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Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira de... 2024Pressatia choti is a common sand fly found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, which is suspected to be involved in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. Herein, we...
BACKGROUND
Pressatia choti is a common sand fly found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, which is suspected to be involved in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. Herein, we aimed to establish a Pr. choti laboratory colony.
METHODS
Wild-caught female sand flies were blood fed on hamsters and maintained under controlled conditions (temperature: 26 °C; relative humidity: 70%).
RESULTS
Of the 301 collected female sandflies, 288 were identified as Pr. choti. The life cycle duration ranged from 31 to 56 days.
CONCLUSIONS
We successfully established a Pr. choti colony, whose biological parameters were similar to those of other neotropical sand flies.
Topics: Animals; Psychodidae; Leishmania braziliensis; Female; Insect Vectors; Brazil; Cricetinae
PubMed: 38896655
DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0060-2024 -
Biodiversity Data Journal 2024Our study aimed to develop an optimised laboratory protocol ensuring the preservation of morphological structures and extraction of high-quality DNA sequences from...
Our study aimed to develop an optimised laboratory protocol ensuring the preservation of morphological structures and extraction of high-quality DNA sequences from Psychodidae (Insecta, Diptera) specimens. With 310 analysed specimens, we investigated the impact of distinct laboratory treatments by employing two shaking categories (constant and interrupted) with five different incubation periods (16, 12, 8, 4 and 2 hours) during the DNA extraction process. Notably, 80.65% of the specimens exhibited morphological changes during DNA extraction. Our results indicated no statistical difference between constant and interrupted shaking for the total of morphological structures lost. However, within each shaking category, the loss of structures was influenced significantly by the incubation period. Prolonged incubation correlated with increased structural losses, whereas shorter incubation periods caused minor alterations in structures lost. In addition, our results showed a significant difference between constant and interrupted shaking treatments for DNA concentration. Likewise, the incubation period showed differences within each shaking category. Successful COI sequencing was achieved in 89.6% of specimens, with negligible differences in DNA fragment lengths across treatments. Our findings underscore the importance of an optimised protocol and its potential in systematic research involving nematoceran dipteran specimens by balancing morphological integrity and DNA extraction efficiency.
PubMed: 38883206
DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e119448 -
Journal of Arthropod-borne Diseases Dec 2023(Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. The nonstandard use of pesticides against pests, particularly in...
BACKGROUND
(Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. The nonstandard use of pesticides against pests, particularly in agriculture, indirectly has caused the development of resistance and, consequently, the threat of control measures in ZCL endemic areas. Up to 2023, several reports of resistance in have been declared in the Old World. The purpose of this study was to measure the lethal time (LT and LT) of sand flies in the ZCL endemic center of Esfahan to DDT and deltamethrin insecticides.
METHODS
Sand flies were collected in Borkhar and were tested using WHO adult mosquito test kit against DDT 4% and deltamethrin 0.0002%. The and fly's survival was recorded during exposure time in 225, 450|, 900, 1800, and 3600-seconds' intervals for DDT and Deltamethrin and they were allowed to recover for 24 hours. Then LT and LT were analyzed using probit software. were identified using morphological keys and other sand flies' species were excluded from the analysis.
RESULTS
The insecticide against female revealed hundred percent mortality when exposed to DDT 4% and deltamethrin 0.0002%. The LT and LT were 19.32 and 22.74 minutes for DDT 4% and 39.92 and 51.33 minutes for deltamethrin 0.0002% respectively.
CONCLUSION
Results of this study revealed that is still susceptible to DDT and deltamethrin. This data provides valuable knowledge to implement effective control strategies against ZCL main vector and help to manage insecticide resistance in the region.
PubMed: 38868678
DOI: 10.18502/jad.v17i4.15296 -
Journal of Arthropod-borne Diseases Sep 2023Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major public health problem in Iran with the main vector of . The use of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of the...
BACKGROUND
Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major public health problem in Iran with the main vector of . The use of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of the vector is a potential substitute for the current methods which are being used. The purpose of the current study was to assess the virulence of two local isolates of (OZ and TV) against .
METHODS
To perform the bioassay test, fungal suspensions were applied for every stage of the sand fly life cycle. The mortality rate, longevity, and number of eggs laid were determined. Also, the probability of fungal survival on the surface of rodent's body was assessed.
