Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 122 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Ya'cob Z, Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M
    Zootaxa, 2014;3881(3):228-36.
    PMID: 25543632 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3881.3.2
    Simulium (Nevermannia) ledangense sp. nov. is described from females, males, pupae and mature larvae from Peninsular Malaysia. This new species is assigned to the Simulium feuerborni species-group of the subgenus Nevermannia, and is characterized by the pupa having a very long stalk of the ventral paired gill filaments, which is almost five times longer than the interspiracular trunk and female tergites of segments 2 and 5 to 7 shiny. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish this new species from three known species of the S. feuerborni species-group from Malaysia.
  2. Ya'cob Z, Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M
    Zootaxa, 2015;3911(3):424-32.
    PMID: 25661622 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3911.3.8
    Simulium (Gomphostilbia) hiroyukii is described based on females, males, pupae and larvae collected in Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia. This new species is assigned to the Simulium darjeelingense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia, and is characterized by the darkened fore coxae and the pupal gill with eight long filaments, of which middle and dorsal triplets have elongated primary and secondary stalks, respectively. 
  3. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Pham HT
    Zootaxa, 2014;3838(3):347-66.
    PMID: 25081781 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3838.3.6
    Four new species of black flies are described, and three others are reported as newly recorded, based on adults reared from pupae, pupae and larvae collected in and near Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam. New species include Simulium (Gomphostilbia) hongthaii sp. nov., S. (G.) tamdaoense sp. nov. (both species placed in the asakoae species-group), S. (Simulium) taythienense sp. nov. and S. (S.) xuandai sp. nov. (the two latter species placed in the striatum species-group). Newly recorded species are S. (G.) brinchangense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Hashim, S. (Nevermannia) aureohirtum Brunetti and S. (S.) brevipar Takaoka & Davies. These discoveries increase the number of species of black flies known in Vietnam from 21 to 28. 
  4. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Pham XD
    Zootaxa, 2014;3866(4):555-71.
    PMID: 25283675 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3866.4.6
    Three new species of black flies, Simulium (Nevermannia) langbiangense, S. (N.) phami, and S. (N.) bachmaense, are described on the basis of females, males, pupae and larvae collected in Vietnam. All three species are assigned to the Simulium feuerborni species-group of Simulium (Nevermannia). Simulium (N.) langbiangense sp. nov. is characterized by the female sensory vesicle with a large opening, and a short common basal stalk of the six pupal gill filaments, S. (N.) phami sp. nov. is most striking in having the pupal gill with five filaments, a character not reported in species of the S. feuerborni species-group, and S. (N.) bachmaense sp. nov. is characterized by the female genital fork with a triangular lobe-like projection pointed posteromedially on each arm, and the small larval postgenal cleft. This represents the first record of the S. feuerborni species-group from Vietnam.
  5. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z
    Zootaxa, 2014;3774:473-80.
    PMID: 24871514 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3774.5.5
    Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) tekamense and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) jerantutense, are described based on adult females emerged from pupae in Peninsular Malaysia, and assigned to the binuanense subgroup of the batoense species-group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Simulium (G.) tekamense sp. nov. is characterized in the female by the subcosta with 0-2 hairs, and presence of a  deep notch on the apex of the mediolongitudinal ridge of the cibarium, and in the pupa by one of two paired gill filaments of the middle triplet much thicker than the counter filament. Simulium (G.) jerantutense sp. nov. is characterized in the female by the short claw tooth 0.46 times the length of the claw, and in the pupa by the gill filaments arranged as [2+1+(1+2)]+2 filaments from dorsal to ventral. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish these new species from related species.
  6. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Hashim R
    Zootaxa, 2014;3765:54-68.
    PMID: 24870884 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3765.1.3
    Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) brinchangense and S. (G.) tanahrataense, are described on the basis of reared adult females, males, pupae and larvae from Cameron's Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia. These new species are assigned to the asakoae species-group within Simulium (Gomphostilbia) and taxonomic notes are given to distinguish each new species from six known species in Malaysia. Revised keys to identify all 21 species including 13 species from other countries are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. The species diversity of the asakoae species-group in Cameron's Highlands is briefly noted.
