Simulium
Encyclopedia
Simulium is a genus
of black flies
, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis
(river blindness). It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 sub-genera
.
The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva which contains anticoagulants, a number of enzyme
s and histamine
is mixed with the blood preventing clotting until it is ingested by the fly. These bites cause localized tissue damage and if the number of feeding flies is sufficient their feeding may produce a blood-loss anaemia.
The host’s reaction to fly attacks may include systemic illness, allergic reactions or even death; these reactions presumably mediated by histamine. In humans this systemic reaction is known as “black fly fever” and is characterized by headaches, fever, nausea, adenitis, generalized dermatitis and allergic asthma.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of black flies
Black fly
A black fly is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. They are related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. There are over 1,800 known species of black flies . Most species belong to the immense genus Simulium...
, which may transmit diseases such as onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis , also known as river blindness and Robles' disease, is a parasitic disease caused by infection by Onchocerca volvulus, a nematode . Onchocerciasis is the world's second-leading infectious cause of blindness. It is not the nematode, but its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis, that...
(river blindness). It is a large genus with several hundred species, and 41 sub-genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
.
The flies are pool feeders. Their saliva which contains anticoagulants, a number of enzyme
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
s and histamine
Histamine
Histamine is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses as well as regulating physiological function in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter. Histamine triggers the inflammatory response. As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by...
is mixed with the blood preventing clotting until it is ingested by the fly. These bites cause localized tissue damage and if the number of feeding flies is sufficient their feeding may produce a blood-loss anaemia.
The host’s reaction to fly attacks may include systemic illness, allergic reactions or even death; these reactions presumably mediated by histamine. In humans this systemic reaction is known as “black fly fever” and is characterized by headaches, fever, nausea, adenitis, generalized dermatitis and allergic asthma.
Systematics
Sub-genera:- Afrosimulium Crosskey, 1969
- Anasolen EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1930 - Asiosimulium Takaoka & Choochote, 2005
- Aspathia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1935 - Boophthora EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Boreosimulium Rubtsov & Yankovsky, 1982
- Byssodon EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1925 - Chirostilbia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Crosskeyellum Grenier & Bailly-Choumara, 1970
- Daviesellum Takaoka & Adler, 1997
- Ectemnaspis EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1934 - Edwardsellum EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Eusimulium Roubaud, 1906
- Freemanellum Crosskey, 1969
- Gomphostilbia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Hebridosimulium Grenier & Rageau, 1961
- Hellichiella Rivosecchi & Cardinali, 1975
- Hemicnetha EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1934 - Inaequalium Coscarón & Wygodzinsky, 1984
- Inseliellum Rubtsov, 1974
- Lewisellum Crosskey, 1969
- Meilloniellum Rubtsov, 1962
- Metomphalus EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1935 - Montisimulium Rubtsov, 1974
- Morops EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1930 - Nevermannia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Notolepria EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1930 - Obuchovia Rubtsov, 1947
- Phoretomyia Crosskey, 1969
- Pomeroyellum Rubtsov, 1962
- Psaroniocompsa EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1934 - Psilopelmia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1934 - Psilozia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1936 - Pternaspatha EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1930 - Rubzovia Petrova, 1983
- Schoenbaueria EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Simulium LatreillePierre André LatreillePierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
, 1802 - Trichodagmia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1934 - Wallacellum Takaoka, 1983
- Wilhelmia EnderleinGünther EnderleinGünther Enderlein was a German zoologist, entomologist and later a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products. Enderlein got some international renown because of his insect research but in Germany he became famous because of his concept of the pleomorphism of microorganisms and his hypotheses about...
, 1921 - Xenosimulium Crosskey, 1969