RESULTS
The longevity of infected adult sand flies with both isolates of was significantly lower (P< 0.05) in comparison to the negative control. The estimated Lethal concentration 50 (LC) values for adult female and male sand flies treated with OZ isolate were 1.4×10 and 2.2×10 conidia/ml, respectively, while they were 6.8×10 and 2.3×10 conidia/ml for TV isolate, respectively. Both isolates of exhibited nonsignificant mortality rates in sand fly larvae and pupae and fecundity rate (P> 0.05). According to our findings for both isolates, the fungus continued to spread throughout the surface of the rodent's body for 144 hours after spraying.
CONCLUSION
The current study demonstrated that both isolates of have considerable biological control capacity against adult sand flies.
PubMed: 38860196
DOI: 10.18502/jad.v17i3.14986 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2024Arthropods vector a multitude of human disease-causing organisms, and their geographic ranges are shifting rapidly in response to changing climatic conditions. This is,...
BACKGROUND
Arthropods vector a multitude of human disease-causing organisms, and their geographic ranges are shifting rapidly in response to changing climatic conditions. This is, in turn, altering the landscape of disease risk for human populations that are brought into novel contact with the vectors and the diseases they carry. Sand flies in the genera Lutzomyia and Pintomyia are vectors of serious disease-causing agents such as Leishmania (the etiological agent of leishmaniasis) and may be expanding their range in the face of climate change. Understanding the climatic conditions that vector species both tolerate physiologically and prefer behaviorally is critical to predicting the direction and magnitude of range expansions and the resulting impacts on human health. Temperature and humidity are key factors that determine the geographic extent of many arthropods, including vector species.
METHODS
We characterized the habitat of two species of sand flies, Lutzomyia longipalpis and Pintomyia evansi. Additionally, we studied two behavioral factors of thermal fitness-thermal and humidity preference in two species of sand flies alongside a key aspect of physiological tolerance-desiccation resistance.
RESULTS
We found that Lu. longipalpis is found at cooler and drier conditions than Pi. evansi. Our results also show significant interspecific differences in both behavioral traits, with Pi. evansi preferring warmer, more humid conditions than Lu. longipalpis. Finally, we found that Lu. longipalpis shows greater tolerance to extreme low humidity, and that this is especially pronounced in males of the species.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results suggest that temperature and humidity conditions are key aspects of the climatic niche of Lutzomyia and Pintomyia sand flies and underscore the value of integrative studies of climatic tolerance and preference in vector biology.
Topics: Animals; Psychodidae; Humidity; Temperature; Female; Male; Ecosystem; Insect Vectors
PubMed: 38831449
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06325-2 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2024
Topics: Leishmania tropica; Animals; Phlebotomus; Salivary Proteins and Peptides; Plasmids; Insect Proteins; Mice; Humans; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Female
PubMed: 38814961
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012218 -
Acta Tropica Aug 2024This study updates knowledge on historical geographic distribution of sand fly species through identifying altitudinal and bioclimatic patterns in leishmaniasis endemic...
Surveillance of sand flies (Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from Mexico: Altitudinal and climatic patterns after historical and new geographic records in endemic areas of leishmaniasis.
This study updates knowledge on historical geographic distribution of sand fly species through identifying altitudinal and bioclimatic patterns in leishmaniasis endemic areas in Mexico. We analyze and identify sand fly specimens obtained through national efforts by the Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos (InDRE, Mexico), collected between 1995 and 2001, 2008-2012, and 2017-2023, and add bibliographic information (427 additional records). After a principal components analysis of WorldClim variables and altitudinal ranges, variables that better explain the distribution of sand fly species were chosen (BIO6, BIO12, and BIO16, explaining 72 % of variation). A total of 1,187 specimens of 22 species were retrieved from eight states, providing 29 new municipalities and 48 new localities, being Lutzomyia cruciata, Micropygomyia chiapanensis, and Psathyromyia shannoni the most common species. We presented new historical records of distribution for sand fly species from Morelos (3), Oaxaca (7) and Tabasco (1). The 82.7 % of sand fly species analyzed were distributed in areas with altitudinal ranges below 420 m. The anthropophilic species Psathyromyia shannoni, and Lutzomyia cruciata showed the greatest variability regarding altitudinal range, and climatic preferences, while several wild species showed abiotic preferences. It is likely that the effect of urbanization and climate change generate new beneficial biotopes for the proliferation of the vector sand fly species. Complementary studies that consider seasonality, vegetation types, and change in land use could provide new information to better understand the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Topics: Animals; Mexico; Psychodidae; Leishmaniasis; Altitude; Insect Vectors; Climate; Animal Distribution; Endemic Diseases; Humans; Female; Male
PubMed: 38795873
DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107270 -
PloS One 2024This study investigated the sand fly fauna of the municipality Iguatama, in the Midwest Region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, including Leishmania infection rates and...
