title: Notes on the genus Tunga (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) II--neosomes, morphology, classification, and other taxonomic notes.
abstract: This review focuses on the neosomes, morphology, and taxonomy of adult species of the genus Tunga, complementing the previously published data on the phylogeny, ecology, and pathogenic role. Neosomes are structures formed after penetration of adult females into the skin of hosts resulting in significant enlargement, being the most characteristic and most frequently observed form in hosts. Neosomes can be differentiated by shape, measurements, and sites of attachment to principal hosts. The taxonomic value and morphometric data of the most widely used characteristics to separate species - such as frontal curvature, head chaetotaxy, preoral internal sclerotization, ventral and dorsal genal lobes, eyes, maxillary palps, fusion of pronotum and mesonotum, metacoxae, metatarsi chaetotaxy, spermatheca (females), manubrium, basimere, telomere, and phallosome (males) - are comparatively analyzed. The sexes, individual variations, undescribed species, higher taxa, as well as a proposal for division of the genus into two subgenera (Tunga and Brevidigita) are presented (as previously given by Wang). A key for females, males, and gravid females (neosomes) also is included for identifying the 13 known species. Data on host specificity and geographical distribution may also support the identification of Tunga species because some sand fleas and their hosts may have co-evolved.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 486, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Marcos
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Linardi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Zoologie appliquée, Faculté de Médecine 2, avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France - Institut de Parasitologie de l'Ouest, Faculté de Médecine 2, avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beaucournu
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Moreira
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Avelar
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Zoologie appliquée, Faculté de Médecine 2, avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043 Rennes Cedex, France - Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Mycologie et Immunologie parasitaire, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire, 2 rue Henri Le Guilloux, 32033 Rennes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sorya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belaz
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013045:Species Specificity; D058253:Tunga / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058285:Tungiasis / Q000469:parasitology