Abstract
BackgroundLeishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania siamensis, is an emerging disease in Thailand. Although reported cases have been increasing, epidemiological information of the disease including host and vector aspects is not clearly known. This study was a preliminary survey of the potential vector of L. siamensis in an affected area of leishmaniasis, Trang Province, southern Thailand.MethodsThe collection of sandflies was performed around the area where a case of leishmaniasis was reported using CDC light traps. Species of sandfly were identified based on morphological characteristics according to Lewis’s key. PCR amplification and sequencing of the heat shock protein 70 gene (hsp70) was used to identify L. siamensis DNA in sandflies.ResultsA total of 146 male and female sandflies were collected in the affected areas. Of 71 female sandflies, four species were identified, i.e., Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) gemmea, S. (Neophlebotomus) iyengari, S. (Parrotomyia) barraudi and Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) stantoni. Among these species, S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea was the most predominant species in all areas. DNA of L. siamensis was identified in S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea. Nucleotide sequences of PCR products using DNA extracted from S. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea showed 99.8% identity to L. siamensis.ConclusionS. (Neophlebotomus) gemmea might be a potential vector of L. siamensis in an affected area, Trang Province, southern Thailand. However further studies are needed to prove whether these sandflies can be natural vectors of leishmaniasis.
Highlights
Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania siamensis, is an emerging disease in Thailand
In 2011, a sentinel surveillance of sandfly species distribution and their potential vectors was conducted in an affected area, Hat Samran District, Trang Province, southern Thailand where a case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL)-HIV co-infection was reported
Of 71 female sandflies, four species were identified of which Sergentomyia (Neophle botomus) gemmea (49.3%) was the most predominant species, followed by S. (Neophlebotomus) iyengari (42.3%), S. (Parrotomyia) barraudi (4.2%) and Phlebotomus (Ana phlebotomus) stantoni (4.2%) (Table 1)
Summary
Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania siamensis, is an emerging disease in Thailand. This study was a preliminary survey of the potential vector of L. siamensis in an affected area of leishmaniasis, Trang Province, southern Thailand. Autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania siamensis, firstly described from southern Thailand in 2008, is considered an emerging disease in Thailand [1]. Only two autochthonous leishmaniasis cases were reported in Thailand, i.e., in 1999 and 2007; the causative species were not identified [2,3]. Characterization of have been conducted in the Central, West, North, Northeast and South of Thailand where Sergentomyia is the most predominant genus reported in all study areas [1,11,12,13,14], of which S. The particular species of sandfly that could serve as the vector for leishmaniasis has not yet been demonstrated
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