The agglutination of erythrocytes and Leishmania parasites by sandfly gut extracts: evidence for lectin activity.

Lysates of heads, hind- and midguts of male and female Phlebotomus papatasi were found to contain lectins or lectin-like molecules capable of agglutinating human red blood cell types of the ABO(H) system and promastigotes of Leishmania aethiopica, L. major and L. donovani but not L.

Chemical analysis of compounds extracted from the tergal "spots" of Lutzomyia longipalpis from Brazil.

The chemical composition of the compounds contained in the tergal spots of Lutzomyia longipalpis was investigated. Four populations of L. longipalpis were examined, originating from: Sobral, Ceará, Brazil (one spot and two spot populations), Santarém, Pará, Brazil (one spot) and Marajó Island, Pará, Brazil (one spot).

Separation of female Psychodopygus wellcomei and P. complexus (Diptera: Psychodidae) by cuticular hydrocarbon analysis.

Psychodopygus wellcomei (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis - causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, cannot be distinguished from sympatric P. complexus either by morphometrics or isoenzyme profiles. We report here the use of cuticular hydrocarbon analysis in the successful separation of individual female P.

Fluid mechanics of bloodmeal uptake by Leishmania-infected sandflies.

The fluid mechanics of blood flow in the pharynx and cibarium of Phlebotomus papatasi are described using a simple static model. The flow is characterized as viscous laminar. The Hagen-Poiseuille equation is used to assess the effects of attached parasites in the foregut of Leishmania-infected sandflies on blood flow.

Morphological changes of Trypanosoma vivax in mice.

Morphological changes were observed in the blood forms of Trypanosoma vivax strain Y486 in mice on Days 12-13 of infection, following the peak parasitaemia. During this period elongate trypomastigotes, 25-40 micron long, were observed, most showing an anterior movement of the kinetoplast towards the nucleus and some having a blunt posterior end. In a few parasites a complete transformation to the epimastigote form, 40-42 micron long, was observed.

Identification of adults of the Simulium damnosum complex using hydrocarbon analysis.

Using advanced gas liquid chromatography in association with multivariate statistical analysis, a study of four members of the S. damnosum complex - S. sirbanum, S.

Ultrastructure of the fibrous matrix surrounding cells of Trypanosoma melophagium in the hind-gut of the sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus.

A fibrous material surrounds cells of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) melophagium in the hind-gut of the sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus, and terminates just beyond the distal portions of the attached cells. The fibres of this extracellular matrix have a diameter of approximately 4 nm and are closely packed. Individual fibres have approximately the same orientation as adjacent fibres and usually lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the parasite cells.

A comparison of selected immunological techniques used to detect anti-leishmanial antibodies in the sera of two reptile species.

European green lizards (Lacerta viridis) and spiny-tailed agamids (Agama caudospinosum) were obtained from areas endemic for human leishmaniasis. Serum antibody titres against Leishmania agamae, a reptilian leishmanial species, in normal lizards and lizards injected with Leishmania agamae promastigotes were measured by 5 immunological methods commonly used in the serodiagnosis of the human and mammalian leishmaniasis viz. immobilisation test (IMM), direct agglutination (DA), complement-fixation test (CFT), indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Responses of European green lizards Lacerta viridis following administration of Leishmania agamae promastigotes.

European green lizards (Lacerta viridis) were injected intraperitoneally, subcutaneously or orally with viable Leishmania agamae promastigotes. Neither promastigotes nor amastigotes were later found in blood and tissue impression smears, or in blood and selected organ cultures. However, by the use of an immunoperoxidase technique, parasite antigens were detected in the liver, stomach, small intestine, kidney, gonad, heart, lung and skin but not in the bone marrow, brain or spleen.

Elleipsisoma thomsoni Franca, 1912: an Apicomplexan parasite in the red blood cells of the mole (Talpa europaea).

The rediscovery of Elleipsisoma thomsoni Franca 1912 from Talpa europaea is reported. This organism, whose identity as a parasite was initially doubted, is shown to be an intra-erythrocytic protozoan parasite. Light microscope observation confirmed the original description and 22/53 (42.

