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Veterinaria Italiana Dec 2021Being the only established vectors of the protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, sand flies have become very important in all countries where leishmaniasis exists.... (Review)
Review
Being the only established vectors of the protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, sand flies have become very important in all countries where leishmaniasis exists. It is caused by a variety of species, each one having specific mammalian reservoir hosts and vectors. Leishmania and sand fly classification has always been a controversial matter, and the increasing number of sand fly species described world complicates the task. Until recently, sand flies distributed in the Old World were known as vectors for few Phleboviruses including two known species (Sandfly fever Naples virus, and alehebad virus), and tentative species such as sand fly fever Sicilian virus and Corfou virus. These infections are emerging in the Mediterranean region and will likely spread in forthcoming decades, posing a complex threat to public health. Here, we reviewed the current literature on phlebotomine sand flies fauna and epidemiology of sand fly‑borne infections in Algeria.
Topics: Algeria; Animals; Leishmaniasis; Mediterranean Region; Phlebotomus; Psychodidae
PubMed: 34971507
DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.1763.9298.3 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Precision medicine and precision global health in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have not yet been described and could take into account how all known determinants improve... (Review)
Review
Precision medicine and precision global health in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have not yet been described and could take into account how all known determinants improve diagnostics and treatment for the individual patient. Precision public health would lead to the right intervention in each VL endemic population for control, based on relevant population-based data, vector exposures, reservoirs, socio-economic factors and other determinants. In anthroponotic VL caused by , precision may currently be targeted to the regional level in nosogeographic entities that are defined by the interplay of the circulating parasite, the reservoir and the sand fly vector. From this 5 major priorities arise: diagnosis, treatment, PKDL, asymptomatic infection and transmission. These 5 priorities share the immune responses of infection with as an important final common pathway, for which innovative new genomic and non-genomic tools in various disciplines have become available that provide new insights in clinical management and in control. From this, further precision may be defined for groups (e.g. children, women, pregnancy, HIV-VL co-infection), and eventually targeted to the individual level.
Topics: Animals; Disease Vectors; Female; Humans; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Precision Medicine; Psychodidae
PubMed: 34858865
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.707619 -
Viruses Apr 2022A novel phlebovirus, Punique virus (PUNV), was discovered and isolated in 2008 from sandflies from Northern Tunisia. PUNV is now classified as a unique member of the...
A novel phlebovirus, Punique virus (PUNV), was discovered and isolated in 2008 from sandflies from Northern Tunisia. PUNV is now classified as a unique member of the Punique phlebovirus species within the Phlebovirus genus in the Phenuiviridae family (order bunyavirales). In this study, we aimed to investigate the transmission dynamics of PUNV in Tunisia. Sandflies were collected during two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010, by CDC light traps. In 2009, a total of 873 sandflies were collected and identified to the species level. Phlebotomus perniciosus was the most abundant species. One pool of P. perniciosus females collected in autumn contained PUNV RNA, yielding an infection rate of 0.11%. The population densities of circulating sandfly species were assessed during May-November 2010 in Northern Tunisia by using sticky traps. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus (71.74%) was the most abundant species, followed by Phlebotumus (Larroussius) longicuspis (17.47%), and Phlebotumus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (8.82%). The densities of dominant sandfly species were found to peak in early spring and again in the autumn. In 2010, species identification was not performed, and sandflies were only discriminated on the basis of sex and collection date. Out of 249 pools, three contained PUNV RNA. Each positive pool allowed virus isolation. The three pools of female sandflies containing PUNV RNA were collected in autumn with an infection rate of 0.05%. These findings provide further evidence that P. perniciosus is the main vector of PUNV in Tunisia, and this phlebovirus is endemic in Tunisia. Our findings provided strong evidence of intensive circulation of PUNV in sandflies and hosts through a viral infection buildup process between sandfly vectors and hosts starting at the beginning of the activity of sandflies in spring to reach a maximum during the second main peak in autumn.
Topics: Animals; DNA Viruses; Female; Phlebotomus; Phlebovirus; Psychodidae; RNA, Viral; Tunisia; Viruses, Unclassified
PubMed: 35632646
DOI: 10.3390/v14050904 -
Trends in Parasitology Sep 2020Leishmania parasites have the capacity to rapidly adapt to changing environments in their digenetic life cycle which alternates between a vertebrate and an invertebrate... (Review)
Review
Leishmania parasites have the capacity to rapidly adapt to changing environments in their digenetic life cycle which alternates between a vertebrate and an invertebrate host. Emergence of resistance following drug exposure can evoke phenotypic alterations that affect several aspects of parasite fitness in both hosts. Current studies of the impact of resistance are mostly limited to interactions with the mammalian host and characterization of in vitro parasite growth and differentiation. Development in the vector and transmission capacity have been largely ignored. This review reflects on the impact of drug resistance on its spreading potential with specific focus on the use of the sand fly infection model to evaluate parasite development in the vector and the ensuing transmission potential of drug-resistant phenotypes.
Topics: Animals; Antiparasitic Agents; Drug Resistance; Humans; Insect Vectors; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis; Life Cycle Stages; Psychodidae
PubMed: 32713762
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.06.006 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2022, known as drain fly, is a non-hematophagous insect of the Psychodidae family with worldwide distribution, particularly in tropical and temperate areas. It can be found... (Review)
Review
, known as drain fly, is a non-hematophagous insect of the Psychodidae family with worldwide distribution, particularly in tropical and temperate areas. It can be found near sewer drains, sewage treatment plants, plant pots, swamps, and any other place containing decaying or moist organic matter. It has been introduced in several publications as the causative agent of myiasis in humans. A case presentation, together with a compilation of findings from a database, including 51 scientific publications in the literature, allowed us to overview critically in detail the variable aspects of epidemiology, life cycle, biology, and medical importance of this insect and its probable role in human myiasis. The absence of a precise definition of myiasis and the lack of incontestable epidemiological, entomological, and clinical evidence in the articles introducing as a causative agent led us to interrogate its role in human myiasis. It is necessary to take into account this misinterpretation and make an accurate diagnosis based on the isolation of insect larvae from the corresponding lesion.
