Development of a Diagnostic Marker for Phlebotomus papatasi to Initiate a Potential Vector Surveillance Program in North America.

Austin Merchant,Jizhe Shi,Xuguo Zhou,Tian Yu

doi:10.3390/insects9040162

Abstract

Phlebotomus papatasi, an Old World sand fly species, is primarily responsible for the transmission of leishmaniasis, a highly infectious and potentially lethal disease. International travel, especially military rotations, between domestic locations and P. papatasi-prevalent regions in the Middle East poses an imminent threat to the public health of US citizens. Because of its small size and cryptic morphology, identification of P. papatasi is challenging and labor-intensive. Here, we developed a ribosomal DNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostic assay that is capable of detecting P. papatasi genomic DNA from mixed samples containing multiple sand flies native to the Americas. Serial dilution of P. papatasi samples demonstrated that this diagnostic assay could detect one P. papatasi from up to 255 non-target sand flies. Due to its simplicity, sensitivity and specificity, this rapid identification tool is suited for a long-term surveillance program to screen for the presence of P. papatasi in the continental United States and to reveal geographical regions potentially vulnerable to sand fly-borne diseases.

Highlights

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease caused by protozoans, is an often-neglected illness endemic to a total of 98 primarily tropical and subtropical countries
It is estimated that around 2 million new cases of leishmaniasis occur each year, the majority of which occur in South America, East Africa and the Middle East [1]
Lutzomyia longipalpis was chosen as a third representative species that is native to the Americas, its native range is confined to Central and South America

Summary

Introduction

Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease caused by protozoans, is an often-neglected illness endemic to a total of 98 primarily tropical and subtropical countries. It is estimated that around 2 million new cases of leishmaniasis occur each year, the majority of which occur in South America, East Africa and the Middle East [1]. Of the primary forms of leishmaniasis, the most important are its cutaneous and visceral forms. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of the disease and can cause severe skin lesions and permanent scarring. Leishmaniasis is caused by trypanosomes of the genus Leishmania and is transferred to humans through the bite of an infected female sand fly. Sand flies are a group of morphologically challenging-to-distinguish species that includes the major vectors of leishmaniasis. 98 sand fly species are known or suspected to act as vectors of leishmaniasis, all belonging to the genera

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