Investigation of natural infection of Phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) by Leishmania in Tunisian endemic regions

Chaouch, Melek; Chaabane, Amal; Ayari, Chiraz; Othman, Souad Ben; Sereno, Denis; Chemkhi, Jomaa; BenAbderrazak, Souha

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2021.e00212

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…This geographical spread shows that ZCL is not only a problem in Iran but also poses a challenge across countries. This underscores the need for a coordinated international effort in research and control measures to address this issue effectively (16–17,22–25,34–35,88–89,90,97,4,13,20,38,54,57,59,66,64,69).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Aspects of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran, the Middle East, and Worldwide: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

jamali,

Bokaie

2024

Preprint

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Introduction and objectives: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) remains a significant health problem, particularly in Iran, where 15.8 cases per 100,000 people were reported in 2019. Iran accounted for more than half of all new cases in the Eastern Mediterranean region in 2008. entified several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Egypt, as having the highest rates of this disease, which is a major burden in the rural areas of these regions. ZCL is a major global health problem, especially in countries such as Iran, the Middle East and North Africa.ZCL is a major global health problem, particularly in countries such as Iran, the Middle East and North Africa. Despite the existing research on cutaneous leishmaniasis, few studies focus exclusively on the epidemiologic aspects of ZCL. This systematic study aims to fill this gap by investigating the geographical distribution and cause of occurrence and identifying reservoirs, vectors and sites of ZCL occurrence, focusing on high-risk areas such as Algeria and Tunisia in North Africa in figure 8. Areas suitable for vector-borne transmission and ZCL reservoirs are expected to increase in the future. Understanding the ecological links between vectors, reservoirs and the Leishmania parasite is crucial for the development of effective control and prevention strategies. It is expected that the regions favorable for vector-borne transmission and the reservoirs of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) will expand as environmental conditions evolve. To develop effective control and prevention strategies, it is important to understand the ecological interplay between vectors, reservoirs and the leishmaniasis parasite. Climate change is expected to exacerbate the threat of ZCL by 2050, potentially increasing the suitability of habitats for vectors and reservoirs. This study uniquely examines the epidemiologic aspects of ZCL globally, filling a gap in the current literature that predominantly addresses cutaneous leishmaniasis in a broader context. Results: This study provides a detailed insight into the increasing prevalence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. It identifies Iran, where 18 out of 31 provinces are affected, as a critical area, especially the central provinces. Key factors such as Leishmania reservoirs in rodents, emerging reservoirs, and specific vectors contribute significantly to the transmission of the disease and are influenced by environmental and climatic conditions in Iran, the Middle East, and North Africa. The study highlights new hotspots in Iran, such as Beyza district in Fars province and regions in Isfahan and Razavi Khorasan provinces, which indicate the dynamic nature of the spread of ZCL associated with urbanization and climate change. Predictive modeling suggests that an increase in ZCL may soon occur in northwestern Iran due to suitable environmental conditions for the vectors and reservoirs. On the other hand, the identification of new reservoirs was an important result. These included different hedgehog species (Paraechinus aethiopicus, Atelerix algirus, and Hemiechinus auritus) in Algeria, Tunisia, and Iran as well as calomyscid rodents in Shiraz, the capital of the Iranian province of Fars. Interestingly, specific vectors and reservoirs make Tunisia and Algeria high-risk areas in North Africa, emphasizing the need for regional integrated control measures. The results highlight a crucial gap in the research and control of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis outside Iran. In the last ten years, the focus has been less on the Middle East and Central Asia, although the disease is widespread in these regions. Conclusion: This review emphasizes the critical need for a combined approach to the control and prevention of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). This study emphasizes the role of climate change and urban expansion in influencing disease dynamics. The identification of new endemic areas and prediction of future hotspots in Iran will provide valuable insights for targeting prevention and control measures. This underlines the importance of regional collaboration and adaptive strategies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries to effectively tackle this neglected tropical disease as part of the One Health approach. As the first comprehensive study on the epidemiology of ZCL, this study fills a significant gap in the literature and provides a foundation for future research and public health interventions to mitigate the global impact of ZCL. This systematic review highlights the complicated and multifaceted nature of the disease, which is influenced by various vectors, reservoir hosts, and environmental factors. This comprehensive review not only deepens our understanding of the epidemiology of ZCL, but also provides crucial insights for health managers and policy makers. This knowledge can help them to identify high-risk areas, implement targeted prevention measures, and develop effective control programs to combat this endemic disease. Keywords: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis, Iran, MiddleEast, Epidemiology, Reservoir, Vector, Systematic Review

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Aspects of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran, the Middle East, and Worldwide: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

jamali,

Bokaie

2024

Preprint

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“…This was the case of the emerging VL foci located in the arid bioclimatic zone of Central Tunisia that evidenced a high mobilization of water resources recent years [ 12 , 14 ]. In these emerging foci of high VL incidence, several entomological surveys have been carried out showing L. infantum infection of several Laroussius species, notably P. perniciosus , P. perfiliewi , and P. longicuspis [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], but also showed L. infantum infection of Phlebotomus papatasi [ 15 , 17 ] and Sergentomyia minuta [ 15 ]. These studies have also highlighted the role of P. perfiliewi in these particular foci [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity, Abundance and Leishmania infantum Infection Rate of Phlebotomine Sandflies in an Area with Low Incidence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northern Tunisia

et al. 2022

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We report the study of sandfly Leishmania infection in an area of low incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in Tunisia. Sandflies were collected monthly using CDC light-traps set in houses and animal shelters during May–November 2016 and 2017. All males were identified at the species level. A sample of 878 females including all gravid specimens was subjected to kDNA qPCR for Leishmania detection and parasite load estimation. Leishmania species were determined by ITS1 PCR sequencing, and species identification of infected sandflies was performed by DNA barcoding. Phlebotomus perfiliewi and P. perniciosus were the dominant species during the two-year period. However, comparison of their relative abundances showed that P. perniciosus was more abundant during peaks of 2017 with longer activity duration. Real-time kDNA PCR did not detect Leishmania infection in 2016, although it identified four positive specimens (0.7%) in 2017. All four infected specimens were identified as P. perniciosus. ITS1 PCR sequencing allowed L. infantum identification in one kDNA qPCR-positive specimen. This was a P. perniciosus gravid female with a high parasite load caught during the long-lasting peak of 2017. This work highlights the usefulness of multi-seasonal studies of sandfly dynamics and kDNA qPCR in screening Leishmania infection and determining L. infantum vectors in hypo-endemic foci of human leishmaniasis.

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Investigation of natural infection of Phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) by Leishmania in Tunisian endemic regions

Cited by 2 publications

References 43 publications

Epidemiological Aspects of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran, the Middle East, and Worldwide: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Epidemiological Aspects of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran, the Middle East, and Worldwide: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Diversity, Abundance and Leishmania infantum Infection Rate of Phlebotomine Sandflies in an Area with Low Incidence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northern Tunisia

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