  7. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Fernandez K, et al.
    Zootaxa, 2015;3985(1):1-30.
    PMID: 26250021 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3985.1.1
    Species of the Simulium (Simulium) melanopus species-group in Sabah are taxonomically revised by examining type specimens of S. (S.) crassimanum S. (S.) laterale, and S. (S.) nigripilosum, all described from females by Edwards in 1933, and newly collected samples from the vicinity of Mt. Kinabalu. The females of these three species are redescribed, and their males and pupae are described for the first time based on adults reared from pupae. Simulium (S.) liewi Takaoka, 2007 and S. (S.) kinabaluense Smart & Clifford, 1969 are synonymized with S. (S.) crassimanum and S. (S.) laterale, respectively. Simulium (S.) cheedhangi Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Ya'cob, 2015 is newly recorded from Sabah. Two new related species, S. (S.) lardizabalae and S. (S.) timpohonense, are described from males reared from pupae. Keys to identify eight species of the S. melanopus species-group in Sabah are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.
  8. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Pham XD
    Zootaxa, 2015;3961(1):1-96.
    PMID: 26249374 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3961.1.1
    Surveys of pupae and larvae of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) were carried out in Thua Thien Hue Province of central Vietnam, and Lam Dong Province of southern Vietnam in 2014. A total of 26 species belonging to the genus Simulium were collected, consisting of eight known species, one newly recorded species, and 17 new species (of which three species of the subgenus Nevermannia were described in 2014). The remaining 14 new species (nine of the subgenus Gomphostilbia and five of the subgenus Simulium) are described here based on females, males, pupae and mature larvae. The total number of species of black flies in Vietnam is now 46. Keys to identify all 26 species recorded from the two provinces of Vietnam are given for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.
  9. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Low VL, et al.
    Zootaxa, 2017 May 05;4261(1):1-165.
    PMID: 28609891 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4261.1.1
    The biodiversity of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), which are biting insects of medical and veterinary importance, is strikingly high in Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. In 2013, we began to explore the fauna of black flies in Vietnam, which has so far been poorly studied. In this monograph, the wealth of the biodiversity of black flies in Vietnam is also confirmed on the basis of the results of our recent investigations, though limited to five provinces in the country.      Morphotaxonomic studies of black flies obtained from Sapa, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, in 2014 and Nghe An Province, northern Vietnam, in 2015, and reexaminations of black flies collected from Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc Province, northern Vietnam, in 2013, Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam, in 2014, and Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam, in 2014, were conducted. A total of 22 species are described as new, including one in the newly recorded subgenus Montisimulium Rubtsov, and three species are recognized as new records from Vietnam. This investigation brings the number of species of black flies known in Vietnam to 70, all of which are assigned to the genus Simulium Latreille, and are placed in four subgenera (25 in Gomphostilbia Enderlein, one in Montisimulium, seven in Nevermannia Enderlein, and 37 in Simulium Latreille s. str.). The numbers of species-groups recognized include seven in Gomphostilbia, three in Nevermannia and nine in Simulium, indicating a high diversity of putative phylogenetic lineages. New species include S. (G.) sanchayense sp. nov. (= the species formerly regarded as S. (G.) brinchangense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Hashim), S. (S.) lowi sp. nov. (= the species formerly regarded as S. (S.) brevipar Takaoka & Davies), S. (S.) fuscicoxae sp. nov. [= the species formerly regarded as S. (S.) rufibasis Brunetti (in part)], S. (S.) suoivangense sp. nov. [= morphoform 'b' of the S. (S.) tani Takaoka & Davies (complex)]. Newly recorded species are S. (G.) parahiyangum Takaoka & Sigit, S. (N.) maeaiense Takaoka & Srisuka, and S. (S.) doipuiense Takaoka & Choochote (complex) [= the species formerly regarded as S. (S.) rufibasis Brunetti (in part)]. The substitute name, S. (S.) huense, is given for the species that was described under the name of S. (S.) cavum from southern Vietnam. A redescription of the female, male, pupa and larva of S. (G.) asakoae Takaoka & Davies is presented, and the female and larva of S. (G.) hongthaii Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Ya'cob are described for the first time. Keys to 10 subgenera in the Oriental Region and all 70 species recorded from Vietnam are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.      As investigations extend nationwide in all the provinces in Vietnam, more new species and records are expected to be discovered. It is hoped that this monograph will be useful as a baseline taxonomic reference for future studies of black flies in Vietnam and neighbouring countries.
