Modeling Spatial Distribution of Sergentomyia minuta (Diptera: Psychodidae) and its Potential Implication in Leishmaniasis Transmission in Morocco

Daoudi, M.; Boussaa, Samia; Boumezzough, Ali

doi:10.18502/jad.v14i1.2700

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The high prevalence of infection in lizards overlaps the abundance of herpetophilic S. minuta and of P. perniciosus , which is the main vector of L. infantum [ 59 ]. Nonetheless, the finding of S. minuta as the most abundant species (92.7%) compared to P. perniciosus (7.3%) was already observed in other dog shelters from southern Italy where L. infantum is prevalent, such as in Apulia [ 16 ], Sicily [ 60 – 63 ], as well as Morocco [ 64 ], Portugal [ 65 ] and Spain [ 21 ]. In addition, the low number of P. perniciosus collected may be correlated to the species phenology and environmental preferences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Detection of Leishmania tarentolae in lizards, sand flies and dogs in southern Italy, where Leishmania infantum is endemic: hindrances and opportunities

et al. 2021

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Background Leishmania tarentolae is a protozoan isolated from geckoes (Tarentola annularis, Tarentola mauritanica), which is considered non-pathogenic and is transmitted by herpetophilic Sergentomyia spp. sand flies. This species occurs in sympatry with Leishmania infantum in areas where canine leishmaniasis is endemic. In the present study, we investigated the circulation of L. tarentolae and L. infantum in sand flies, dogs and lizards in a dog shelter in southern Italy, where canine leishmaniasis by L. infantum is endemic. Methods Sheltered dogs (n = 100) negative for Leishmania spp. (March 2020) were screened by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) using promastigotes of both species at two time points (June 2020 and March 2021). Whole blood from dogs, tissues of Podarcis siculus lizards (n = 28) and sand flies (n = 2306) were also sampled and tested by a duplex real-time PCR (dqPCR). Host blood meal was assessed in sand flies by PCR. Results Overall, 16 dogs became positive for L. infantum and/or L. tarentolae by IFAT at one or both sampling periods. One canine blood sample was positive for L. infantum, whilst two for L. tarentolae by dqPCR. At the cytology of lizard blood, Leishmania spp. amastigote-like forms were detected in erythrocytes. Twenty-two tissue samples, mostly lung (21.4%), scored molecularly positive for L. tarentolae, corresponding to 10 lizards (i.e., 35.7%). Of the female Sergentomyia minuta sampled (n = 1252), 158 scored positive for L. tarentolae, four for L. infantum, and one co-infected. Two Phlebotomus perniciosus (out of 29 females) were positive for L. tarentolae. Engorged S. minuta (n = 10) fed on humans, and one P. perniciosus, positive for L. tarentolae, on lagomorphs. Conclusions Dogs and lacertid lizards (Podarcis siculus) were herein found for the first time infected by L. tarentolae. The detection of both L. tarentolae and L. infantum in S. minuta and P. perniciosus suggests their sympatric circulation, with a potential overlap in vertebrate hosts. The interactions between L. tarentolae and L. infantum should be further investigated in both vectors and vertebrate hosts to understand the potential implications for the diagnosis and control of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas. Graphical abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Detection of Leishmania tarentolae in lizards, sand flies and dogs in southern Italy, where Leishmania infantum is endemic: hindrances and opportunities

et al. 2021

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“…Leishmania spp. in the Neotropical regions are vectored by species of Lutzomyia and those in Palearctic and Afrotropical regions by Phlebotomous sand flies (Daoudi et al., 2020; Mann et al., 2021). Conversely, Sauroleishmania is vectored by Sergentomyia , a genus of sand fly for a long time considered solely herpetophilic, thus feeding mainly on cold‐blooded animals (Mendoza‐Roldan et al., 2020a; 2021a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leishmania spp. in Squamata reptiles from the Mediterranean basin

