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Phlebotomus in New Guinea and nearby islands
679 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE. Vol, 4 ]. No. 5. M a r c h , 1948.
PHLEBOTOMUS
IN
NEW GUINEA ISLANDS.
AND
NEARBY
BY
M. S. FERGUSON, Major, SN.C., A.U.S., AND
OWEN H. GRAHAM, Major, SN.C, A.U.S.
During World War I I , United States and Australian troops in the Southwest Pacific developed fevers of 2 to 4 days' duration and, since a great many were not diagnosed, they were listed as fevers of undetermined origin. Although it was believed that some o f the men may have had atypical dengue or partially suppressed malaria, the suspicion arose that some might be suffering from sandfly fever. Consequently, surveys were made to determine the presence and distribution of phlebotomus at bases in New Guinea and neighbouring islands. This report deals with such studies made by the authors during 1944. Species of Phlebotomus have been described from Australia and the D u t c h East Indies, but none has been described from New Guinea (ToNNOIR, 1935). However, in 1917, this midge was Shown to occur there when specimens were collected at Port Moresby , Papua, by Dr. W. M. STRONG (1921). These specimens, two females, were forwarded to the United States by Dr. S. M. LAMBERT, International Health Board, Rockefeller Foundation, who was in Papua carrying on hookworm studies. I n a personal communication to the writers (31st August, 1944), Dr. LAMBERT stated that the phlebotomus specimens were turned over to the late Dr. FRANCIS M. ROOT, of Johns Hopkins University, for study, and quotes the following sentences from Dr. ROOT'S r e p o r t : " T h e vial contains two specimens of a species of Phlebotomus. So far as I can learn, no species of this genus have been described from the Australian region. These specimens probably belong to an undescribed species though, since the
680
SANDFLIES IN NEW GUINEA
character of last resort in the Phlebotomus is the male genitalia, no exact determination can be made from females alone." The final disposition of these specimens has not been determined. HILL (1923) states that "during a recent visit to Papua (presumably during 1922), Dr. STRONG placed his collection at my disposal and also searched for fresh specimens, but further examples were not secured." He goes on to say that shortly after his return to Australia, Dr. STaONG collected and sent him one female from papua. This specimen was not described but was found to be closely allied to females of the first species to be described from Australia, P. queenslandi Hill, 1923. As far as can be determined, no further collections of phlebotomus have been reported from this part of the Pacific with the exc~pti0n of those made
FIc. 1. Illustrating the use of the freon aerosol bomb (insecticide dispenser) in collecting phlebotomus. in Australia (ToNNoIg, 1935). Australian and A m e r i c a n A r m y medical men were, therefore, greatly interested when it was shown in 1944 that phlebotomus is apparently very prevalent in New Guinea and neighbouring islands. • C0LLECTIONMETHODS. It~aTtO (i945) states that during the day adults of phlebotomus seek a variety of resting places, e.g., in dark corners and near the ceilings of buildings and, on the outside, in masonry cracks, in stone walls, excavations, animal burrows, hollow trees, deep cracks in the soil and on tree buttresses. Earlier, HE•TIC (1942) reported that tobacco smoke is of great value in searching daytime shelters. Smoke causes the sandflies to move and thus reveal themselves, and temporarily dulls their reactions, making them easy to catch. In a letter to the writers in early 1944, HERTIO suggested that the jungle in New Guinea might prove to be a fertile habitat in which to collect phlebotomus. During July, 1944, the first specimens were collected at Dobodura, Papua, by blowing tobacco smoke into the tree hole shown in Pig. 1.