  10. Takaoka H, Ya'cob Z, Sofian-Azirun M
    Zootaxa, 2018 Oct 12;4498(1):1-65.
    PMID: 30486086 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4498.1.1
    The classification, annotated list and keys for the black fly species from Peninsular Malaysia are updated. The number of black fly species increased from 38 in 1995 to 62 (including a new species herein described) in 2018. The 62 species are classified in four subgenera of the genus Simulium: one species in Daviesellum, 35 species in Gomphostilbia, five species in Nevermannia and 21 species in Simulium. Species in the latter three subgenera are further placed in species-groups or subgroups. Keys are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. Simulium (S.) perakense sp. nov. is described and placed in the S. striatum species-group. The males of S. (G.) decuplum, S. (G.) tahanense, S. (S.) malayense, the female of S. (G.) adleri, and the female and larva of S. (G.) varicorne are described for the first time. The female, male, pupa and larva of S. (G.) trangense, the male and pupa of S. (G.) varicorne and the pupa of S. (G.) adleri are redescribed. Simulium (G.) sp. A is identified as S. (G.) pegalanense. Brief notes for each species are given on morphological characteristics, aquatic habitats and geographical distributions.
  11. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Chen CD, Halim MRA, Lau KW, Low VL, et al.
    Zootaxa, 2019 Aug 05;4651(2):zootaxa.4651.2.12.
    PMID: 31716918 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4651.2.12
    Simulium (Gomphostilbia) marosense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Sulawesi, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium duolongum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group, representing the ninth member for the subgroup in Sulawesi. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are 1.9-3.0 times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.
  12. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Chen CD, Lau KW, Halim MR, Low VL, et al.
    Zootaxa, 2017 Feb 21;4236(1):zootaxa.4236.1.8.
    PMID: 28264343 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4236.1.8
    Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lemborense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Flores, in the eastern part of the Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein, representing the most eastern distribution record for the group. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are three to four times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.
  13. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Hashim R, Ya'cob Z
    Zookeys, 2011.
    PMID: 21998510 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.118.1552
    Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimisp. n. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauensesp. n., are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Peninsular Malaysia. These two new species are placed in the ceylonicum species-group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimisp. n. is most distinctive with the male having almost entirely yellow antennae, and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauensesp. n. is characterized in the female by having the elongate sensory vesicle and the yellowish-white hairs on the base of the costal vein and on the stem vein, in the male by the greater number of large upper-eye facets and the spindle-shaped hind basitarsi which are much narrower than the hind tibiae and femora and in the pupa by the small terminal hooks. Keys to species of the ceylonicum species-group reported from Peninsular Malaysia are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.
  14. Low VL, Tan TK, Lim PE, Domingues LN, Tay ST, Lim YA, et al.
    Vet Parasitol, 2014 Aug 29;204(3-4):439-42.
