Ecology, seasonality and host preferences of Austrian Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii Grassi, 1908, populations

Abstract

Background Sand flies are principal vectors of the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and are widely distributed in all warmer regions of the world, including the Mediterranean parts of Europe. In Central European countries, the sand fly fauna is still under investigation. Phlebotomus mascittii, a suspected but unproven vector of Leishmania infantum, is regarded as the most widely distributed species in Europe. However, many aspects of its biology and ecology remain poorly known. The aim of this study was to provide new data on the biology and ecology of Ph. mascittii in Austria to better understand its current distribution and potential dispersal. Methods Sand flies were collected by CDC light traps at four localities in Austria for 11 (2018) and 15 weeks (2019) during the active sand fly season. Climatic parameters (temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed) were retrospectively obtained for the trapping periods. Sand flies were identified by a combined approach (morphology, DNA barcoding, MALDI-TOF protein profiling), and blood meals of engorged females were analysed by DNA sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Results In total, 450 individuals of Ph. mascittii were caught. Activity was observed to start at the beginning of June and end at the end of August with peaks in mid-July at three locations and early August at one location. Increased activity was associated with relatively high temperatures and humidity. Also, more individuals were caught on nights with low barometric pressure. Analysis of five identified blood meals revealed chicken (Gallus gallus) and equine (Equus spp.) hosts. Sand fly abundance was generally associated with availability of hosts. Conclusion This study reports unexpectedly high numbers of Ph. mascittii at selected Austrian localities and provides the first detailed analysis of its ecology to date. Temperature and humidity were shown to be good predictors for sand fly activity. Blood meal analyses support the assumption that Ph. mascittii feeds on mammals as well as birds. The study significantly contributes to understanding the ecology of this sand fly species in Central Europe and facilitates prospective entomological surveys.

Seasonality of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Cave Microhabitats and The Rediscovery of Sergentomyia Minuta (Rondani, 1843) After Fifty Years

“…In another recent study of Ph. mascittii, the predominant sand y species in Central Europe, a monomodal abundance trend was also present in Austria, with variations of the peak activity to July and August [17]. Located at a similar latitude as Romania, the sand y activity in Austria started earlier, by late June, and ended earlier, by the end of August [17].…”

“…In a more recent study, the earliest activity of Ph. mascittii was noticed after 5 consecutive days of mean temperature values above 15°C and minimum temperature values above 10°C [17].…”

Seasonal dynamics of Phlebotomus neglectus (Diptera: Psychodidae) in cave microhabitats in Romania and the rediscovery of Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani, 1843) after 50 years

“…mascittii , the predominant sand fly species in Central Europe, a monomodal abundance trend was also present in Austria, with variations of the peak activity in July and August [ 16 ]. Located at a similar latitude as Romania, the sand fly activity in Austria started earlier, by late June, and ended earlier, by the end of August [ 16 ]. A monomodal abundance trend was also observed for other sand fly species, such as Ph.…”

Phlebotomine sand fly survey in the Republic of Moldova: species composition, distribution and host preferences

“…Low numbers of trapped specimens do not allow drawing robust conclusions regarding the seasonal dynamics, and few data for the species recorded in Moldova are available from other countries of a similar latitude; no information on seasonality was provided by a recent study in Romania [ 5 ], and only scant remarks on trapping dates were given by a sand fly survey in Hungary [ 16 ]. Recent study of seasonal dynamics of P. mascittii , a species so far not recorded in Moldova, at localities in Styria and Lower Austria of similar or higher latitude showed sand fly activity from early June until end of August, depending on the year and trapping locality [ 27 ]. Further effort that will include more localities is needed to better understand the seasonal dynamics of sand fly populations in Moldova.…”