PubMed · 80729
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1978-10-07. Prof. Henry Bedson.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/80729/
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Numerical analyses of Trypanozoon taxonomy are presented, based on the isoenzyme data of Stevens et al. (1992). The previous study used a reduced range of enzymes compared with earlier work; the analyses indicate the value of this rationalized system. Both recently isolated trypanosome stocks and previously studied populations were included, allowing detailed comparison with earlier studies. Relationships between zymodemes were calculated with an improved similarity coefficient program, using Jaccard's coefficient (1908), and by Nei's method (1972). Dendrograms were constructed from the matrices produced with the group-average method. The groupings produced by both numerical methods were in close agreement, and the clusters of related principal zymodemes largely matched the species, subspecies and strain groups proposed by previous workers. Trypanozoon biochemical taxonomy is reviewed and the groupings reinforced by this study are: the mainly East African strain groups, busoga, zambezi, kakumbi, kiboko and sindo; T.b. gambiense and the bouaflé strain group from West Africa, and T. evansi; an intermediate bouaflé/busoga group was also recognized.
Programmes to control Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworm infections have often been targeted at each infection separately, but the advent of benign and broad-spectrum anthelmintics suggests that combined control may be feasible. The extent to which the infections co-occur in communities will determine the need for, and potential benefits of, such a combined approach. This paper examines the comparative distribution of the three geohelminths in different geographical areas and shows that A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura have closely related distributions, while hookworm infection is largely independent of the other two. These results indicate that many communities are at risk of disease from infection by more than one species of helminth. The similar distributions and epidemiological characteristics of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura suggest that simultaneous control of these two parasites by the same strategy would be feasible and highly beneficial to communities. Multiple species control strategies which aim to control hookworm infection may require a more complicated protocol with more precise locality targeting.
The geographic distribution, host association, and male genital morphology of Xenopsylla bantorum Jordan were examined and compared with the Nilotic and Oriental "strains" of Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild). The more acute shape of the ninth sternite separates X. bantorum from all types of X. cheopis; however, the length of the first process of the male's clasper and the number of setae on this process are significantly different among all three groups; the Nilotic strain of X. cheopis is intermediate to the others. Specimens collected from both wild and commensal rodents in Nakuru, Kenya, were all X. bantorum, suggesting that X. cheopis present early in the century that resulted from introductions on Rattus rattus had been absorbed by the native X. bantorum population. These factors and a review of opinions by others concerning the status of X. bantorum demonstrate that this flea is not specifically distinct from X. cheopis. The trinomial X. cheopis bantorum is erected. Furthermore, the Nilotic and Oriental "strains" of X. cheopis are distinguishable morphologically solely by the length of the male's first process.