A molecular analysis of the subgenus Transphlebotomus Artemiev, 1984 (Phlebotomus, Diptera, Psychodidae) inferred from ND4 mtDNA with new northern records of Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi, 1908

Abstract

A comparative molecular study was performed on the three species of Phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the subgenus Transphlebotomus Artemiev whose morphological differentiation is difficult. All three species have been suspected, but never proven, to be vectors of Leishmania infantum. The ND4 gene from mtDNA was sequenced from specimens of five populations of Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi from Belgium (the first records of Phlebotomine sandflies from this country), France, and Germany. Additionally, specimens from one population of Lebanese P. canaaniticus Adler and Theodor and of one population of Cypriot P. economidesi Leger, Depaquit and Ferte topotypes were examined. The results reveal the validity of the three taxa inferred from molecular variation and a molecular homogeneity shared by all of the populations of P. mascittii included into the present study. The epidemiological consequences are discussed.

Sandflies and leishmaniasis in Germany

“…mascittii has already been found in neighbouring countries: in western and southern Switzerland in 1912, respectively (Galli-Valerio 1912, Vogel 1931, in France in 1950 close to the German border in Strasbourg (Callot 1950), and recently in 2001 in Sainte-Cécile (Florenville) in Belgium (Depaquit et al 2005).…”

Winter activity of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii, Grassi 1908 (Diptera: Psychodidae) on the island of Corsica

“…In southern France, P. mascittii is well-known in the French Cévennes (Guilvard et al 1980). In Germany, the first sandflies were trapped in 1999 (Naucke and Pesson 2000), followed in Belgium in 2001 (Depaquit et al 2005). In the southeast of the island of Corsica, an old railway tunnel is known since more than 50 years to harbor this species (Toumanoff and Chassignet 1954).…”

Hohes Fieber, Panzytopenie und Splenomegalie 8 Monate nach einem Mallorca-Urlaub

“…Leishmaniosen dürften, ebenso wie Malaria oder Dengue-Fieber, perspektivisch zu diesen Erkrankungen zählen. In diesem Zusammenhang nachdenklich stimmt der rezente Nachweis des potentiellen Vektors Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi in Südbaden und angrenzenden Regionen [10,22,23,30]. Verbunden mit dem Import infizierter Hunde aus Endemiegebieten (mit Leishmania-Serokonversionsraten bis 50% oder mehr) als Haustier nach Deutschland und einer wachsenden Zahl von Hunden, die ihre Besitzer bei Reisen in das Mittelmeergebiet begleiten und sich dort mit Leishmania infantum infizieren, wäre ein entsprechendes Erregerreservoir prinzipiell auch in Deutschland vorhanden [8,12].…”