Experimental infection of Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus tobbi with different Leishmania tropica strains

VASELEK S., Volf P.

International Journal for Parasitology, vol.49, no.11, pp.831-835, 2019 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 49 Issue: 11
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.05.009
  • Journal Name: International Journal for Parasitology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.831-835
  • Keywords: Leishmania tropica, Phlebotomus perniciosus, Phlebotomus tobbi, Transmission
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica is increasingly documented in Europe and the Middle East. Besides its specific vector, Phlebotomus sergenti, permissive Phlebotomus sand flies are suspected as potential vectors of L. tropica. We investigated the susceptibility of two widely distributed species, Phlebotomus perniciosus and Phlebotomus tobbi. Laboratory-reared sand flies were infected experimentally with L. tropica strains differing in lipophosphoglycan epitopes, geographical distribution and epidemiology. High infection rates, heavy parasite loads and fully developed late-stage infections including colonization of the stomodeal valve were observed in all parasite-vector combinations. Our findings demonstrate that P. perniciosus and P. tobbi are susceptible to different L. tropica strains and may play a role in their circulation in endemic foci of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.