Trypanosome infection rates of Glossina spp. (Diptera: Glossinidae) in transitional forest-savanna near Bouaflé, Ivory Coast.

Tsetse, caught in biconical traps near Bouaflé, Ivory Coast in 1980-81, were examined for trypanosome infections. In a sample of 1138 non teneral Glossina palpalis s.l.

Naturally occurring agglutinins against trypanosomatid flagellates in the haemolymph of insects.

In vitro studies of the behaviour of the trypanosomatid flagellates Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania hertigi in the presence of cell-free haemolymph of locusts, Schistocerca gregaria and cockroaches, Periplaneta americana revealed the presence of parasite agglutinins. The range of normal values of agglutination titres was 2(-4) to 2(-13). Physico-chemical treatment of haemolymph indicated that these agglutinins are protein or glycoprotein in nature and are only partially affected by heat treatment below 65 degrees C, at which temperature incubation of haemolymph for 30 min abrogated all agglutination.

Haemagglutinins and parasite agglutinins in haemolymph and gut of Glossina.

Agglutinating activity was found in the haemolymph and in extracts of midgut and hindgut of Glossina austeni against calf, guinea pig and chicken erythrocytes for the first time. Trypanosoma brucei procyclic forms were also agglutinated by midgut and hindgut extracts, but not by haemolymph. The 3 fractions tested failed to react with erythrocytes of four other vertebrates and other trypanosomatids (Leishmania hertigi and Crithidia fasciculata) examined.

Antigen distribution and humoral response in the lizard, Agama caudospinosum, after injection with Leishmania agamae.

The response of the spiny-tailed agamid lizard, Agama caudospinosum, to administration of Leishmania agamae promastigotes was investigated. Lizards given a single injection of promastigotes showed no signs of clinical infection. Neither promastigotes nor amastigotes were found in blood and tissue impression smears, nor in blood and selected body organ cultures.

Selective primary health care: strategies for control of disease in the developing world. VIII. African trypanosomiasis.

African trypanosomiasis in humans is caused by trypanosomes, parasitic protozoa that inhabit the blood and tissue spaces. Humans are infected by the bite of the tsetse (Glossina species), which itself acquires the parasites from human or animal hosts. The vector and the disease are confined to sub-saharan Africa where the disease occurs in endemic foci from which epidemics arise.

Studies on the pathology of an avian trypanosome (T. bouffardi) infection in experimentally infected canaries.

Experimental infections of canaries with an avian trypanosome, Trypanosoma bouffardi, isolated from West Africa demonstrated that these infections can cause pathological changes in tissues. Enlargement of the spleen coincided with peak parasitaemia but no other gross changes were observed. Histopathological examination of infected and control birds revealed focal myocarditis and lymphoid hyperplasia, in infected birds, which are consistent with trypanosome infection.

Rooting pattern and water relations of three pasture grasses growing in drying soil.

Seedlings of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. S23), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L. S37) and Timothy (Phleum pratense L.

The humoral immune response of the spiny-tailed agamid lizard (Agama caudospinosum) to injection with Leishmania agamae promastigotes.

Spiny-tailed agamid lizards (Agama caudospinosum) were given a single intraperitoneal injection of Leishmania agamae promastigotes. Direct agglutinins (DA), indirect haemagglutinins (IHA) and complement-fixing antibodies (CFA) produced against the parasites were non-precipitating, relatively thermostable and dithiothreitol sensitive. Antibodies were also detected by the immobilisation test (IMM) and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The primary humoral immune response of European green lizards (Lacerta viridis) to Leishmania agamae.

European green lizards, Lacerta viridis, produced relatively thermostable, dithiothreitol-sensitive, non-precipitating, agglutinins and complement-fixing antibodies (CFA) to Leishmania agamae administered subcutaneously (SC), intraperitoneally (IP) or orally (OR). Antibodies were also detected by the immobilization test (IMM) and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The most sensitive method for the detection of stimulated immunoglobulins was ELISA.