Background Leishmania major complex is the main causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in the Old World. Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus duboscqi are recognized vectors of L. major complex in Northern and Southern Sahara, respectively. In Mali, ZCL due to L. major is an emerging public health problem, with several cases reported from different parts of the country. The main objective of the present study was to identify the vectors of Leishmania major in the Bandiagara area, in Mali.Methodology/Principal FindingsAn entomological survey was carried out in the ZCL foci of Bandiagara area. Sandflies were collected using CDC miniature light traps and sticky papers. In the field, live female Phlebotomine sandflies were identified and examined for the presence of promastigotes. The remaining sandflies were identified morphologically and tested for Leishmania by PCR in the ITS2 gene. The source of blood meal of the engorged females was determined using the cyt-b sequence. Out of the 3,259 collected sandflies, 1,324 were identified morphologically, and consisted of 20 species, of which four belonged to the genus Phlebotomus and 16 to the genus Sergentomyia. Leishmania major DNA was detected by PCR in 7 of the 446 females (1.6%), specifically 2 out of 115 Phlebotomus duboscqi specimens, and 5 from 198 Sergentomyia darlingi specimens. Human DNA was detected in one blood-fed female S. darlingi positive for L. major DNA.ConclusionOur data suggest the possible involvement of P. duboscqi and potentially S. darlingi in the transmission of ZCL in Mali.

Two clinico-epidemiological forms of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum complex are endemic in Algeria: human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the northern part of the country, the Kabylian region is the main endemic HVL focus with more than 200 cases recorded annually. During the summer of 2009, an entomological study was performed in Larbaa Nath Irathen with the aim to identify the vectors of Leishmania and of phleboviruses. In the present paper, we report the results of the Leishmania vectors. In the field, female sand flies, which were alive at collection time, were morphologically identified and examined for the presence of promastigotes. The remaining sandflies (males and dead females) were carried to the laboratory for morphological identification and molecular analysis. Total DNA was extracted from each female sandfly, and ITS2 Leishmania was amplified by PCR. A total of 883 sandfly specimens were collected. Ten distinct species were morphologically identified: one species belonged to the Sergentomyia genus and nine to the Phlebotomus genus. L. infantum DNA was amplified in 1/169 (0.6%) dissected dead females, one Phlebotomus longicuspis. Our data support the Parrot's hypothesis raised in 1941 concerning the role of P. longicuspis in the transmission of L. infantum.

We report for the first time the presence of Phlebotomus mascittii and the female of Phlebotomus chadlii in Algeria. These two species were collected during an entomological study conducted in endemic visceral leishmaniasis focus from the north part of the country, Kabylia.