Mendoza‐Roldan

Latrofa

Tarallo

et al. 2022

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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Leishmania tarentolae is a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid species isolated from geckoes in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, L. tarentolae and Leishmania infantum occur in sympatry in areas where canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic. Here, we investigated the prevalence and distribution of L. tarentolae in reptilian hosts and the presence of L. infantum in the same animals in southern Italy. From April 2020 to April 2021, lizards and snakes were captured in urban, peri-urban sites, natural parks, and dog shelters. Blood was individually sampled and assessed for the presence of Leishmania spp. by cytology and/or molecular biology. Captured lizards were euthanized and their tissues/organs were tested by duplex real-time-PCR for the detection of L. infantum and L. tarentolae and the positive ones were amplified by conventional PCR to confirm the species identification by sequencing. Samples were also screened by realtime PCR for L. infantum kDNA minicircle. Of the 259 collected Squamata reptiles, 34 (13.1%) specimens scored positive for Leishmania spp., with a prevalence of 10% for L. tarentolae (n = 26) and of 3.1% for L. infantum (n = 8). Positive lizards were mostly Podarcis siculus (n = 26) from dog shelters, with six specimens positive for L. infantum. In addition, L. tarentolae was detected in one Podarcis filfolensis lizard, and in five T. mauritanica geckos (with one gecko and P. filfolensis lizard showing amastigote-like forms in thrombocytes), whereas L. infantum was detected in one T. mauritanica, and one Hemidactylus turcicus. Data herein reported demostrate that saurian reptiles living in CanL endemic areas of the Mediterranean basin may be exposed to both L. tarentolae and L. infantum indicating a sympatric circulation of these species in different vertebrate hosts. Moreover, this study represents the first molecular evidence of L. infantum infection in European reptiles.

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“…Site 1 included a cave, a sheltered environment with a high density of sand flies, which would be less This species is a vector of Sauroleishmania of reptiles and its possible implication in the transmission of mammal Leishmania spp. has been considered (Daoudi et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This species is a vector of Sauroleishmania of reptiles and its possible implication in the transmission of mammal Leishmania spp. has been considered (Daoudi et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of high‐volume insecticide spraying on sand fly vectors in household gardens in Spain

Ortuño

Muñoz

Risueño

et al. 2023

Zoonoses and Public Health

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This study investigated the efficacy of high‐volume spraying with the adulticide α‐cypermethrin alone and in combination with the larvicide diflubenzuron on the density of sand flies in gardens of three detached households in periurban areas in southeast Spain. Treatments were applied four times between June and August 2016, and four nearby sites, two households and two non‐urbanized sites, were untreated controls. The number of sand flies collected between May and October 2016 using sticky interception and light attraction traps, was 4446 specimens. Species identified morphologically included Sergentomyia minuta (n = 2101; 48%), Phlebotomus perniciosus (n = 1922; 44%), Phlebotomus papatasi (n = 173; 4%), Phlebotomus sergenti (n = 161; 4%) and Phlebotomus ariasi (n = 36; 1%). Sand flies were detected in both treated and untreated sites. The proportion of positive sticky traps and the median (range) density of sand flies in positive traps were 61% traps and 7 (2–172) sand flies/m2/day in untreated sites, and 43% traps and 4 (1–56) sand flies/m2/day in treated sites (p < 0.05). Similarly, for light traps, it was 96% traps and 30 (3–168) flies/trap/day, and 83% traps and 3 (1–12) sand flies/trap/day, respectively (p < 0.05). However, sand fly density followed a comparable seasonal pattern in untreated and treated sites and did not consistently decrease following insecticide applications. These results were confirmed with mixed negative binomial modelling of sand fly density adjusted for time since application, month, environmental setting and site. The limited efficacy of the treatments, added to their cost, the impact of insecticides on non‐target organisms and human health, and the risk of development of insecticide resistance, should dissuade similar outdoor applications to control sand fly vector populations in residential areas.

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Modeling Spatial Distribution of Sergentomyia minuta (Diptera: Psychodidae) and its Potential Implication in Leishmaniasis Transmission in Morocco

Cited by 7 publications

References 46 publications

Detection of Leishmania tarentolae in lizards, sand flies and dogs in southern Italy, where Leishmania infantum is endemic: hindrances and opportunities

Detection of Leishmania tarentolae in lizards, sand flies and dogs in southern Italy, where Leishmania infantum is endemic: hindrances and opportunities

Leishmania spp. in Squamata reptiles from the Mediterranean basin

Effect of high‐volume insecticide spraying on sand fly vectors in household gardens in Spain

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