Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in Pintomyia evansi and Lutzomyia longipalpis in Honduras

Wilfredo Sosa-Ochoa,Gabriela Rodriguez Segura,Carmen María Sandoval Pacheco,Concepcion Zúniga Valeriano,Javier Varela Amador,Márcia Dalastra Laurenti,Yokomi Lozano-Sardaneta,Gabriela Venicia Araujo,Fredy Galvis-Ovallos

doi:10.1186/s13071-020-04462-y

Abstract

BackgroundThe two most abundant sand fly species on the Honduran Pacific coast are Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi. Both species are known vectors of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas. Although VL and non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis (NUCL) are endemic on the Pacific versant of the Central American Pacific, the latter is the most frequent manifestation of leishmaniasis there. We evaluated the circulation of Leishmania spp. in the sand fly species on El Tigre Island, an endemic area of NUCL.ResultsWe collected 222 specimens of six sand fly species. Lu. longipalpis (180 specimens; 81%) and Pif. (Pi.) evansi (35 specimens; 16%) were the most abundant species. L. (L.) infantum DNA was detected in nine of the 96 specimens analyzed; seven of these specimens were identified as Lu. longipalpis, and the remaining two were Pi.evansi, with an infection rate of 9.4% and 2.7%, respectively.ConclusionWe present the first record of L. (L.) infantum DNA in Pi.evansi from a NUCL endemic region of Central America. Our results suggest that Pi. evansi could be a secondary vector of L. (L.) infantum in the transmission cycle of leishmaniasis. The detection of natural infections of L. (L.) infantum in sand flies in this region contributes to an understanding of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Honduras. Graphical

Highlights

The two most abundant sand fly species on the Honduran Pacific coast are Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi
Mejía et al [6] expounded on various aspects of sand flies’ feeding preferences within the Pacific Honduran area. These authors observed a predominance of Pi. (Pif.) evansi and Lu. (Lu.) longipalpis, but did not detect the presence of L. (L.) infantum in these species [6]. These sand flies were predominant in other non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmania‐ sis (NUCL)-endemic areas of Central America (i.e., Costa Rica and Nicaragua) [17, 18]
We present for the first time evidence of the presence of L. (L.) infantum DNA in Pi. evansi in a NUCL endemic region of Central America

Summary

Introduction

The two most abundant sand fly species on the Honduran Pacific coast are Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) evansi. Both species are known vectors of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas. The role of Pi. evansi in VL transmission dynamics in Honduras is unknown, evidence of its vector competence has been reported in South America [12]. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA circulation of L. The aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA circulation of L. (L.) infantum in Lu. longipalpis and Pi. (Pif.) evansi on a Mesoamerican Pacific island

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Conclusion