PubMed: 36140530
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092129 -
Viruses Jul 2021In the last two decades, molecular surveys of arboviruses have enabled the identification of several new viruses, contributing to the knowledge of viral diversity and...
In the last two decades, molecular surveys of arboviruses have enabled the identification of several new viruses, contributing to the knowledge of viral diversity and providing important epidemiological data regarding possible new emerging viruses. A combination of diagnostic assays, Illumina sequencing and phylogenetic inference are here used to characterize two new strains isolated from sandflies collected in the Arrábida region, Portugal. Whole genome sequence analysis enabled their identification as reassortants and the recognition of genomic variants co-circulating in Portugal. Much is still unknown about the life cycle, geographic range, evolutionary forces and public health importance of these viruses in Portugal and elsewhere, and more studies are needed.
Topics: Animals; Female; Genome, Viral; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Phlebovirus; Phylogeny; Portugal; Psychodidae; RNA, Viral; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 34372617
DOI: 10.3390/v13071412 -
African Health Sciences Sep 2022is a widespread skin protozoan infectious disease. It is an intracellular parasitic microorganism that develops in the body of infected female phlebotomine sandflies... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
is a widespread skin protozoan infectious disease. It is an intracellular parasitic microorganism that develops in the body of infected female phlebotomine sandflies vector, prior to its transmission to human or animal host by the vector bite. The objective of this review is to highlight the current prevalence of in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the direction in research for its control.
MATERIALS
The update literature covered The infection of the host with this trypanosome starts with a skin bite from the infected sand fly, followed by penetration of the parasite into cellular structures of the skin, or its infiltration to the circulatory system, targeting the internal organs. Different research groups are experimenting on construction of recombinant antigens, compiled from this protozoa and from antigens recovered from the saliva of sand flies, in an attempt to immunize the host for protection against this disease.
CONCLUSION
The benefits behind such a review is to support the personnel involved in developing evidence-based policy guidelines, strategies and standards for disease prevention and management of their implementation; in addition, it provided a technical support to member states to collaborate on establishment of an effective systems to handle the .
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Saudi Arabia; Prevalence; Leishmaniasis; Psychodidae; Leishmania
PubMed: 36910416
DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v22i3.68 -
Cell Reports Apr 2020Protozoan parasites in the genus Leishmania produce a broad spectrum of diseases in their human hosts. The strain and species-specific genes controlling these diverse...
Protozoan parasites in the genus Leishmania produce a broad spectrum of diseases in their human hosts. The strain and species-specific genes controlling these diverse clinical outcomes have remained poorly tractable using reverse genetics approaches. A cryptic sexual cycle involving a meiotic-like process has been described in Leishmania but is so far confined to parasites growing in the sand fly vector. Here, we describe the reproducible in vitro generation of hybrid clones using axenic culture forms of Leishmania tropica promastigotes. Analysis of SNPs marker inheritance and whole-genome sequencing data indicate that the progeny clones are full genomic hybrids. The demonstration that mating-competent forms arise in culture should facilitate experimental study of the mating biology of Leishmania and the generation of large numbers of recombinant parasites for positional cloning of important genes.
Topics: Animals; Cell Culture Techniques; Chimera; Genetic Markers; Insect Vectors; Leishmania; Leishmania tropica; Psychodidae; Reproduction; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 32294444
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.071 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Sep 2019
Topics: Animals; Asia, Western; Humans; Insect Control; Insect Vectors; Leishmania donovani; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Phlebotomus; Vaccines
PubMed: 31536490
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007616 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Approximately 20 species are known to cause cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral disorders in humans. Identification of the causative species in infected individuals... (Review)
Review
Approximately 20 species are known to cause cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral disorders in humans. Identification of the causative species in infected individuals is important for appropriate treatment and a favorable prognosis because infecting species are known to be the major determinant of clinical manifestations and may affect treatments for leishmaniasis. Although species have been conventionally identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, genetic analysis targeting kinetoplast and nuclear DNA (kDNA and nDNA, respectively) is now widely used for this purpose. Recently, we conducted countrywide epidemiological studies of leishmaniasis in Ecuador and Peru to reveal prevalent species using PCR-RFLP targeting nDNA, and identified unknown hybrid parasites in these countries together with species reported previously. Furthermore, comparative analyses of kDNA and nDNA revealed the distribution of parasites with mismatches between these genes, representing the first report of mito-nuclear discordance in protozoa. The prevalence of an unexpectedly high rate (~10%) of genetically complex strains including hybrid strains, in conjunction with the observation of mito-nuclear discordance, suggests that genetic exchange may occur more frequently than previously thought in natural populations. Hybrid strains resulting from genetic exchanges are suggested to cause more severe clinical symptoms when compared with parental strains, and to have increased transmissibility by vectors of the parental parasite species. Therefore, it is important to clarify how such genetic exchange influences disease progression and transmissibility by sand flies in nature. In addition, our aim was to identify where and how the genetic exchange resulting in the formation of hybrid and mito-nuclear discordance occurs.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Leishmania; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Peru; Prevalence; Psychodidae
PubMed: 33732663
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.625001