Faunistic study of sandflies in Greece.

A faunistic study of phlebotomine sandflies was carried out on the mainland and on four islands in Greece between 1999 and 2004. Sandflies were collected in 18 areas, and the population structure was observed and recorded. A total of 10 species were identified; their distribution is presented here.

The establishment, maintenance and productivity of a laboratory colony of Phlebotomus similis Perfiliew, 1963 (Diptera, Psychodidae).

Phlebotomus similis is a relatively poorly understood sand fly species. This paper presents the results of the first successful laboratory colonization of P. similis.

Ticks, tick-borne rickettsiae, and Coxiella burnetii in the Greek Island of Cephalonia.

Domestic animals are the hosts of several tick species and the reservoirs of some tick-borne pathogens; hence, they play an important role in the circulation of these arthropods and their pathogens in nature. They may act as vectors, but, also, as reservoirs of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, which are the causative agents of SFG rickettsioses. Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii (C.

Colonization of Phlebotomus neglectus (Diptera: Psychodidae), the major vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Greece.

Colonization of Phlebotomus neglectus Tonnoir, the major vector of visceral leishmaniasis, in Greece is reported for the first time. Starting with wild-caught specimens, a small closed colony was established that was maintained for 17 mo or 10 generations. Gonotrophic discordance, stenogamic mating behavior, low fecundity, and dormancy because of low temperature were the most important findings that characterized the colony.

Typing of sandflies from Greece and Cyprus by DNA polymorphism of 18S rRNA gene.

A simple and reliable technique was developed to distinguish Phlebotomine sandflies by restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR-amplified (PCR-RFLP) 18S rDNAs. Seven morphologically identified sandflies species from several localities of Greece and Cyprus were studied, and specific patterns were developed by double digesting amplified 18S rDNAs with HpaII and RsaI. Three additional species of the subgenus Larroussius were distinguished by a second double digestion with AccI and BanI.