The validity of the developmental pattern in the sandfly gut for classification of Leishmania

Leishmaniases of the New World: current concepts and implications for future research

“…The latter classification system depends on extrinsic characteristics of the parasite, namely, where it develops in the sand fly gut. Preliminary studies (7,305) have suggested that this is not an all-or-none phenomenon and that the site(s) of parasite development in the insect gut may be variable, depending on the sand fly species and other external factors. Further application of molecular techniques at the genomic level, which would be useful for studying molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships, is required to clarify this proposed taxonomic distinction.…”

Palaearctic origin of Leishmania

“…Lainson and Shaw (1987) characterized peripylarian development in L. (Viannia) as the primitive character state, but the validity of this concept has been disputed by Anez et al (1989) and Croan and Ellis (1996). The greater diversity of Leishmania in the New World than the Old World has been given as evidence of a Nearctic origin (Lainson & Shaw 1987, Croan et al 1997; this is based on the erroneous assumption that new species appear at a constant rate, and, therefore, a large number of species indicates a long residence time for a taxa (Cox & Moore 1993).…”

Comparative activity of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in different crops in the Peruvian Andes

“…In particular, sugars influence the development and anterior migration of Leishmania spp. in the fly (Anez et al, 1989), and amino acids determine the number of parasites transmitted (Warburg & Schlein, 1986). Sugar uptake could also affect the lectin-like interactions between the surface carbohydrates of Leishmania major and the sandfly gut, so preventing parasite egestion with the defaecation of bloodmeal remnants (Warburg & Schlein, 1986;Wallbanks et al, 1986).…”