Abstract
In this study, the presence of Leishmania DNA and blood feeding sources in phlebotomine sand fly species commonly present in Sicily were investigated. A total of 1,866 female sand flies including 176 blood fed specimens were sampled over two seasons in five selected sites in Sicily (southern Italy). Sergentomyia minuta (n = 1,264) and Phlebotomus perniciousus (n = 594) were the most abundant species at all the sites, while three other species from the genus Phlebotomus (i.e., P. sergenti n = 4, P. perfiliewi n = 3 and P. neglectus n = 1) were only sporadically captured. Twenty-eight out of the 1,866 (1.5%) sand flies tested positive for Leishmania spp. Leishmania tarentolae DNA was identified in 26 specimens of S. minuta, while the DNA of Leishmania donovani complex was detected in a single specimen each of S. minuta and P. perniciosus. Interestingly, seven S. minuta specimens (0.4%) tested positive for reptilian Trypanosoma sp. Blood sources were successfully identified in 108 out of 176 blood fed females. Twenty-seven out of 82 blood sources identified in fed females of P. perniciosus were represented by blood of wild rabbit, S. minuta mainly fed on humans (16/25), while the sole P. sergenti fed specimen took a blood meal on rat. Other vertebrate hosts including horse, goat, pig, dog, chicken, cow, cat and donkey were recognized as blood sources for P. perniciosus and S. minuta, and, surprisingly, no reptilian blood was identified in blood-fed S. minuta specimens. Results of this study agree with the well-known role of P. perniciosus as vector of L. infantum in the western Mediterranean; also, vector feeding preferences herein described support the hypothesis on the involvement of lagomorphs as sylvatic reservoirs of Leishmania. The detection of L. donovani complex in S. minuta, together with the anthropophilic feeding-behaviour herein observed, warrants further research to clarify the capacity of this species in the transmission of pathogens to humans and other animals.
Highlights
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are insects of great interest in human and veterinary medicine
Surveillance on phlebotomine sand fly vectors is pivotal to assess the risk for transmission of endemic Leishmania species, and crucial to monitor the risk for introduction of new Leishmania species in non-endemic territories [2,3]
Several studies have investigated the presence of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomine sand flies, and the reported infection rate in P. perniciosus varied from 0.13% to 50% depending on the epidemiological context [4,5]
Summary
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) are insects of great interest in human and veterinary medicine. They are vectors of viral and bacterial pathogens and recognized as the main hematophagous arthropods proven to transmit protozoa of the genus Leishmania such as Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of canine leishmaniosis (CanL) in dogs and visceral (VL) or cutaneous (CL) leishmaniosis in humans in the Mediterranean area [1]. In western Europe, only sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus are competent vectors for Leishmania transmission and P. perniciosus is the most widespread species [2]. Several studies have investigated the presence of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomine sand flies, and the reported infection rate in P. perniciosus varied from 0.13% to 50% depending on the epidemiological context [4,5]. L. infantum is the only species widespread in Europe that causes illness, human cases due to non-indigenous Leishmania species are increasingly reported [6]
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