    PMID: 24912955 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.05.036
    A multilocus sequence analysis using mitochondria-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), cytochrome B (CytB), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5); nuclear encoded 18S ribosomal RNA (18S) and 28S ribosomal RNA (28S) genes was performed to determine the levels of genetic variation between the closely related species Haematobia irritans Linnaeus and Haematobia exigua de Meijere. Among these five genes, ND5 and CytB genes were found to be more variable and informative in resolving the interspecific relationships of both species. In contrast, the COI gene was more valuable in inferring the intraspecific relationships. The ribosomal 18S and 28S sequences of H. irritans and H. exigua were highly conserved with limited intra- and inter-specific variation. Molecular evidence presented in this study demonstrated that both flies are genetically distinct and could be differentiated based on sequence analysis of mitochondrial genes.
  15. Azrizal-Wahid N, Sofian-Azirun M, Low VL
    Vet Parasitol, 2020 May;281:109102.
    PMID: 32289653 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109102
    The present study investigated the genetic profile of the cosmopolitan cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) from Malaysia and the reference data available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank. A set of sequences of 100 Malaysian samples aligned as 550 characters of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and 706 characters of the II (cox2) genes revealed ten haplotypes (A1-A10) and eight haplotypes (B1-B8), respectively. The concatenated sequences of cox1 and cox2 genes with a total of 1256 characters revealed 15 haplotypes (AB1-AB15). Analyses indicated that haplotype AB1 was the most frequent and the most widespread haplotype in Malaysia. Overall haplotype and nucleotide diversities of the concatenated sequences were 0.52909 and 0.00424, respectively, with moderate genetic differentiation (FST = 0.17522) and high gene flow (Nm = 1.18). The western population presented the highest genetic diversity (Hd = 0.78333, Pi = 0.01269, Nh = 9), whereas the southern population demonstrated the lowest diversity (Hd = 0.15667, Pi = 0.00019, Nh = 3). The concatenated sequences showed genetic distances ranged from 0.08 % to 4.39 %. There were three aberrant haplotypes in cox2 sequences that highly divergent, suggesting the presence of cryptic species or occurrence of introgression. In the global point of view, the aligned sequences of C. felis revealed 65 haplotypes (AA1-AA65) by the cox1 gene (n = 586), and 27 haplotypes (BB1-BB27) by the cox2 gene (n = 204). Mapping of the haplotype network showed that Malaysian C. felis possesses seven unique haplotypes in both genes with the common haplotypes demonstrated genetic affinity with C. felis from Southeast Asia for cox1 and South America for cox2. The topologies of cox1 and cox2 phylogenetic trees were concordant with relevant grouping pattern of haplotypes in the network but revealed two major lineages by which Malaysian haplotypes were closely related with haplotypes from the tropical region.
  16. Low VL, Prakash BK, Tan TK, Sofian-Azirun M, Anwar FHK, Vinnie-Siow WY, et al.
    Vet Parasitol, 2017 Oct 15;245:102-105.
    PMID: 28969827 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.08.015
    Vector-borne infections are persistent public health threats worldwide. In recent years, a number of mosquito-borne viruses have emerged or re-emerged to cause major disease outbreaks. Other vector-borne pathogens, however, remain understudied and much neglected especially in the developing regions of the world including Southeast Asia. In this study, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, cat louse Felicola subrostratus, and cat fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides orientis collected from free-ranging cats and dogs in Malaysia were molecularly screened for the presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria, and Dipylidium tapeworm. Our results showed the presence of Bartonella clarridgeiea, Bartonella henselae (lineage Marseille and lineage Houston-1), and Rickettsia sp. in C. felis. We also detected Rickettsia asembonensis in C. orientis and R. sanguineus s.l. Additionally, this study provides the first documentation on a potentially new species of Dipylidium infecting F. subrostratus and C. felis. Our results highlight the role of ectoparasites from free-ranging animals including cats and dogs, in harboring multiple transmissible pathogens.
  17. Low VL, Vinnie-Siow WY, Lim Y AL, Tan TK, Leong CS, Chen CD, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2015 Sep;32(3):554-6.
