Sand fly and Leishmania spp. survey in Vojvodina (Serbia): first detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in sand flies and the first record of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii Grassi, 1908

Abstract

BackgroundLeishmaniasis in Serbia was an endemic disease, and is considered to be eradicated for more than 40 years. In the past decade sporadic cases of canine leishmaniasis started to emerge for the first time in Vojvodina Province (previously non-endemic region of Serbia). Reports of introduced, and later on autochthonous cases of leishmaniasis alerted the possibility of disease emergence. The aim of this study was to bridge more than a half a century wide gap in entomological surveillance of sand fly vectors in Vojvodina, as well as to verify the presence of the vector species that could support Leishmania spp. circulation.ResultsDuring the period 2013–2015, a total of 136 sand flies were collected from 48 of 80 surveyed locations. Four sand fly species of the genus Phlebotomus were detected: P. papatasi, P. perfiliewi, P. mascittii and P. neglectus. Detection of P. mascittii represents the first record of this species for the sand fly fauna in Vojvodina and in Serbia. All female specimens (n = 80) were tested for Leishmania spp. DNA, and three blood-fed P. papatasi specimens were positive (4%). One positive DNA sample was successfully amplified by ITS1 nPCR. The RFLP analysis of the resulting 350 bp fragment showed a typical pattern of L. infantum, and the ITS1 partial sequence blasted in GenBank confirmed 100% identity with L. infantum and L. donovani complex sequences. This result represents the first record of both Leishmania spp. and L. infantum DNA from sand flies in Vojvodina, and in Serbia.ConclusionsPresence of autochthonous canine leishmaniasis cases, records of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) species proven vectors of L. infantum (P. perfiliewi and P. neglectus) and detection of L. infantum DNA from wild caught (non-competent) vectors, prove that L. infantum is present in Vojvodina and indicates a probable circulation in the region.

Phlebotomine sand flies and Leishmania species in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Algeria

“…The detection of different Leishmania spp. in non-competent vectors has been previously reported [38][39][40].…”

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum DNA and host blood meal identification in Phlebotomus in a hypoendemic focus of human leishmaniasis in northern Algeria

“…A recent study in Serbia, central Europe, showed the emergence of sporadic human and canine leishmaniasis cases in the country which were confirmed by entomological surveillance by the presence of Leishmania spp . in sand flies with an infection rate of 4% [ 46 ].…”

Host Species Determines the Composition of the Prokaryotic Microbiota in Phlebotomus Sandflies

“…The sandfly population collected from the island of Leros was composed of 10 species, with P. papatasi, P. neglectus and P. tobbi being the most dominant, followed by S. minuta and P. simils , representing the sandfly fauna on the island of Leros, Greece. Previous studies in Serbia, Albania and other countries in the East Mediterranean basin have shown similar sandfly species distribution with P. neglectus most often identified as the dominant species [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. A recent study in the same study region in Greece reported P. neglectus as the predominant species, followed by S. minuta, P. tobbi, P. simici and P. similis [ 12 ], which were also detected in our study.…”

“…Collective field studies in the Mediterranean region [ 7 ] and neighboring countries like Albania [ 8 ] and Serbia [ 9 , 10 ], verified the presence of several Phlebotomus species like P. neglectus, P. tobbi, P. balkanicus, P. ariasi, P. perfiliewi, P. perniciosus, P. kandelakii, P. mascitii, P. alexandri, P. sergenti. P. similis, P. simici, P. patasi, all being proven or potential vectors of Leishmania .…”