Jan Knoz

Novel Spirochetes Isolated from Mosquitoes and Black Flies in the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT: During the years 1999–2002, a total of 4,898 individuals of 26 species of hematophagous insects (4,149 mosquitoes, 583 black flies, and 166 tabanid flies) was examined for the presence of spirochetes using dark-field microscopy. There was an overall recovery of spirochetes from the midguts of Culicidae and Simuliidae of 23.5% and 11.4%, respectively. Spirochetes were not detected in Tabanidae. Seven spirochetal strains have been successfully recovered from mosquitoes and black flies: BR149 (Culex pipiens), BR151 (Cx. pipiens), BR173 (Cx. pipiens), BR177 (Cx. pipiens), BR193 (Aedes cinereus), BR208 (Cx. pipiens), and BR231 (Simulium noelleri). The strains have been adapted to laboratory conditions (BSK-H Complete medium). Their preliminary determination based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing has shown that they differ from the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato as well as other members of the Order Spirochaetales indicating novel bacterial species in the Family Spirochaetaceae.

On morphology and distribution of Neurohelea luteitarsis (Waltl) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Europe

Abstract The genus Neurohelea at the moment includes a single species Neurohelea luteitarsis Waltl. Czech Republic is the fifth European territory where this rare monotypic species has been reported from. In addition to the typical genus- and species characteristics described in the previous studies, we observed three fully developed spermathecae, eversible sacs on the abdominal pleurites of females and an interruption of the r-m vein. These features could prove essential in reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Heteromyiini as well as among tribes Heteromyiini and Palpomyiini.