Demonstration that Leptomonas pessoai Galvão,Oliveira, Carvalho & Veiga, 1970, is a Herpetomonas*

SYNOPSIS. Leptomonas pessoai from the reduviid hemipteron Zelus leucogrammus, was cloned. The original strain (ATCC 30252) and clones can differentiate from promastigote to opisthomastigote. Differentiation is faster at high temperature (37 C) and in a defined medium as compared with a complex medium. It is suggested that Leptomonas pessoai be designated Herpetomonas samuelpessoai.     

Growth of an Insect Trypanosomatid at 37 C in a Defined Medium*

SYNOPSIS. A defined medium for an insect trypanosomatid, “Leptomonas pessoai” (probably a member of the genus Herpetomonas) isolated from the reduviid Zelus leucogrammus, allows growth up to 37 C. No marked differences were evident for growth at 37 C. The requirements for amino acids, vitamins, purine, and hemin, and pH range were like those established for Crithidia fasciculata. Again like C. fasciculata, it remains alive at 4 C for at least 3 months in a çlycerolated defined medium.     

Five Trypanosomatid Species of Insects Distinguished by Isoenzymes*

SYNOPSIS Blastocrithidia culicis, Crithidia deanei, Crithidia fasciculata, Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, Leptomonas seymouri and Leishmania tarentolae grown in cultures were compared by electrophoretic mobility for isoenzymes in 6 enzymes. All species were found distinct in these characteristics. Endosymbiotic C. deanei, which was identical to the aposymbiotic C. deanei in 5 enzymes, had an extra band in aspartate aminotransferase. No differences in isoenzymes were found between members of one species maintained in 2 different culture media.     

Cytochemical Analysis at the Fine-Structural Level of Trypanosomatids Stained with Phosphotungstic Acid*

SYNOPSIS The ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (PTA) technic was used to detect, at the fine-structural level, basic proteins in various developmental stages of pathogenic Trypanosoma cruzi, and nonpathogenic Herpetomonas samuelpessoai, Leptomonas samueli, and Crithidia deanei, trypanosomatids. Reactions were observed in the nucleus of all stages. In the kinetoplast of epimastigote and promastigote forms reactions were noted mainly at the periphery. In trypomastigotes and choanomastigotes forms, however, an intense reaction was observed throughout the kinetoplast. Reactions were present in cytoplasmic vesicles related to protein storage in T. cruzi and in membrane-bounded peroxisome-like organelles of H. samuelpessoai, L. samueli and C. deanei. The network of filaments which forms the paraxial rod did not react. In the flagellum, reaction was noted only at the peripheral doublet microtubules. PTA reacts also with structures related to the junction between the flagellar and cell body membranes.     

The Differentiation of Herpetomonas megaseliae: Ultrastructural Observations*

Ultrastructure of both undifferentiated (promastigote and paramastigote) and differentiated (opisthomastigote) forms of Herpetomonas megaseliae is described. There is a posterior migration of the kinetoplast at the end of the exponential growth phase. The posterior extension of the flagellar pocket precedes migration of the kinetoplast. Opisthomastigotes have an electron-translucent mitochondrial matrix in comparison with undifferentiated forms. The Golgi body changes from a stack of flattened sacs to an aggregation of vesicles. Several structures previously reported from Trypanosomatidae, e.g. subpellicular organelles, pellicular microtubules, membrane whorls, stored metabolic products, surface blebs, and an intraflagellar body are also present in H. megaseliae.