51. Molecular detection of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae in human blood and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Sergentomyia minuta: unexpected host-parasite contacts.
- Author
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Pombi M, Giacomi A, Barlozzari G, Mendoza-Roldan J, Macrì G, Otranto D, and Gabrielli S
- Subjects
- Animals, DNA, Protozoan, DNA, Ribosomal Spacer genetics, Dogs parasitology, Feeding Behavior, Host-Parasite Interactions, Humans, Insect Vectors parasitology, Leishmania infantum classification, Leishmania infantum genetics, Leishmania infantum isolation & purification, Lizards parasitology, One Health, Pathology, Molecular, RNA, Ribosomal, 18S genetics, Vector Borne Diseases parasitology, Vector Borne Diseases transmission, Zoonoses parasitology, Zoonoses transmission, Leishmania classification, Leishmania genetics, Leishmania isolation & purification, Leishmaniasis parasitology, Leishmaniasis transmission, Leishmaniasis veterinary, Psychodidae parasitology
- Abstract
The detection of atypical Kinetoplastida in vertebrate hosts and vectors might suggest unexpected host-parasite contacts. Aside to major vectors of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in Italy (e.g. Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus perfiliewi), the sand fly fauna also includes Sergentomyia minuta, herpetophilic and proven vector of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae, in which records of blood meal on mammals and detection of L. infantum DNA are increasing. This study was conducted in Central Italy aiming to molecularly detect potential atypical Leishmania host-vector contacts. Detection of Leishmania spp. DNA was performed by polymerase chain reaction (SSU rRNA, ITS1 targets) on field-collected sand fly females (N = 344), blood samples from humans (N = 185) and dogs (N = 125). Blood meal identification was also performed on engorged sand flies. Leishmania spp. DNA was found in 13.1% sand flies, 3.7% humans and 14.4% dogs. Sequence analysis identified L. infantum in S. minuta (4.4%), P. perniciosus (9.1%), humans (2.2%) and dogs (14.4%). Leishmania tarentolae was detected in S. minuta (12.6%), P. perfiliewi (6.6%) and human (1.6%) samples. Of 28 S. minuta examined for blood meal, 3.6 and 21.4% scored positive for human and lizard DNA, respectively. These results indicate the importance of one-health approach to explore new potential routes of transmission of leishmaniasis involving S. minuta., (© 2020 The Royal Entomological Society.)
- Published
- 2020
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