M. S. FERGUSON AND OWEN H. GRAHAM
681
Using smoke, further collections were made from tree buttresses and trunks as well as holes. Later it was found that the freon aerosol bomb (insecticide dispenser) being issued by the Army for control of adult mosquitoes in tents and buildings, was of great value in collecting sandflies rapidly. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a white cloth was spread at the bottom of a tree hole or on the ground between buttresses and around the tree trunks. T h e holes or bark were liberally sprayed with the insecticide. A host of flying insects would usually become active and then, due to the effects of the insecticide, soon begin to drop on the white cloth and die. Using this method, sometimes several dozen sandflies were collected from a single tree hole or buttress. Although all our collections were made in the jungle from tree habitats, it appeared likely that, because of the brief activity of the sandflies before death, the freon aerosol bomb could be used to advantage in collecting phlebotomus from masonry crevices, cracks in the soil, etc. However, it soon became apparent that this method of collection had one serious disadvantage. Once the insecticide had been sprayed on a buttress or tree hole, phlebotomus was seldom, if ever, again collected at that site. Apparently there was a residual effect that repelled or caused the death of any sandflies that remained or came to these sites from elsewhere. If live sandflies are to be collected, the bomb cannot be employed, and then tobacco smoke should be used since its effects are only temporary. COLLECTIONS. All o u r s p e c i m e n s o f p h l e b o t o m u s were collected f r o m t r e e holes, t r u n k s , or b u t t r e s s e s . N o n e w a s e v e r t a k e n i n foxholes or pillboxes. F a l l e n h o l l o w trees never yielded specimens. H o w e v e r , n u m e r o u s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of o t h e r species of t h e f a m i l y P s y c h o d i d a e w e r e n o t e d i n t h e s e locations. L i g h t t r a p s set u p n e a r tree b u t t r e s s e s f r o m w h i c h p h l e b o t o m u s c o u l d b e c o l l e c t e d n e v e r y i e l d e d sandflies b u t o t h e r m e m b e r s of t h e f a m i l y w e r e s o m e t i m e s n u m e r o u s . HERTIG ( p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) states t h a t in P a n a m a a few s p e c i m e n s h a v e b e e n t a k e n in l i g h t t r a p s . T h e t a b l e lists t h e v a r i o u s A r m y bases, localities w i t h i n t h e s e bases, a n d islands, w h e r e we w e r e able to collect p h l e b o t o m u s . T h e l o c a t i o n s o f t h e s e b a s e s a n d islands are s h o w n o n t h e m a p (Fig. 2). R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of all t h e s e collections w e r e f o r w a r d e d i n S e p t e m b e r , 1944, to M r . D. J. LEE, D e p a r t m e n t of Zoology, U n i v e r s i t y o f S y d n e y . Recently, t h e r e m a i n d e r of o u r s p e c i m e n s h a v e b e e n t u r n e d o v e r to M a j o r MARSHALL HERTm, SN.C., A . U . S . , G o r g a s M e m o r i a l L a b o r a t o r y , P a n a m a , R e p u b l i c of P a n a m a . I n a p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t o n his studies, M r . LEE states, " A n e x a m i n a t i o n of t h i s m a t e r i a l h a s s h o w n t h a t all f o r m s so far s e e n are u n d e s c r i b e d species, a n d so far all b e l o n g t o t h e r e c u m b e n t h a i r e d g r o u p . " H e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t w o or m o r e species are r e p r e s e n t e d . I t is a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t LEE o r HERTIC will e v e n t u a l l y p u b l i s h d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e s e sandflies. :
DISCUSSION.
D u c to t h e i n c r e a s i n g t e m p o of t h c w a r i n latc 1944, a n d t h e i n v a s i o n of t h e P h i l i p p i n e s , it was n o t p o s s i b l e to c o n t i n u e w o r k i n g w i t h p h l e b o t o m u s . N o t h i n g was d e t e r m i n e d r c g a r d i n g t h e f e e d i n g h a b i t s of t h e sandflies at a n y of t h c various b a s e s w h e r e collections were m a d e . HERTI@ ( p c r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) states t h a t i n a d c n s e P a n a m a n i a n forest t w o m e n c o l l e c t e d o v e r a
682
SANDFLIES IN NEW GUINEA TABLE. DATA CONCEI~'gINGCOLLECTIONSOF P h l e b o t o m u s .
Place collected. Army base.
Locality.
