Blood meal identification in wild-caught sand flies from the endemic region of visceral leishmaniasis in India

Abstract

Background: Blood meal identification of hematophagous insects provides information on host-feeding preferences in natural conditions. In the present study, we performed the blood meal analysis among the blood-fed female Phlebotomus argentipes collected from the VL endemic regions of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, India Methods & Materials: Sand flies were collected by light traps and processed individually for DNA isolation and further PCR and RFLP. To discriminate animal host using blood meals, a region of the mitochondrial DNA, cytB gene was amplified. It amplified a 623 bp product, that was restriction digested by HaeIII Results: Initially, 146 P. argentipes found positive for blood from one collection site. After cytB specific PCR followed by restriction digestion with Hae III, we found 50% had human blood, 16% had fed on dogs, and 34% fed on cattle, buffalo, and other hosts Conclusion: Sand flies collected from mixed dwellings were used for identification of blood meal host. Mixed dwellings are the places, where human and cattle both live. Identification of blood meal from such location will give significant proof about sand flies preferred blood meal source