COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF HERPETOMONADS AND LEISHMANIAS : I. CULTIVATION OF HERPETOMONADS FROM INSECTS AND PLANTS

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Microbiology
• Entomology

Background:

• Herpetomonads are flagellate protozoa found in various arthropod and plant hosts.
• Accurate identification of Herpetomonas species is crucial for understanding their biology and host interactions.
• Previous studies have noted morphological variability in cultured flagellates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify Herpetomonas strains from diverse insect and plant sources.
• To characterize the morphology and growth characteristics of these isolates.
• To assess the feasibility of morphological differentiation versus other methods for species identification.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of flagellates from insects and plants using blood agar and leptospira medium.
• Purification of cultures using acid blood agar and the Barber technique.
• Cultivation at 26°C and 37°C, and morphological examination under varying conditions.

Main Results:

• Nine Herpetomonas strains were isolated from insects and three from plants, leading to the designation of new species: H. oncopelti, H. lygaegorum, H. culicidarum, H. muscidarum, H. media, and H. parva.
• Significant morphological variations were observed in cultured flagellates compared to their natural forms, influenced by medium and culture age.
• Isolated strains exhibited rapid growth at 37°C, distinguishing them from Leishmania and other related flagellates.

Conclusions:

• Morphological differentiation of Herpetomonas species is challenging due to in-vitro variations.
• Rapid growth at 37°C is a key characteristic distinguishing these isolates from Leishmania.
• Serological and fermentation reactions are essential for accurate species identification of Herpetomonas.