CRITHIDIA-RICARDOI SP-N A NEW SPECIES OF TRYPANOSOMATIDAE ISOLATED FROM CULEX-SALTANENSIS DYAR, 1928 (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

A flagellate trypanosomatid was isolated in culture from the digestive tract of the mosquito Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928. It grows exuberan tly in liver infusion in the form of epimastigotes and choanomastigote s typical of the genus Crithidia. The trypanosomatid was compared to C . deanei, C. fasciculata, C. luciliae, C. oncopelti and C. guilhermei. The techniques used for comparison were electron transmission microsc opy, isoenzymes and kDNA restriction profiles. No endosymbionts were f ound at electron microscopy. Results for the biochemical methods emplo yed indicate that the trypanosomatid isolated from C. saltanensis is a new species of Crithidia. The name C. ricardoi sp. n. is proposed for this new species.