Bionomic aspects of Lutzomyia evansi and Lutzomyia longipalpis, proven vectors of Leishmania infantum in an endemic area of non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in Honduras

Abstract

BackgroundSome Lutzomyia species are the vectors of human leishmaniasis in the Americas. Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are both endemic in the Pacific region of Honduras, but the non-ulcerative form is the more frequent clinical manifestation in this region, where Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most abundant and the only incriminated vector. Taxonomic identification and distribution studies of sand flies are important to understand the epidemiology and to control these neglected tropical diseases.ResultsHere, we identified more than 13,000 Lutzomyia specimens captured in Isla del Tigre, Honduras, through a classical morphological approach. The two most common species were Lutzomyia evansi and Lu. longipalpis, and this is the first report of three Lutzomyia species on this island. The blood meal source was successfully identified for five sand fly species. A barcode analysis using the cox1 mitochondrial marker proved to be effective in discriminating between species and seems to be a valuable tool for future epidemiological studies including a wider geographical area.ConclusionThis study updates the diversity and blood meal sources of Lutzomyia species in an island endemic for non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Pacific region of Honduras, and determines the effectiveness of the barcoding approach to discriminate species, as a complementary tool to classical morphology.

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in Pintomyia evansi and Lutzomyia longipalpis in an endemic area of Non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis from Honduras

“…Additionally, behavioral characteristics of this species in the study area were described by Carrasco et al [7]. Recently, Mejía et al [6] described aspects of the feeding preference of sand ies in the Paci c Honduran area. These authors observed the predominance of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi and Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis, but couldn't determine the presence of Leishmania (L.) infantum in those species [6].…”

“…Recently, Mejía et al [6] described aspects of the feeding preference of sand ies in the Paci c Honduran area. These authors observed the predominance of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi and Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis, but couldn't determine the presence of Leishmania (L.) infantum in those species [6]. Similar results were described by Zeledón et al, (1984) and Raymond et al, (2010) who reported those species as the two most common species in areas endemic to NUCL in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, respectively.…”

“…The phlebotomine sand ies were mounted for morphological identi cation, following the procedures outlined by Mejía et al, 2018 [6]. The sand y species were identi ed according to Young and Duncan, 1994 [5], and the genera and species classi cation is presented according Galati´s key, 2017 [11].…”

“…More than 1,000 sand y species have been described worldwide, from which 530 species are present in the Americas [2,3] and at least 30 species are considered as Leishmania vectors [4]. In Honduras, 29 sand y species have been reported [2,[5][6][7]. Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi are the most abundant species in the endemic area for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Non -ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) in the southern region of Honduras [6,8].…”

“…In Honduras, 29 sand y species have been reported [2,[5][6][7]. Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi are the most abundant species in the endemic area for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Non -ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) in the southern region of Honduras [6,8]. However, Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis is the only specie reported as vector of Leishmania (L.) infantum [9].…”