Abstract
Leptomonas wallacei is a trypanosomatid that develops promastigotes and cystic forms in the gut of the hemipteran insect Oncopeltus fasciatus. Insect trypanosomatids are thought to be solely transmitted from one host to another through the ingestion of parasite-contaminated feces. However, here we show that L. wallacei cysts present on the eggshells of eggs laid by O. fasciatus can also act as infective forms that are transmitted to the insect offspring. Newly hatched O. faciatus nymphs are parasite-free, but some of them become contaminated with L. wallacei after feeding on eggshell remnants. The present study is the first report of transovum transmission of a trypanosomatid, a process that may have a relevant role in parasite’s within-host population dynamics.
Highlights
The family Trypanosomatidae is known by the severe human diseases caused by some of its species, which kill several thousand people yearly
37 million people worldwide are infected with Trypanosoma brucei (African sleeping sickness), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) and Leishmania species [1]
Oncopeltus fasciatus is a natural host of Leptomonas wallacei, which is a gut-restricted insect trypanosomatid [6,7,8]
Summary
The family Trypanosomatidae is known by the severe human diseases caused by some of its species, which kill several thousand people yearly. 37 million people worldwide are infected with Trypanosoma brucei (African sleeping sickness), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease) and Leishmania species (different forms of leishmaniasis) [1]. Oncopeltus fasciatus is a natural host of Leptomonas wallacei, which is a gut-restricted insect trypanosomatid [6,7,8]. L. wallacei develops free-swimming promastigotes, mainly in the midgut, and promastigotes attached to the intestine wall, mostly in the hindgut [6,7,8]. Mature cysts can be found in the lumen of the intestinal tract, especially in the hindgut [6,7,8]
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