1 Recommended citation: SYZWG (2016) Syzygium Working Group 2 Faculty of Science & Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. 3 The Mauritius Herbarium, Agricultural Services, Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security; R. E. Vaughan Building, Reduit, Mauritius. 4 Plant Gateway, 5 Talbot Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG13 7BX, UK. 5 School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU, UK. 6 School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. 7 Ecology & Ecosystem Research, Georg-August-University Gottingen, Untere Karspule 2, 37073 Gottingen, Germany. 8 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Botany, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands. 9 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE, UK. 10 Department of Biosciences, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius. 11 Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru, 560012, India. 12 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, India 13 Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S.A. 14 College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530005, PR China. 15 Royal Botanic Gardens, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Syzygium (Myrtaceae): Monographing a taxonomic giant via 22 coordinated regional revisions

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by predominantly vectorborne Leishmania spp. In the United States, canine visceral leishmaniasis is common among hounds, and L. infantum vertical transmission among hounds has been confirmed. We found that L. infantum from hounds remains infective in sandflies, underscoring the risk for human exposure by vectorborne transmission.

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Vectorborne Transmission of Leishmania infantum from Hounds, United States

Leishmaniasis, a chronic and persistent intracellular protozoal infection caused by many different species within the genus Leishmania, is an unfamiliar disease to most North American providers. Clinical presentations may include asymptomatic and symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (so-called Kala-azar), as well as cutaneous or mucosal disease. Although cutaneous leishmaniasis (caused by Leishmania mexicana in the United States) is endemic in some southwest states, other causes for concern include reactivation of imported visceral leishmaniasis remotely in time from the initial infection, and the possible long-term complications of chronic inflammation from asymptomatic infection. Climate change, the identification of competent vectors and reservoirs, a highly mobile populace, significant population groups with proven exposure history, HIV, and widespread use of immunosuppressive medications and organ transplant all create the potential for increased frequency of leishmaniasis in the U.S. Together, these factors could contribute to leishmaniasis emerging as a health threat in the U.S., including the possibility of sustained autochthonous spread of newly introduced visceral disease. We summarize recent data examining the epidemiology and major risk factors for acquisition of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, with a special focus on implications for the United States, as well as discuss key emerging issues affecting the management of visceral leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis in the United States: Emerging Issues in a Region of Low Endemicity.

In the United States, autochthonous cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by infection with Leishmania mexicana has been reported from Texas and Oklahoma. Here, we describe a child with 2 new features: cutaneous infection acquired outside of the south-central United States (in North Dakota) and infection caused by Leishmania donovani species complex.

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Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Dakota

Leishmania incidence and prevalence in U.S. hunting hounds maintained via vertical transmission.

Sand flies Lutzomyia (Psathyromyia) shannoni (Dyar) and Lu. (Hekocyrtomyia) vexator (Coquillet) were collected for the first time in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas, expanding the known range of these species in North America. Altogether, 680 sand flies (356 males and 324 females) were collected during trapping from May through October 2011 and identified using morphological characters. Of the total sand flies collected, 315 were identified as Lu. shannoni, with 181 individuals (or 26.6% of all sand flies) trapped in Missouri and 134 individuals (or 19.7%) trapped in Kansas. Whereas 358 Lu. vexator were identified from southwest Missouri, only a single specimen was trapped in southeast Kansas. One male Lu. vexator with asymmetric gonostyli was trapped in Missouri. We also developed a polymerase chain reaction protocol to consistently and accurately distinguish Lu. shannoni from Lu. vexator based on presence or absence of a 416 bp fragment from the cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 gene.

/pdf/first-report-of-phlebotomine-sand-flies-diptera-psychodidae-396z54kbfx.pdf

First report of Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Kansas and Missouri, and a PCR method to distinguish Lutzomyia shannoni from Lutzomyia vexator

The new species Syzygium dawsoniana is proposed for New Caledonia. It is characterized by its relatively large bullate leaves with a cuneate base and distinct petiole. It most closely resembles Syzygium guillauminii, which differs by its sessile to subsessile leaves having cordate or rounded bases. A preliminary conservation status of Endangered [EN] is suggested following IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

https://bioone.org/journals/Systematic-Botany/volume-41/issue-1/036364416X690615/Syzygium-dawsoniana-Myrtaceae--A-New-Species-from-New-Caledonia/10.1600/036364416X690615.pdf

Samantha L. Young

Papers

First report of Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Kansas and Missouri, and a PCR method to distinguish Lutzomyia shannoni from Lutzomyia vexator

Syzygium dawsoniana (Myrtaceae): A New Species from New Caledonia with Bullate Leaves