Dobodura Popendetta Port Moresby 12-mile swamp Lae gae Nadzab Nadzab Narakapor village Fins chhafen Mape River Base " F " Headqfiarters Saidor Wab Beach Aitape I Korako I Tumleo Island Hollandia ! Hollekang I Sawmill jetty Toem i Arare Owi Island i Owl Island Biak Island Mokmer Drome Noemfor Island Kornosoren Sansapor Mar Village Oro Bay
Habitat of sandflies.
Number of collections.
Tree holes and buttresses Tree Buttresses
11 4
Tree holes and buttresses Tree buttresses
Tree holes and buttresses Tree buttresses
I 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
hundred sandflies in the act of biting them. I t is reasonable to expect that some forms from the New Guinea jungle will do likewise. What role, if any, phlebotomus may play in disease transmission in New Guinea remains for future studies to reveal. I n view of the experience of troops with fevers of short duration and the abundance of sandflies the problem must remain an open one. Sandfly fever has not been reported from Australia. However, HILL (1923), in his paper describing the first species from Australia, P. queenslandi, writes, " The occurrence of some undetermined fevers in North Australia naturally suggests the possibility of dipterous intermediaries occurring amongst the numerous species of Chironomidae, Psychodidae and Simulidae, but s o far no evidence has been obtained to incriminate any of these flies. . . . T h e species described in this p a p e r has well-developed biting mouthparts in both sexes and is, therefore, a potential disease carrier." It was reported by TONNOIR (1935) that the Australian species P. brevifilis does feed on human blood. As far as can be determined, it has not been incriminated in disease transmission. Concerning the possible presence of sandfly fever in the Pacific, it was of interest to read FARNER'S paper (1944), in which he refers to " Die deutschen Marianen ihre Natur und Geschichte," a publication of Von PROWAZEK (1913).
M. S. FERGUSON AND OWEN H. GRAHAM
683
Von PROWAZEKmentions " S a i p a n ilafluenza" or "missilepik." It was described as similar, and possibly identical, with sandfly fever. H e predicted that _Phlebotomus would ultimately be discovered in the Marianas. I?ARNER states that extensive entomological collections in these islands have failed t o detect the presence of any species of this genus, and it appears extremely unlikely that missilepik is phlebotomus fever. It was possible for one of the writers to visit G u a m in March, 1945. A limited search was made for phlebotomus, and no specimens were found. However, there had been little rain for some time and,
Port M o r e s b ~
'3° ~ tALE
,? -
MiLff
'? S
Fro. 2. New Guinea and neighbouring islands, showing where collections of phlebotomus were made. if the genus does occur, conditions were possibly unfavourable for sandfly breeding. Here it should be stated that, shortly after the first collections were made at Dobodura, Papua, in July, 1944, there was a dry period of almost a month. By early September it was almost impossible to collect sandflies in jungle areas where in July and early August they had been numerous. T h e presence or absence of these insects can only be determined by thorough searching throughout the year. T h e presence of Phlebotomus on Noemfor and Biak Islands, 60 miles apart, and about 50 and 90 miles respectively from the coast of New Guinea, points to the possibility of the occurrence of different species or races on land areas that are separated by water. Since sandflies are not strong or high fliers, their presence on islands far removed from large l a n d masses offers a subject for
684
SANDELIES IN NEW GUINEA
speculation. Extensive collections in the Pacific and a careful study of specimens may eventually yield information that is highly significant with regard to the evolution of races or species of an insect. SUMMARY.
Species of Phlebotomus, as yet undescribed, were collected at widely separated A r m y bases in N e w Guinea and on islands many miles from the coast of New Guinea. T h e role played by these sandflies in the transmission o f disease was n o t determined. A rapid method for collecting sandflies that involves use of an insecticide dispenser is described. REFERENCES. EARNER, D. S. (1944). U.S. Navy reed. Bull., 42, 977.
HERTIG,M. (1942). Amer. ft. trop. Med. Suppl., 22, 1.
& FISHER,-R. A. (1945). Bull. U.S. Army Med. Dept., No. 88, 97. HILL 'G. F. (1923). Bull. ent. Res., 14, 83. SraoNc, W. M. (1921). Med. ft. Australia, 3rd Sept., 2, 193. TONNOIR, A . L . (1935). Bull. ent. Res., 26, 137. -
-
PHLEBOTOMUS
IN
NEW GUINEA ISLANDS.
