriate. This study examines the relationship between testes size and three genetic patterns of mating: multiple paternity, extragroup paternity and alpha paternity.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using data from mammals, phylogenetically corrected general linear models demonstrate that both multiple paternity and alpha paternity, but not extra group paternity, relate to testes size. Testes size is greater in species with high multiple paternity rates, whereas the converse is found for alpha paternity. Additionally, length of mating season, ovulation mode and litter size significantly influenced testes size in one model.

Conclusions/Significance

These results demonstrate that patterns of mating (multiple paternity and alpha paternity rates) determined by genetic analysis can provide reliable indicators of male postcopulatory intrasexual competition (testes size), and that other variables (length of mating season, ovulation mode, litter size) may also be important.     

Tardigrade Fauna of the Region between Oka and Volga Rivers (Russia) and Patterns of their Distribution in Substrates and Habitats

The region between the Oka and Volga rivers has been largely neglected with respect to tardigrade biodiversity. In the present study a total of 21 species from 7 genera, 3 families, 2 orders and only 1 class of tardigrades were present, and some of their ecological preferences were noted. The tardigrades in the studied region were mainly cosmopolitan. Eurytopic, hygrophilic and xerophilic species were common while obligate freshwater species were not found. There is a marked similarity in the tardigrade fauna within similar habitats from different locations within the region.     

Ways of the fleas (Siphonaptera) fauna formation in the Caucasus

Fleas fauna of the Caucasus is considered, possible ways of its formation are discussed. Caucasian fleas belong to 155 species and 40 genera; 23 species are endemics. Hypothesis on Western Palearctic and Eastern Palearctic sources of the Caucasian fleas' fauna formation are proposed.     

陕西马家山自然保护区大中型兽类的资源及区系与生态分布

马家山自然保护区(105°28′~105°40′E,32°50′~32°56′N)属秦岭西段的南坡山地。采用样线调查法和访问调查法,于2004年10~11月,对该保护区大中型兽类(包括灵长类、食肉动物和偶蹄动物)的资源、区系和生态分布进行了研究。该保护区共有23种大中型兽类,其中属我国Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级重点保护动物的兽类分别有5种和9种。它是秦岭物种多样性保护的关键地区之一。金丝猴和猕猴在此同域分布,大熊猫和羚牛四川亚种也分布于此地,该保护区是这4个珍稀濒危物种的一个新分布区。区内的23种兽类中没有古北界的区系成分,而属于东洋界成分的兽类有17种,占73.9%;其余6种为广布种,占26.1%。分析该区域23种兽类的生态分布发现,常绿落叶阔叶混交林、落叶阔叶林和针阔叶混交林中分别有16种、20种和12种动物活动。这些物种的垂直分布幅度有很大的差异。垂直分布幅度在海拔高差1000 m以上、500~1000 m、500 m以下的物种分别有5种、13种和5种。区内不同海拔带的兽类物种数随海拔升高的变化比较平稳,没有表现出明显上升或下降的规律性变化。     

Zoogeographic analysis of the eulophid wasp fauna (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) of Stavropol Territory (Ciscaucasia)

On the basis of climatic and provincial principles, the ranges of 263 eulophid species from Stavropol Territory have been classified into 60 types combined into the following 15 groups: multiregional ranges (6), trans-Holarctic (62), trans-Palaearctic (12), pancontinental (2), super-Atlantic-eastern strictly continental (1), super-Atlantic (3) pan-Atlantic-western continental (66), pan-Atlantic (14), western pancontinental (31), western eurycontinental (9), western transitional (5), Palaearctic disjunctive (60), western Palaearctic tentatively disjunctive (3), Holarctic tentatively disjunctive ranges (1), and tentatively endemics (2 species).