First detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in Phlebotomus longicuspis Nitzulescu, 1930 from visceral leishmaniasis endemic focus in Algeria

Abstract

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.

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

“…However further studies, perhaps using local data loggers, would be valuable to confirm these analyses, which were done using data from meteorological stations. Overall, of 24 sand fly species present in Algeria [15,28], seven (i.e., Ph. perniciosus, Ph.…”

Seroprevalence of Toscana virus in dogs from Kabylia (Algeria)

“…In this area, the human seroprevalence was 50%-a rate much higher than that observed in Southern Europe [3]. In Kabylia, dogs are exposed to the bites of sandflies, as evidenced by the importance of the incidence of canine leishmaniasis [4]. The aim of our study was to evaluate the TOSV seroprevalence in dogs of Kabylia.…”

Limits of a rapid identification of common Mediterranean sandflies using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

“…The leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies belonging to the subgenus Larroussius : Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus perfiliewi [proven vectors according to Killick-Kendrick (1990)] and possibly Phlebotomus longicuspis (suspected vector) (Izri et al 1990, Izri & Belazzoug 1993, Harrat et al 1996, Berdjane-Brouk et al. 2012).…”