AND
NEARBY
BY
M. S. FERGUSON, Major, SN.C., A.U.S., AND
OWEN H. GRAHAM, Major, SN.C, A.U.S.
During World War I I , United States and Australian troops in the Southwest Pacific developed fevers of 2 to 4 days' duration and, since a great many were not diagnosed, they were listed as fevers of undetermined origin. Although it was believed that some o f the men may have had atypical dengue or partially suppressed malaria, the suspicion arose that some might be suffering from sandfly fever. Consequently, surveys were made to determine the presence and distribution of phlebotomus at bases in New Guinea and neighbouring islands. This report deals with such studies made by the authors during 1944. Species of Phlebotomus have been described from Australia and the D u t c h East Indies, but none has been described from New Guinea (ToNNOIR, 1935). However, in 1917, this midge was Shown to occur there when specimens were collected at Port Moresby , Papua, by Dr. W. M. STRONG (1921). These specimens, two females, were forwarded to the United States by Dr. S. M. LAMBERT, International Health Board, Rockefeller Foundation, who was in Papua carrying on hookworm studies. I n a personal communication to the writers (31st August, 1944), Dr. LAMBERT stated that the phlebotomus specimens were turned over to the late Dr. FRANCIS M. ROOT, of Johns Hopkins University, for study, and quotes the following sentences from Dr. ROOT'S r e p o r t : " T h e vial contains two specimens of a species of Phlebotomus. So far as I can learn, no species of this genus have been described from the Australian region. These specimens probably belong to an undescribed species though, since the
680
SANDFLIES IN NEW GUINEA
character of last resort in the Phlebotomus is the male genitalia, no exact determination can be made from females alone." The final disposition of these specimens has not been determined. HILL (1923) states that "during a recent visit to Papua (presumably during 1922), Dr. STRONG placed his collection at my disposal and also searched for fresh specimens, but further examples were not secured." He goes on to say that shortly after his return to Australia, Dr. STaONG collected and sent him one female from papua. This specimen was not described but was found to be closely allied to females of the first species to be described from Australia, P. queenslandi Hill, 1923. As far as can be determined, no further collections of phlebotomus have been reported from this part of the Pacific with the exc~pti0n of those made
FIc. 1. Illustrating the use of the freon aerosol bomb (insecticide dispenser) in collecting phlebotomus. in Australia (ToNNoIg, 1935). Australian and A m e r i c a n A r m y medical men were, therefore, greatly interested when it was shown in 1944 that phlebotomus is apparently very prevalent in New Guinea and neighbouring islands. • C0LLECTIONMETHODS. It~aTtO (i945) states that during the day adults of phlebotomus seek a variety of resting places, e.g., in dark corners and near the ceilings of buildings and, on the outside, in masonry cracks, in stone walls, excavations, animal burrows, hollow trees, deep cracks in the soil and on tree buttresses. Earlier, HE•TIC (1942) reported that tobacco smoke is of great value in searching daytime shelters. Smoke causes the sandflies to move and thus reveal themselves, and temporarily dulls their reactions, making them easy to catch. In a letter to the writers in early 1944, HERTIO suggested that the jungle in New Guinea might prove to be a fertile habitat in which to collect phlebotomus. During July, 1944, the first specimens were collected at Dobodura, Papua, by blowing tobacco smoke into the tree hole shown in Pig. 1.
