title: Simulium vittatum (Diptera: Simuliidae) and Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) salivary gland hyaluronidase activity.
abstract: Hyaluronidase activity in the salivary gland homogenates of Simulium vittatum (Zetterstedt) is described, and its optimal pH determined. Salivary activity was reduced significantly after a blood meal, indicating that it was secreted after blood feeding. Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) also exhibited salivary hyaluronidase activity. These results indicate that hematophagous pool-feeding insects may secrete this enzyme to help the spread of salivary antihemostatic agents in the vicinity of the feeding lesion, and perhaps to increase the size of the feeding lesion itself. Additionally, this enzyme may affect local host immune reactions and promote arboviral transmission.
authors.affiliation: Section of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0425, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Charlab
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rowton
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Cupp
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000032:analysis*; D007303:Insect Vectors; D011576:Psychodidae; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000201:enzymology*; D012843:Simuliidae; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus
chemical_list: D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase