The Central Mediterranean Naturalist
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THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST Nature Trust (Malta) VOLUME 3 PART 4 MALTA, DECEMBER 2002 THE CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST DECEMBER 2002 CONTENTS Page SA VONA-VENTURA, C. Parasites and pests of medical significance in the Maltese environment - a historical review of culprit species .......................... , ............ '" ............ '" .. , ..... , . .. .. ... .. .. .. ... ... ... .. 149 THAKE,M.A. Geochelone robusta (Adams 1877): an insular giant?........................... .................................. 153 BORG, J.J. & ATTARD-MONTALTO, J. The grapsid crab Percnon gibbesi (Milne Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Brachyura), a new addition to the marine fauna of Malta. .. ......... ... ............... ... ............................................... 159 MIFSUD,D. Longhorn beetles (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)............ 160 BORG, J.J. & SAMMUT P.M. Note on the diet of a Grey Long-eared Bat, Plecotus austriacus (Fischer, 1829) from Mdina. Malta (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae)...... ............ .................................... ................................... 171 DANDRIA, D. & MAHONEY, P. First record of spider poisoning in the Maltese Islands...... .. 173 DEIDUN, A., ARCIDIACONO, I., TIGANO, G. & SCHEMBRI, P.J. Present distribution of the threatened killifish Aphanius jasciatus (Actinopterygii, Cyprinodontidae) in the Maltese Islands ...... , ....................... , ... ... .. .. ...... .. ... .. .. .. .. .. ... ... 177 MIFSUD, D. & AND BIL Y, S. Jewel beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) from the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean)................. 181 FIORENTINO, J. An appraisal of scientific names used in the 1915 list of lichens of the Maltese Islands by Stefano Sommier and Alfredo Caruana Gatto .............. :.................................................................. 189 BRIFFA,M. Some additions to the macrofungi of Malta ..... , ...... ... ............... ... ... ..................................... 197 LANFRANCO, E. A contribution to the freshwater macroalgal flora of the Maltese Islands...................................... 203 MIFSUD, D & DANDRIA, D. Introduction and establishment of Phryneta /eprosa (Fabricius) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in Malta... 207 TABONE,M. A survey of fungal diseases associated with Vitis vinifera L. in the Maltese Islands .......................... 211 Nature Trust (Malta) III 1998, three N.G.O. 's which skared the common aim ofpromoting awareness, conservation and study of l~lalta 's natural heritage decided to join forces so as to form a single, more effective association. The organisations were the Society for the Study and Conservation ofNature, which was founded in 1962, and the more recently formed groups Arbor and Verde. The merger resulted in the formation of Nature Trust ( Malta) which was officially launt/led by His Excellency the President of the Republic on Friday, 8'h January 1999. III JUlie 2001, another organisation, the Marine Life Care Group also joined Nature Trust (Malta). The aims ofNature Trust (Malta) are to enhance public awareness and appreciation ofthe rich biodiversity of the Maltese Islands througlt educational campaigns, conservation schemes and research projects. "Tlte Central Mediterranean Naturalist" is the official scientificjountal oj Nature Trust (Ii4alta). All papers sf!jbmitfed fur p:::tlication therein are peer-f,cviewed prior to acceptance.. EDITOR: DA VID DANDRIA TYPESETTING AND LA YOUT: DA VID DANDRIA PRINTEDAT SUNLAND PRINTERS, COSPICUA, MALTA. r;, 2002 NATURE TRUST (MALTA) Price: Lm3.00 The Central Mediterranean Naturalist 3(4): 149-152 Malta: December 2002 PARASITES AND PESTS OF MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE MALTESE ENVIRONMENT - A HISTORICAL REVIEW OF CULPRIT SPECIES C. Savona.-Ventura 1 ABSTRACT Parasites or pests with medical significance known to have affected or are affecting the Maltese community are listed. These include several protozoan helminth and arthropod parasite species. Other arthropod species identified as public health pests in Department of Health publications are also listed. INTRODUCTION Examination of faeces carried out in 1940 revealed one case of Giardia cysts (M&H 1937-1953). The species has The biomedical discipline of parasitology has traditionally been identified in returning tourists particularly from India been concerned only with the parasitic protozoa, and Pakistan (personal observation). Two cases of helminths, and arthropods. It is generally assumed that the giardiasis infection were reported in the 1991-1999 improvements in the general hygiene that have occurred in Infective Disease Reports (DOH, 1991-2000). the second half of the twentieth century in Malta have made human parasitic infestations a thing of the past. The Trichomonas vagina/is.. This species restricts itself to the situation was however very much different prior to the genitourinary system causing marked local symptoms. mid-twentieth century and parasitology was an important Sexual intercourse is the usual form of transmission of the discipline for the Maltese medical profession. In 1837, it infection, but it cim also be transmitted by contaminated was commented that "taenia and other worms are so towels, etc. frequent, that they are scarcely considered sources of disease" (Montgomery, 1837). Even today a number of The species is a common cosmopolitan parasite of both parasitic species still affect Maltese human hosts. males and females in Malta, though its prevalence may have decreased in recent years (personal observation). The present study is an attempt to identify the various human parasitic species that have affected the Maltese Leishmania inJanlum. Members. of this genus undergo a community throughout the years. The study is baSed complex life-cycle with alternating sexual and asexual primarily on the 1937-1953 Annual Reports of the Medical reproductive phases involving two hosts (man or dog, and and Health Department (M&H, 1937-1953). Other the sandfly Phlebotomus sp.). Only the first stage, the published sources that deal with aspects of medical nonflagellated amastigote, occurs in the mammalian host. parasitology in the Maltese Islands were availed of. More recent parasitic infestations are reported in the Infectious Visceral lieshmaniasis is the classically described form of Disease Annual Reports for the period 1991-1999 (DOH, the disease in Malta; however in recent years cutaneous 1991-2000). Personal experience of medically important lieshmaniasis has been described (Vella-Briffa, 1985). The parasitic infestations over a near twenty-year period was 1991-1999 Infective Disease Reports records 71 cases of also considered. visceral lieshmaniasis infection and 121 cases of cutaneous Lieshmaniasis (DOH, 1991-2000). Protozoa L. infantum zymodeme MON 1, was found to cause human Giardia lamblia. This species is usually weakly pathogenic and canine visceral leishmaniasis. L. infantum MON 78, or non-pathogenic to humans. With marked infestation, the which has so far been isolated only in Malta, was the agent large numbers of parasites attached to the bowel wall may of human cutaneous leishmaniasis. Both zymodemes were cause irritation and low-grade inflammation of the isolated from the same sandfly species Phlebotomus intestinal mucosa, with consequent acute or chronic perniciosus (Gradoni, 1991). diarrhoea. 1 Institute of Health Care, University of Malta, Gwardamangia, Ma"Ita 149 Entamoeba histolytica. This species is a parasite distribution. The infection is the commonest helminthic commonly found in the large intestine of humans. Invasion infestation present today in the Maltese community of the intestinal mucosal lining results in ulceration' (personal observation). causing dysentery. The endemicity of Entamoeba was only confirmed after the 1913 epidemic. During the period Trichuris tricuria. The Whipworm has a world-wide 1941-45, a total 0013 cases were found to be positive on distribution and is transmitted by ingestion of pathological faecal examination (M&H, 1937-53). contaminated food. During the period 1940-41 faecal examinations carried out by the Pathology Department Toxoplasma gondii. This species is a coccidian protozoan revealed two cases showing eggs belonging to this species of worldwide distribution that infects a wide range of (M&H,1937-1953). animals and birds. The normal final host is the domestic cat. Human infections are usually asymptomatic, but can Arthropoda cause severe effects to the foetus when infection occurs during pregnancy. Insecta Toxoplasma screening is usually carried out in Malta in Dictyoptera cases of recurrent miscarriages and stillbirths. The preval~nce rate of toxoplasma antibodies among Maltese The cockroaches have become particularly adapted to the pregnant women has been estimated at 23.8%, with an human environinent and have colonised and flourished in infective incidence of about 2-3 cases per 1000 artificial pseudotropical situations. They have become pregnancies (Portelli, 1995). important pomestic pests and can be a cause of food poisoning' and other enteric infections. Three cockroach .Plasmodium sp. The sporozoan protozoa of this genus are species of public health importance have been reported amoeboid intracellular parasites of vertebrates, with one from the Maltese Islands (Sultana, 1995): Blatta orientalis, habitat in red blood cells and another in cells of other Periplaneta americana and Supella supellectilium, tissues. Transmission to humans is by the bloodsucking bite of the female mosquito of