M. S. FERGUSON AND OWEN H. GRAHAM
681
Using smoke, further collections were made from tree buttresses and trunks as well as holes. Later it was found that the freon aerosol bomb (insecticide dispenser) being issued by the Army for control of adult mosquitoes in tents and buildings, was of great value in collecting sandflies rapidly. As illustrated in Fig. 1, a white cloth was spread at the bottom of a tree hole or on the ground between buttresses and around the tree trunks. T h e holes or bark were liberally sprayed with the insecticide. A host of flying insects would usually become active and then, due to the effects of the insecticide, soon begin to drop on the white cloth and die. Using this method, sometimes several dozen sandflies were collected from a single tree hole or buttress. Although all our collections were made in the jungle from tree habitats, it appeared likely that, because of the brief activity of the sandflies before death, the freon aerosol bomb could be used to advantage in collecting phlebotomus from masonry crevices, cracks in the soil, etc. However, it soon became apparent that this method of collection had one serious disadvantage. Once the insecticide had been sprayed on a buttress or tree hole, phlebotomus was seldom, if ever, again collected at that site. Apparently there was a residual effect that repelled or caused the death of any sandflies that remained or came to these sites from elsewhere. If live sandflies are to be collected, the bomb cannot be employed, and then tobacco smoke should be used since its effects are only temporary. COLLECTIONS. All o u r s p e c i m e n s o f p h l e b o t o m u s were collected f r o m t r e e holes, t r u n k s , or b u t t r e s s e s . N o n e w a s e v e r t a k e n i n foxholes or pillboxes. F a l l e n h o l l o w trees never yielded specimens. H o w e v e r , n u m e r o u s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of o t h e r species of t h e f a m i l y P s y c h o d i d a e w e r e n o t e d i n t h e s e locations. L i g h t t r a p s set u p n e a r tree b u t t r e s s e s f r o m w h i c h p h l e b o t o m u s c o u l d b e c o l l e c t e d n e v e r y i e l d e d sandflies b u t o t h e r m e m b e r s of t h e f a m i l y w e r e s o m e t i m e s n u m e r o u s . HERTIG ( p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) states t h a t in P a n a m a a few s p e c i m e n s h a v e b e e n t a k e n in l i g h t t r a p s . T h e t a b l e lists t h e v a r i o u s A r m y bases, localities w i t h i n t h e s e bases, a n d islands, w h e r e we w e r e able to collect p h l e b o t o m u s . T h e l o c a t i o n s o f t h e s e b a s e s a n d islands are s h o w n o n t h e m a p (Fig. 2). R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of all t h e s e collections w e r e f o r w a r d e d i n S e p t e m b e r , 1944, to M r . D. J. LEE, D e p a r t m e n t of Zoology, U n i v e r s i t y o f S y d n e y . Recently, t h e r e m a i n d e r of o u r s p e c i m e n s h a v e b e e n t u r n e d o v e r to M a j o r MARSHALL HERTm, SN.C., A . U . S . , G o r g a s M e m o r i a l L a b o r a t o r y , P a n a m a , R e p u b l i c of P a n a m a . I n a p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t o n his studies, M r . LEE states, " A n e x a m i n a t i o n of t h i s m a t e r i a l h a s s h o w n t h a t all f o r m s so far s e e n are u n d e s c r i b e d species, a n d so far all b e l o n g t o t h e r e c u m b e n t h a i r e d g r o u p . " H e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t w o or m o r e species are r e p r e s e n t e d . I t is a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t LEE o r HERTIC will e v e n t u a l l y p u b l i s h d e s c r i p t i o n s of t h e s e sandflies. :
DISCUSSION.
D u c to t h e i n c r e a s i n g t e m p o of t h c w a r i n latc 1944, a n d t h e i n v a s i o n of t h e P h i l i p p i n e s , it was n o t p o s s i b l e to c o n t i n u e w o r k i n g w i t h p h l e b o t o m u s . N o t h i n g was d e t e r m i n e d r c g a r d i n g t h e f e e d i n g h a b i t s of t h e sandflies at a n y of t h c various b a s e s w h e r e collections were m a d e . HERTI@ ( p c r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) states t h a t i n a d c n s e P a n a m a n i a n forest t w o m e n c o l l e c t e d o v e r a
682
SANDFLIES IN NEW GUINEA TABLE. DATA CONCEI~'gINGCOLLECTIONSOF P h l e b o t o m u s .
Place collected. Army base.
Locality.
Dobodura Popendetta Port Moresby 12-mile swamp Lae gae Nadzab Nadzab Narakapor village Fins chhafen Mape River Base " F " Headqfiarters Saidor Wab Beach Aitape I Korako I Tumleo Island Hollandia ! Hollekang I Sawmill jetty Toem i Arare Owi Island i Owl Island Biak Island Mokmer Drome Noemfor Island Kornosoren Sansapor Mar Village Oro Bay
Habitat of sandflies.