    PMID: 26695218 MyJurnal
    Given the lack of molecular evidence in altered target-site insecticide resistance mechanism in Aedes albopictus (Skuse) worldwide, the present study aims to detect the presence of A302S mutation in the gene encoding the gamma aminobutyric acid receptor resistant to dieldrin (Rdl) in Ae. albopictus for the first time from its native range of South East Asia, namely Malaysia. World Health Organization (WHO) adult susceptibility bioassay indicated a relatively low level of dieldrin resistance (two-fold) in Ae. albopictus from Petaling Jaya, Selangor. However, PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing methods revealed the presence of the A302S mutation with the predomination of heterozygous genotype (40 out of 82 individuals), followed by the resistant genotype with 11 individuals. This study represents the first field evolved instance of A302S mutation in Malaysian insect species.
  18. Takaoka H, Sofian-Azirun M, Ya'cob Z, Chen CD, Lau KW, Pham HT
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Dec;31(4):742-8.
    PMID: 25776600 MyJurnal
    A total of 29 female black flies were captured by a hand net as they swarmed around humans in Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam. They included one species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia (Simulium (Gomphostilbia) asakoae Takaoka & Davies) and five species of the subgenus Simulium, of which one species is described as Simulium (Simulium) vietnamense sp. nov. and the other four species (S. (S.) chungi Takaoka & Huang, S. (S.) grossifilum Takaoka & Davies, S. (S.) maenoi Takaoka & Choochote, and S. (S.) rufibasis Brunetti) are newly recorded from Vietnam.
  19. Leong CS, Chen CD, Low VL, Karen-Chia HM, Azidah AA, Sofian-Azirun M
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Jun;31(2):241-60.
    PMID: 25134893 MyJurnal
    The resistance status of riceland Culex vishnui against four major groups of insecticides (i.e., organochlorines, carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids) was investigated. Biochemical assays (ESTα, ESTβ, MFO and GST) were also conducted to detect the resistance levels. Throughout a 12-month study period, multiple insecticide resistance was observed in both larvae and adult Cx vishnui. Culex vishnui larvae exhibited low resistance against malathion, temephos and permethrin with resistance ratio (RR) values < 5. In adult bioassay, Cx. vishnui were highly resistant against all tested adulticides with 24h post-treatment mortality < 70%. Correlations between permethrin and malathion resistance, as well as between deltamethrin and cyfluthrin resistance were found in Cx. vishnui. The results indicated that mixed function oxidases activity of Cx. vishnui was the highest compared to ESTα, ESTβ and GST. Spearman rank-order analysis showed that ESTα, ESTβ and GST were involved in multiple resistances in Cx. vishnui. The findings of this study established a baseline of insecticide susceptibility and revealed the effects of agricultural insecticide pressure on the vectors of Japanese encephalitis in Malaysia.
  20. Chen CD, Nazni WA, Lee HL, Hashim R, Abdullah NA, Ramli R, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2014 Jun;31(2):381-6.
    PMID: 25134909 MyJurnal
    This study reported the ant species that were recovered from monkey carcasses in three different ecological habitats in Malaysia. The study was conducted from 9 May - 10 October 2007, 6 May - 6 August 2008 and 26 May - 14 July 2009 in forested area (Gombak, Selangor), coastal area (Tanjong Sepat, Selangor) and highland area (Bukit Cincin, Pahang), respectively. Monkey carcass was used as a model for human decomposition in this study. A total of 4 replicates were used in each of the study sites. Ants were observed to prey on eggs, larvae, pupae and newly emerged flies. This study found that ant species could be found at all stages of decomposition, indicating that ants were not a significant indicator for faunal succession. However, different species of ants were obtained from monkey carcasses placed in different ecological habitats. Cardiocondyla sp. was only found on carcasses placed in the coastal area; while Pheidole longipes, Hypoponera sp. and Pachycondyla sp. were solely found on carcasses placed in the highland area. On the other hand, Pheidologeton diversus and Paratrechina longicornis were found in several ecological habitats. These data suggests that specific ant species can act as geographic indicators for different ecological habitats in forensic entomology cases in Malaysia.
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links