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Odors attractive to sand flies and mosquitoes
Strejc, Vojtěch ; Volf, Petr (advisor) ; Štáfková, Jitka (referee)
This thesis focuses on the odour signals used by blood-sucking insects to locate their hosts. It focuses mainly on phlebotominae sand flies, but also deal with the most important findings published for mosquitoes, which are close relatives of sand flies. In addition to sex pheromones, odor signals important to sand flies include carbon dioxide, higher alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, ketones, and lactic acid. Sand flies and mosquitoes are also attracted to plant kairomones, such as terpenes, because they obtain their sugar meal from plants. In humans, it is known that various individuals are differently attractive to mosquitoes, this individual variability is mainly due to the skin microbiome. In sand flies, significantly different attractivity to Lutzomyia longipalpis was described among six volunteers. Part of this thesis focuses on the increased attractiveness of infected hosts for vectors (mosquitoes and sand flies). Mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles were in some studies more attracted to humans infected with Plasmodium falciparum, specifically those individuals who had gametocytes in their blood. Plasmodium falciparum apparently affect the vector in host selection by altering the odor of the host's sweat or breath to make it more attractive to mosquitoes. Similarly, sand flies are more attracted...
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Sauroleishmania-sand fly interactions
Tichá, Lucie
Sauroleishmania is a group of less studied parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). They circulate between reptile hosts and sand fly vectors (Diptera: Psychodidae). Due to the non-pathogenic character of its species, little is known about their development in reptiles and sand flies. The main objective of this project was to elucidate some missing aspects of Sauroleishmania life cycle. A major part of this thesis aimed to test the susceptibility of various sand fly species to different Sauroleishmania isolates and describe their development in the sand fly intestinal tract. A minor part was devoted to the study of infection in reptiles. First, we investigated the development of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae in three Phlebotomus species. Sand flies were infected through membrane on promastigote suspension and dissected at various time intervals post infection. Leishmania (S.) tarentolae developed in all three species tested and underwent peripylarian type of the development. Moreover, heavy parasite loads were frequently found in Malpighian tubules, which is a unique localization among Leishmania parasites. To summarize the current knowledge on L. (S.) tarentolae, we have also written a review describing the origin, life cycle and application of...
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Sauroleishmania-sand fly interactions
Tichá, Lucie ; Volf, Petr (advisor) ; Berriatua Fernández de Larea, Eduardo (referee) ; Shaw, Jeffrey Jon (referee)
Sauroleishmania is a group of less studied parasites that belong to the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). They circulate between reptile hosts and sand fly vectors (Diptera: Psychodidae). Due to the non-pathogenic character of its species, little is known about their development in reptiles and sand flies. The main objective of this project was to elucidate some missing aspects of Sauroleishmania life cycle. A major part of this thesis aimed to test the susceptibility of various sand fly species to different Sauroleishmania isolates and describe their development in the sand fly intestinal tract. A minor part was devoted to the study of infection in reptiles. First, we investigated the development of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae in three Phlebotomus species. Sand flies were infected through membrane on promastigote suspension and dissected at various time intervals post infection. Leishmania (S.) tarentolae developed in all three species tested and underwent peripylarian type of the development. Moreover, heavy parasite loads were frequently found in Malpighian tubules, which is a unique localization among Leishmania parasites. To summarize the current knowledge on L. (S.) tarentolae, we have also written a review describing the origin, life cycle and application of...
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Genus Sergentomyia and its role in the transmission of Leishmania
Hlavačková, Kristýna ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Sádlová, Jovana (referee)
Sand flies, members of the subfamily Phlebotominae do not occur in the CzechRepublic, but as near as in the Mediterraneantheir fauna is quite abundant. Sand flies can be found approximately between 50řN and 40řS. Species of genus Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia and Lutzomyia include medically and veterinary important vectors of viral and bacterial diseases as well as leishmaniasis, one of the most important human protozoal diseases. 321 years have passed since the first sand fly was described, but only 110 years ago intensive taxonomic work began. Over the years many classification systems have been proposed, mainly based on division of morphological characters. The classification is not clearly settled even after several taxonomic revisions and many questions remain, especially about genus Sergentomyia, which is repeatedly mentioned in connection with transmission of mammals' leishmaniasis. This bachelor thesis gives contemporary summary of taxonomic knowledge of sand flies; special attention is given to genus Sergentomyia.
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Molecular identification of phlebotomine sand flies
Hlavačková, Kristýna ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Straka, Jakub (referee)
This diploma thesis is focused on species identification of sand flies belonging to two genera of the subfamily Phlebotominae, genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Genus Phlebotomus together with the genus Lutzomyia of New World include the only proven vectors of Leishmania parasites and they are also carriers of viral and bacterial infections. Species of the genus Sergentomyia are proven vectors of sister genus Sauroleishmania that infects reptiles, but for several decades there have been speculations about their possible involvement in the transmission of mammalian Leishmania species. These suspicions arise mainly from repeated findings of mammalian Leishmania parasites in their digestive system. Correct species determination of medically significant hematophagous arthropods is very important especially for purposes of epidemiological studies so that efficient vector control may be correctly set. Routine identification of sand flies is based on morphological characters located mainly on their heads and genitalia. However, these characters may be variable within a species, they require certain expertise and in the field samples they may be damaged, making proper species identification impossible. This thesis therefore presents two alternatives of sand fly identification based on molecular...
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Molecular identification of phlebotomine sand flies
Hlavačková, Kristýna ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Straka, Jakub (referee)
This diploma thesis is focused on species identification of sand flies belonging to two genera of the subfamily Phlebotominae, genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Genus Phlebotomus together with the genus Lutzomyia of New World include the only proven vectors of Leishmania parasites and they are also carriers of viral and bacterial infections. Species of the genus Sergentomyia are proven vectors of sister genus Sauroleishmania that infects reptiles, but for several decades there have been speculations about their possible involvement in the transmission of mammalian Leishmania species. These suspicions arise mainly from repeated findings of mammalian Leishmania parasites in their digestive system. Correct species determination of medically significant hematophagous arthropods is very important especially for purposes of epidemiological studies so that efficient vector control may be correctly set. Routine identification of sand flies is based on morphological characters located mainly on their heads and genitalia. However, these characters may be variable within a species, they require certain expertise and in the field samples they may be damaged, making proper species identification impossible. This thesis therefore presents two alternatives of sand fly identification based on molecular...
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Genus Sergentomyia and its role in the transmission of Leishmania
Hlavačková, Kristýna ; Dvořák, Vít (advisor) ; Sádlová, Jovana (referee)
Sand flies, members of the subfamily Phlebotominae do not occur in the CzechRepublic, but as near as in the Mediterraneantheir fauna is quite abundant. Sand flies can be found approximately between 50řN and 40řS. Species of genus Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia and Lutzomyia include medically and veterinary important vectors of viral and bacterial diseases as well as leishmaniasis, one of the most important human protozoal diseases. 321 years have passed since the first sand fly was described, but only 110 years ago intensive taxonomic work began. Over the years many classification systems have been proposed, mainly based on division of morphological characters. The classification is not clearly settled even after several taxonomic revisions and many questions remain, especially about genus Sergentomyia, which is repeatedly mentioned in connection with transmission of mammals' leishmaniasis. This bachelor thesis gives contemporary summary of taxonomic knowledge of sand flies; special attention is given to genus Sergentomyia.
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