Number of collections.
Tree holes and buttresses Tree Buttresses
11 4
Tree holes and buttresses Tree buttresses
Tree holes and buttresses Tree buttresses
I 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
hundred sandflies in the act of biting them. I t is reasonable to expect that some forms from the New Guinea jungle will do likewise. What role, if any, phlebotomus may play in disease transmission in New Guinea remains for future studies to reveal. I n view of the experience of troops with fevers of short duration and the abundance of sandflies the problem must remain an open one. Sandfly fever has not been reported from Australia. However, HILL (1923), in his paper describing the first species from Australia, P. queenslandi, writes, " The occurrence of some undetermined fevers in North Australia naturally suggests the possibility of dipterous intermediaries occurring amongst the numerous species of Chironomidae, Psychodidae and Simulidae, but s o far no evidence has been obtained to incriminate any of these flies. . . . T h e species described in this p a p e r has well-developed biting mouthparts in both sexes and is, therefore, a potential disease carrier." It was reported by TONNOIR (1935) that the Australian species P. brevifilis does feed on human blood. As far as can be determined, it has not been incriminated in disease transmission. Concerning the possible presence of sandfly fever in the Pacific, it was of interest to read FARNER'S paper (1944), in which he refers to " Die deutschen Marianen ihre Natur und Geschichte," a publication of Von PROWAZEK (1913).
M. S. FERGUSON AND OWEN H. GRAHAM
683
Von PROWAZEKmentions " S a i p a n ilafluenza" or "missilepik." It was described as similar, and possibly identical, with sandfly fever. H e predicted that _Phlebotomus would ultimately be discovered in the Marianas. I?ARNER states that extensive entomological collections in these islands have failed t o detect the presence of any species of this genus, and it appears extremely unlikely that missilepik is phlebotomus fever. It was possible for one of the writers to visit G u a m in March, 1945. A limited search was made for phlebotomus, and no specimens were found. However, there had been little rain for some time and,
Port M o r e s b ~
'3° ~ tALE
,? -
MiLff
'? S
Fro. 2. New Guinea and neighbouring islands, showing where collections of phlebotomus were made. if the genus does occur, conditions were possibly unfavourable for sandfly breeding. Here it should be stated that, shortly after the first collections were made at Dobodura, Papua, in July, 1944, there was a dry period of almost a month. By early September it was almost impossible to collect sandflies in jungle areas where in July and early August they had been numerous. T h e presence or absence of these insects can only be determined by thorough searching throughout the year. T h e presence of Phlebotomus on Noemfor and Biak Islands, 60 miles apart, and about 50 and 90 miles respectively from the coast of New Guinea, points to the possibility of the occurrence of different species or races on land areas that are separated by water. Since sandflies are not strong or high fliers, their presence on islands far removed from large l a n d masses offers a subject for
684
SANDELIES IN NEW GUINEA
speculation. Extensive collections in the Pacific and a careful study of specimens may eventually yield information that is highly significant with regard to the evolution of races or species of an insect. SUMMARY.
Species of Phlebotomus, as yet undescribed, were collected at widely separated A r m y bases in N e w Guinea and on islands many miles from the coast of New Guinea. T h e role played by these sandflies in the transmission o f disease was n o t determined. A rapid method for collecting sandflies that involves use of an insecticide dispenser is described. REFERENCES. EARNER, D. S. (1944). U.S. Navy reed. Bull., 42, 977.
HERTIG,M. (1942). Amer. ft. trop. Med. Suppl., 22, 1.
& FISHER,-R. A. (1945). Bull. U.S. Army Med. Dept., No. 88, 97. HILL 'G. F. (1923). Bull. ent. Res., 14, 83. SraoNc, W. M. (1921). Med. ft. Australia, 3rd Sept., 2, 193. TONNOIR, A . L . (1935). Bull. ent. Res., 26, 137. -
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