Seasonal dynamics of phlebotomine sand flies and autochthonous transmission of Leishmania infantum in high-altitude ecosystems in southern Spain.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by sand flies. A dozen species have been involved in the transmission of Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean region. Climate change may alter sand fly distribution at particular altitudes and latitudes. The objective of this study was to interrogate the existence of stable populations of sand flies in high-altitude ecosystems and evaluate if these populations are enough to support autochthonous transmission of leishmaniasis. These altitudinal conditions can be found in Sierra Nevada (southern Spain). Therefore, we have determined the sand fly population dynamics in different biotopes located at elevations above 1,300 m a.s.l. and searched for evidence of leishmaniasis transmission. Five collecting sites above 1,300 m a.s.l. containing large livestock concentrations were selected. Sand flies were caught using CDC light traps from May to November, annually from 2008 to 2013, and these were morphologically identified. Association between sand fly density or presence and temperature/humidity was estimated by linear and logistic regression, respectively. Leishmania infantum detection in female sand flies was performed by PCR. Diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) was carried out by indirect immunofluorescence and PCR. A total of 2,973 specimens of 5 sand fly species were collected from June to October. Phlebotomus perniciosus was the most frequent (100%), abundant (80.1%) and densest species (9.8 sand flies/trap). The minimum temperature on the day of capture was the most important variable factor for sand fly presence and P. perniciosus density. An increase in altitude showed a negative effect over the sand fly diversity and activity period, driving changes in seasonal dynamics similar to those reported by latitudinal changes. CanL prevalence was 23%, a similar rate to previous surveys carried out on randomly selected dogs from towns in southern Spain. A successful host-vector-pathogen network was found at this altitude characterised by 9.9% L. infantum infection rate in non-blood fed P. perniciosus and Phlebotomus ariasi females and high CanL prevalence that entails an increase in the leishmaniasis risk area driven by sand fly colonization.

Díaz-Sáez V ，Corpas-López V ，Merino-Espinosa G ，Morillas-Mancilla MJ ，Abattouy N ，Martín-Sánchez J ... -  《-》

Phlebotomine sand fly survey in the focus of leishmaniasis in Madrid, Spain (2012-2014): seasonal dynamics, Leishmania infantum infection rates and blood meal preferences.

González E ，Jiménez M ，Hernández S ，Martín-Martín I ，Molina R ... -  《Parasites & Vectors》

Seasonal Dynamics of Phlebotomine Sand Fly Species Proven Vectors of Mediterranean Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania infantum.

Alten B ，Maia C ，Afonso MO ，Campino L ，Jiménez M ，González E ，Molina R ，Bañuls AL ，Prudhomme J ，Vergnes B ，Toty C ，Cassan C ，Rahola N ，Thierry M ，Sereno D ，Bongiorno G ，Bianchi R ，Khoury C ，Tsirigotakis N ，Dokianakis E ，Antoniou M ，Christodoulou V ，Mazeris A ，Karakus M ，Ozbel Y ，Arserim SK ，Erisoz Kasap O ，Gunay F ，Oguz G ，Kaynas S ，Tsertsvadze N ，Tskhvaradze L ，Giorgobiani E ，Gramiccia M ，Volf P ，Gradoni L ... -  《PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases》

Investigation of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) Fauna, Seasonal Dynamics, and Natural Leishmania spp. Infection in Muğla, Southwest of Turkey.

Due to its geographical location, Muğla province is one of the most frequently used places by refugees. Although leishmaniasis have been previously reported in this region, there is a lack of information on the etiological agent and possible vectors. The main objectives of this study were; i) to investigate the sand fly fauna, ii) to reveal the natural Leishmania spp. infection in wild caught sand flies using molecular tools, and iii) to determine the annual seasonal dynamics of the sand flies in Muğla region. Totally, 2093 specimens belonging to 15 species [12 Phlebotomus, three Sergentomyia; 51 unidentified] were collected during the one-year (June 2016- June 2017) period. Of the collected sand flies, 1928 (92.12%) were caught by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps, while 165 (7.88%) of them were caught by sticky traps. Phlebotomus major sensu lato (s.l.), the potential vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in the Mediterranean and Aegean region, was detected in all sampling locations and found as the dominant taxon (n=1035; 49.45%) of the study area and followed by Phlebotomus tobbi (n=371; 17.72%). During the sampling period, sand fly activity was started in March and peaked in August. Sand fly population size reduced dramatically between mid-September and early October. The number of collected specimens was peaked in August, while there is only one sample collected both in November and March. The majority of the sand flies (78.66%) were collected at an altitude range of 200-400 m. Seventy-two monospecific pools were screened for the presence of Leishmania DNA by real time ITS1 PCR and 24 (nine P. major s.l., eight P. tobbi, two P. papatasi, two S. minuta, one P. alexandri, one P. similis, and one Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus spp.) of them (33.8%) were found positive (L. infantum, L. tropica, and L. major). To the best of our knowledge, the presence of fifteen sand fly species and their distribution, seasonal dynamics, molecular detection of Leishmania parasites in Muğla province was reported for the first time. The presence of vector species in the study area, appropriate temperature and humidity conditions, long sand fly activity season, and presence of Leishmania parasite suggests that there is a serious risk in the transmission of leishmaniasis in Muğla.

Pekağırbaş M ，Karakuş M ，Kasap OE ，Demir S ，Nalçacı M ，Töz S ，Eren H ，Özbel Y ... -  《-》

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.

Vaselek S ，Ayhan N ，Oguz G ，Erisoz Kasap O ，Savić S ，Di Muccio T ，Gradoni L ，Ozbel Y ，Alten B ，Petrić D ... -  《Parasites & Vectors》