Abstract
BackgroundAn outbreak of human leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum has been registered in an urban area of southwestern Madrid, Spain, since 2010. Entomological surveys carried out in the municipalities of Fuenlabrada, Leganés, Getafe and Humanes de Madrid showed that Phlebotomus perniciosus is the only potential vector. In this work, an intensive molecular surveillance was performed in P. perniciosus females captured in the region between 2012 and 2018.Methodology/Principal findingsA total of 1805 P. perniciosus females were analyzed for Leishmania infection, and 1189 of them also for bloodmeal identification. Eleven different species of vertebrate were detected by amplification and subsequent sequencing of the 359 bp cytb fragment. The most prevalent blood source identified was hare (n = 553, 46.51%), followed by rabbit (n = 262, 21.95%). Less frequent were cat (n = 45, 3.80%), human (n = 34, 2.90%), pig (n = 14, 1.20%), horse (n = 11, 0.93%), sheep (n = 3, 0.25%), rhea (n = 3, 0.25%), partridge (n = 1, 0.09%) and chicken (n = 1, 0.09%). The distribution of the blood meal sources varied between the different locations. Regarding L. infantum detection, PCR amplification of a fragment of kDNA, cpb gene and ITS1 region showed 162 positive specimens (8.97%). The highest infection rate was found in the municipality of Leganés (15.17%).ConclusionsThe results of this molecular survey in P. perniciosus, the only leishmaniasis vector in the outbreak occurred in southwestern Madrid region, showed its opportunistic blood-feeding behaviour, high infection rates and the differences between the different points. This study was an essential part of the intensive surveillance plan in the area and the results obtained have supported the implementation of control measures in the outbreak.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by female sand flies that causes between 70,000 and 1 million new cases annually and with about 1 billion people at risk of infection according to the last reports from the WHO [1]
The results of this molecular survey in P. perniciosus, the only leishmaniasis vector in the outbreak occurred in southwestern Madrid region, showed its opportunistic blood-feeding behaviour, high infection rates and the differences between the different points
This study was an essential part of the intensive surveillance plan in the area and the results obtained have supported the implementation of control measures in the outbreak
Summary
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by female sand flies that causes between 70,000 and 1 million new cases annually and with about 1 billion people at risk of infection according to the last reports from the WHO [1]. This infectious disease is caused by flagellates from different Leishmania species that can cause different forms of leishmaniasis, from selflimited cutaneous injuries to the more severe visceral form [2]. The control of vector-borne diseases (VBD) comprises numerous types of measures that involve the control population of the vector and potential reservoirs. An intensive molecular surveillance was performed in P. perniciosus females captured in the region between 2012 and 2018
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