Phlebotomus langeroni Nitzulescu (Diptera, Psychodidae) a new vector for Leishmania infantum in Europe

Díaz‐Sáez, Victoriano; Márquez, Fernando José; Merino‐Espinosa, Gemma; Corpas‐López, Victoriano; Morales-Yuste, Manuel; Pesson, B.; Barón-López, Sergio; Lucientes-Curdi, J.; Martı́n-Sánchez, Joaquina

doi:10.1007/s00436-018-5788-8

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…From all of them, P. perniciosus and P. ariasi are the proven vectors of L. infantum, the only pathogenic species of the parasite found in Spain (Gil Collado et al, 1989;Rioux et al, 1986). Besides, P. langeroni has been recently proposed as a potential vector in a study performed in Granada (southern Spain) (Sáez et al, 2018). On the other hand, although S. minuta is one of the most abundant species in the country, limited information is available on its biology.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leishmania sp. detection and blood‐feeding behaviour of S ergentomyia minuta collected in the human leishmaniasis focus of southwestern Madrid, Spain (2012–2017)

González

Molina

Aldea

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Phlebotomine sand flies are the only known vectors of Leishmania spp. protozoan which causes leishmaniasis in 98 countries. In Spain, 11 sand fly species are described, but only Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus ariasi are proven vectors of the disease. On the other hand, Sergentomyia minuta is one of the most abundant and ubiquitous sand flies in this territory, although scarce information is available about this species. Sand flies from this genus are known for their preference to feed on cold-blooded animals and are traditionally involved in the transmission of reptile Leishmania. However, studies have suggested that Sergentomyia spp. could be implicated in the transmission of human pathogenic Leishmania. This study analyses blood meal preferences and Leishmania sp. infection of S. minuta sand flies from the largest human leishmaniasis outbreak in Europe. Sand flies were collected during entomological surveillance carries out from 2012 to 2017 in the active season of these dipterans, from May toOctober. Molecular detection of Leishmania spp. showed 68 positive specimens of S. minuta out of 377 (18%). The analysis of blood meal preferences by amplification of 359 bp fragment of cytochrome b gene revealed that blood preference of S. minuta is not only limited to reptiles, but they also feed on mammals, including humans. Results suggest the presence of a Leishmania sp., related to Leishmania tarentolae, cycle in S. minuta from the studied area. Although there is no evidence about its incrimination in the L. infantum transmission more investigation is needed to elucidate the intravectorial cycle of Leishmania spp. in S. minuta sand flies, their feeding behaviour and their potential contribution in Leishmania spp. epidemiology in the country. K E Y W O R D Sfeeding behaviour, human leishmaniasis outbreak, Leishmania spp., Sergentomyia minuta, Spain, vector competence

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Section: )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Leishmania sp. detection and blood‐feeding behaviour of S ergentomyia minuta collected in the human leishmaniasis focus of southwestern Madrid, Spain (2012–2017)

González

Molina

Aldea

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Twelve sand fly species have been recognized in Spain of which Phlebotomus perniciosus , P. ariasi and probably P. langeroni are vectors of L. infantum (Alcover et al, ; Díaz Sáez et al, ). Adult females are responsible for parasite transmission as they require a bloodmeal to produce eggs (Killick‐Kendrick, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular xenomonitoring and host identification of Leishmania sand fly vectors in a Mediterranean periurban wildlife park

Muñoz

Puente

Figuerola

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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The epidemiological cycle of zoonotic phlebotomine‐borne Leishmania infantum is a complex system in which domestic animals and wildlife interact and participate in its maintenance and transmission. In this study, we combined entomological surveillance, xenomonitoring of L. infantum and identification of host feeding sources of engorged females to investigate the potential contribution of a periurban wildlife park to leishmaniosis in neighbouring residential areas. Overall, 7,309 sand flies were collected in 111 trap‐days during the summers of 2016–2018 in an endemic area in south‐east Spain. Five different sand fly species were captured, with Phlebotomus perniciosus, the main L. infantum vector in this region, representing the most common species. Sand fly distribution was spatially heterogeneous in terms of species, sexes and female physiological stage (unfed, gravid and engorged females) and related to host distribution and management, and environmental features. None of the 602 sand flies analysed for L. infantum infection by kinetoplast real‐time PCR were positive. We used molecular tools to identify the vertebrate hosts of sand flies and identified 17 host species, mainly mammals. Human DNA was not identified in engorged sand flies. This study provides evidence that wildlife parks in south‐east Spain are ideal grounds for sand fly vectors but do not necessarily increase L. infantum infection risk to humans and dogs living in surrounding residential areas. This is probably because vectors feed mostly on non‐L. infantum competent hosts and this should be investigated for a better understanding of the contribution of wildlife parks to the local epidemiology of L. infantum.

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“…In Spain, CanL transmission is mainly shared by P. ( L. ) perniciosus and P. ( L. ) ariasi [ 9 , 10 ], with the second species having a narrower distribution but being responsible for maintaining the infection at higher altitudes [ 11 , 12 ]. Recently, L. infantum DNA was also found in another Larroussius species, P. langeroni , in the south of the country [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics of canine antibody response to Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva in an endemic area of Leishmania infantum

et al. 2018

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BackgroundCanine leishmaniosis (CanL) is an important zoonotic parasitic disease, endemic in the Mediterranean basin. In this region, transmission of Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of CanL, is through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Therefore, monitoring host-vector contact represents an important epidemiological tool, and could be used to assess the effectiveness of vector-control programmes in endemic areas. Previous studies have shown that canine antibodies against the saliva of phlebotomine sand flies are specific markers of exposure to Leishmania vectors. However, this method needs to be further validated in natural heterogeneous dog populations living in CanL endemic areas.MethodsIn this study, 176 dogs living in 12 different locations of an L. infantum endemic area in north-east Spain were followed for 14 months. Blood samples were taken at 5 pre-determined time points (February, August and October 2016; January and April 2017) to assess the canine humoral immune response to whole salivary gland homogenate (SGH) and to the single salivary 43 kDa yellow-related recombinant protein (rSP03B) of Phlebotomus perniciosus, a proven vector of L. infantum naturally present in this region. Simultaneously, in all dogs, L. infantum infection status was assessed by serology. The relationship between anti-SGH and anti-rSP03B antibodies with the sampling month, L. infantum infection and the location was tested by fitting multilevel linear regression models.ResultsThe dynamics of canine anti-saliva IgG for both SGH and rSP03B followed the expected trends of P. perniciosus activity in the region. Statistically significant associations were detected for both salivary antigens between vector exposure and sampling month or dog seropositivity to L. infantum. The correlation between canine antibodies against SGH and rSP03B was moderate.ConclusionsOur results confirm the frequent presence of CanL vectors in the study area in Spain and support the applicability of SGH- and rSP03B-based ELISA tests to study canine exposure to P. perniciosus in L. infantum endemic areas.

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Phlebotomus langeroni Nitzulescu (Diptera, Psychodidae) a new vector for Leishmania infantum in Europe

Cited by 21 publications

References 41 publications

Leishmania sp. detection and blood‐feeding behaviour of S ergentomyia minuta collected in the human leishmaniasis focus of southwestern Madrid, Spain (2012–2017)

Leishmania sp. detection and blood‐feeding behaviour of S ergentomyia minuta collected in the human leishmaniasis focus of southwestern Madrid, Spain (2012–2017)

Molecular xenomonitoring and host identification of Leishmania sand fly vectors in a Mediterranean periurban wildlife park

Seasonal dynamics of canine antibody response to Phlebotomus perniciosus saliva in an endemic area of Leishmania infantum

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