Sandflies and leishmaniasis in Germany

Abstract

This study has provided evidence for the natural occurrence of sandflies in Germany. Two species belonging to the genus Phlebotomus were detected. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus, a proven vector of leishmaniasis, was found in association with an autochthonous case of canine leishmaniasis near Kaiserslautern. Two hundred thirty-seven specimens of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii were caught in 17 different locations in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The northernmost finding in Germany (and Europe) was near Cochem (Moselle). P. mascittii has not yet been confirmed as a vector of leishmaniasis, but its competence is strongly suspected. In addition to the detection of the vector, since 1991, there have been 11 cases of leishmaniasis in Germany in which an autochthonous origin was confirmed or which were highly likely to have been of indigenous origin. Data from the German meteorological service indicate that Germany currently has a Mediterranean climate, with an annual average temperature of 10 degrees C being reached or exceeded in several regions. This type of climate is also appropriate for the living conditions of sandflies. Therefore, it is assumed that sandflies have a greater geographical distribution in Germany than the first studies suggested, being mainly restricted to the southern region of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The risk of an autochthonous canine infection occurring in Germany is very low. The rapidly increasing number of imported cases of leishmaniasis in dogs means that special attention must be focused on veterinary advice to dog owners about prophylaxis. The results indicate that the use of repellents and preventive behavioural measures is vital.

Evaluation of a Rapid Device for Serological Diagnosis of Leishmania infantum Infection in Dogs as an Alternative to Immunofluorescence Assay and Western Blotting

“…The spread of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in the continental regions of Europe, such as northern Italy (3,4) and Germany (5), represents a risk to human health. Autochthonous cases of HVL were recently reported in an area where CanL is newly endemic (6), and surprisingly, a high prevalence of infection was also found in asymptomatic people from northern Italy (7), where the infection was first reported in dogs in the late 1990s (3).…”

Temperature-derived potential for the establishment of phlebotomine sandflies and visceral leishmaniasis in Germany

“…Cross and Hyams, 1996;Aspoeck et al, 2008). The first documented sandfly catches (Phlebotomus mascittii and P. perniciosus) in Germany came from the south-west on the border with France (Naucke and Pesson, 2000;Naucke et al, 2008). Conceivably, the species had already reached central Europe from Mediterranean refugial areas during the Holocene optimum (approximately 6,500 years ago), survived in very small areas and due to global warming is now spreading (Aspoeck, 2008;Aspoeck et al, 2008).…”

Lesleishmaniosesvues au travers du réseau international des Instituts Pasteur

“…En 2012, la LV a été déclarée maladie émergente en Europe, et son impact potentiel en santé publique est important ; cette évolution est en grande partie due au réchauffement global récent [10]. Le risque d'extension vers le nord de L. infantum à partir des pays méditerranéens est en outre étayé par des études récentes sur la répartition des phlébotomes et sur la détection du parasite dans des zones aujourd'hui non endémiques [11,12]. Enfin, les guerres et les mouvements de réfugiés ont été à l'origine d'épidémies dévastatrices des différentes formes de leishmanioses comme celles de LV à L. donovani au Soudan, de LC à L. major au Pakistan, et de LC à L. tropica en Afghanistan et tout récemment en Syrie [5].…”