Recent advances in phlebotomine sand fly research related to leishmaniasis control

Abstract

Phlebotomine sand flies are the subject of much research because of the role of their females as the only proven natural vectors of Leishmania species, the parasitic protozoans that are the causative agents of the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis. Activity in this field was highlighted by the eighth International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sand flies (ISOPS) held in September 2014, which prompted this review focusing on vector control. Topics reviewed include: Taxonomy and phylogenetics, Vector competence, Genetics, genomics and transcriptomics, Eco-epidemiology, and Vector control. Research on sand flies as leishmaniasis vectors has revealed a diverse array of zoonotic and anthroponotic transmission cycles, mostly in subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America, but also in Mediterranean Europe. The challenge is to progress beyond descriptive eco-epidemiology, in order to separate vectors of biomedical importance from the sand fly species that are competent vectors but lack the vectorial capacity to cause much human disease. Transmission modelling is required to identify the vectors that are a public health priority, the ones that must be controlled as part of the integrated control of leishmaniasis. Effective modelling of transmission will require the use of entomological indices more precise than those usually reported in the leishmaniasis literature.

In Silico Identification of B-Cell Epitopes of Leishmania infantum Recombinant Histone Shared with Human Sera Stably Living in Area Where Leishmania Species Does Perpetuate

“…Autoantibodies against histones have also been detected in several autoimmune disorders like inflammatory arthritis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis and autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and SLE [33]. While the detection of ANA in human serum is an important screening tool for SLE and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) is the gold method for ANA testing [34], histones have recently been indicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. In particular, antibodies specific to H1 and H2B have been detected [35], and our data confirm this.…”

Sera of Human Beings Hosting Durably Viscerotropic Leishmania Species Display Histones- Binding Immunoglobulins: A Feature To Consider When Probing Signatures of Auto-Reactivity?

“…infantum co-perpetuate. The completion of the developmental program of the latter eukaryotic single celled parasite is known to proceed through blood-feeding sand flies and mammals such as dogs and human beings [4][5][6].…”

“…infantum co-perpetuate. The completion of the developmental program of the latter eukaryotic single celled parasite is known to proceed through blood-feeding sand flies and mammals such as dogs and human beings [4][5][6].Briefly, once deposited, in the upper dermis, by the sand fly over its blood meal, the mammal pre-adapted L. infantum population of metacyclic promastigotes are rapidly internalized by mononuclear phagocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells. …”

Species of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) collected from natural reserves in the Pacific and Darien regions of Colombia

“…El género Lutzomyia incluye gran diversidad de especies con características morfológicas particulares cuyo papel en la transmisión es, por lo general, específico de cada especie (4,7), razón por la cual su determinación taxonómica es crucial para entender aspectos biológicos y ecológicos que determinan patrones y dinámicas espacio-temporales de las enfermedades que transmiten (1,8).…”

“…Estos factores constantemente exponen a la población humana al contacto con los vectores y a la subsecuente infección por Leishmania spp. (1). Otras áreas boscosas protegidas, como la reserva natural Tulenapa, que alberga el Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico del Darién, ubicadas en el municipio de Carepa en Antioquia, también son de relevancia para el desarrollo de estudios biológicos de insectos vectores de leishmaniasis.…”