Abstract
BackgroundCutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to the Pacific coast of Ecuador, and Nyssomyia trapidoi is considered to be its main vector. Dujardin et al. [1] recorded some differences in body pigmentation and isoenzymatic profiles in sympatric populations of Ny. trapidoi from the Pacific coast of Ecuador and suggested the existence of two cryptic species.MethodsEntomological collections were performed in November 2008 and March 2011 in the locality of Paraíso Escondido using CDC miniature light traps and human bait. Morphological, isoenzymatical and molecular (sequencing of cytochome b and cytochrome c oxidase 1 of the mitochondrial DNA) analyses, such as detection of Leishmania DNA and phlebovirus RNA in some females, were performed.ResultsNeighbor-joining trees from mitochondrial sequences grouped all of Ecuadorian Ny. trapidoi (including the two color variants) in one cluster, except for two specimens which clustered separately in both genes. Isoenzymatic characterization confirmed that the color variants belong to the same population. Additionally, 11.5% of females were found by PCR to contain Endotrypanum monterogeii kinetoplastid DNA. All pools of Ny. trapidoi were negative for phlebovirus RNA.ConclusionAnalysis of mitochondrial gene sequences and isoenzymes was unable to support the existence of two sibling species within Ny. trapidoi, which is a probable vector of Endotrypanum monterogeii.
Highlights
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to the Pacific coast of Ecuador, and Nyssomyia trapidoi is considered to be its main vector
Currently, 76 species of phlebotomine sand flies belonging to 17 genera have been reported for Ecuador [2]; of these, Nyssomyia trapidoi, Lutzomyia hartmanni, Lutzomyia gomezi and Lutzomyia ayacuchensis are proven vectors of Leishmania parasites [3]
Entomological captures using human baits resulted in 93% Ny. trapidoi, 4.2% Psychodopygus panamensis and 2.8% Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) hartmanni
Summary
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to the Pacific coast of Ecuador, and Nyssomyia trapidoi is considered to be its main vector. 76 species of phlebotomine sand flies belonging to 17 genera have been reported for Ecuador [2]; of these, Nyssomyia trapidoi, Lutzomyia hartmanni, Lutzomyia gomezi and Lutzomyia ayacuchensis are proven vectors of Leishmania parasites [3]. Leishmaniasis was first reported in Ecuador in 1920 [4] and is endemic in the coastal region. In the Pacific region of Ecuador, the sand fly species Nyssomyia trapidoi is distributed throughout the western foothills of the Andes and along the coast and is an important vector of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis [3,8,9,10]. A recent study in Panama found a high prevalence (43.3%) of Leishmania naiffi in Ny. trapidoi [15]
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