This study investigated the sand fly fauna of the municipality Iguatama, in the Midwest Region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil, including Leishmania infection rates and blood meal sources. Sand flies were collected during four periods over the course of a single year, encompassing both dry and rainy seasons, using CDC light traps placed in peridomiciles where dogs were seropositive for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A total of 762 sand fly specimens, representing 12 species across seven genera, were collected. Lutzomyia longipalpis was the most abundant species, comprising 57.6% of the collected specimens, followed by Nyssomyia neivai (19.6%) and Nyssomyia whitmani (10.5%). Species richness and diversity varied among collection periods, with the highest diversity observed in January 2019. Molecular analysis detected Leishmania DNA in 12.5% of the sand fly specimens, with Le. infantum being the predominant species. Blood meal analysis revealed feeding on multiple vertebrate species, including humans, rats, dogs, and chickens. The presence of Leishmania DNA in sand flies, and the identification of human blood meals, highlight the potential role of these species in VL transmission. These findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance and control measures to prevent the spread of VL and reduce transmission risk in the region.
Topics: Animals; Brazil; Psychodidae; Leishmania; Dogs; Humans; Insect Vectors; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Rats; Chickens; Feeding Behavior; Biodiversity
PubMed: 38781235
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302567 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases May 2024The infectious inoculum of a sand fly, apart from its metacyclic promastigotes, is composed of factors derived from both the parasite and the vector. Vector-derived...
The infectious inoculum of a sand fly, apart from its metacyclic promastigotes, is composed of factors derived from both the parasite and the vector. Vector-derived factors, including salivary proteins and the gut microbiota, are essential for the establishment and enhancement of infection. However, the type and the number of bacteria egested during salivation is unclear. In the present study, sand flies of Phlebotomus papatasi were gathered from three locations in hyperendemic focus of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Isfahan Province, Iran. By using the forced salivation assay and targeting the 16S rRNA barcode gene, egested bacteria were characterized in 99 (44%) out of 224 sand flies. Culture-dependent and culture-independent methods identified the members of Enterobacter cloacae and Spiroplasma species as dominant taxa, respectively. Ten top genera of Spiroplasma, Ralstonia, Acinetobacter, Reyranella, Undibacterium, Bryobacter, Corynebacterium, Cutibacterium, Psychrobacter, and Wolbachia constituted >80% of the saliva microbiome. Phylogenetic analysis displayed the presence of only one bacterial species for the Spiroplasma, Ralstonia, Reyranella, Bryobacter and Wolbachia, two distinct species for Cutibacterium, three for Undibacterium and Psychrobacter, 16 for Acinetobacter, and 27 for Corynebacterium, in the saliva. The abundance of microbes in P. papatasi saliva was determined by incorporating the data on the read counts and the copy number of 16S rRNA gene, about 9,000 bacterial cells, per sand fly. Both microbiological and metagenomic data indicate that bacteria are constant companions of Leishmania, from the intestine of the vector to the vertebrate host. This is the first forced salivation experiment in a sand fly, addressing key questions on infectious bite and competent vectors.
Topics: Animals; Phlebotomus; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Phylogeny; Saliva; Bacteria; Iran; Insect Vectors; Female; Microbiota; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous; Male
PubMed: 38771858
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012165 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted as products of cell metabolism, which reflects the physiological and pathological conditions of any living... (Review)
Review
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted as products of cell metabolism, which reflects the physiological and pathological conditions of any living organisms. These compounds play a key role as olfactory cues for arthropod vectors such as mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks, which act in the transmission of pathogens to many animal species, including humans. Some VOCs may influence arthropod behaviour, e.g., host preference and oviposition site selection for gravid females. Furthermore, deadly vector-borne pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania infantum are suggested to manipulate the VOCs profile of the host to make them more attractive to mosquitoes and sand fly vectors, respectively. Under the above circumstances, studies on these compounds have demonstrated their potential usefulness for investigating the behavioural response of mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks toward their vertebrate hosts, as well as potential tools for diagnosis of vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Herein, we provide an account for scientific data available on VOCs to study the host seeking behaviour of arthropod vectors, and their usefulness as attractants, repellents, or tools for an early diagnosis of VBDs.
Topics: Animals; Volatile Organic Compounds; Psychodidae; Ticks; Humans; Culicidae; Behavior, Animal; Vector Borne Diseases; Female; Mosquito Vectors; Plasmodium falciparum
PubMed: 38755646
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06299-1