Maintenance and Productivity of a Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) Colony from an Area Endemic for Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract Studies on experimental sand fly infection require the availability of colonies and laboratory conditions. In Brazil, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) (Lutz and Neiva 1912) is responsible for the highest infection rates by Leishmania spp. and this species is one of the most suitable species for laboratory colonization. In this study, we describe a method for growing Lu. longipalpis in laboratory conditions (10 generations) from natural populations sampled from a region of high endemicity for visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Using two methods (individualized or grouped females), the colony’s highest productivity occurred in the first four generations, where all stages presented with high frequency. Nonviable eggs represented more than 50% of the total eggs produced by engorged females, while pupae were more resistant to fungal contamination, with a mortality rate of only 2%. In both methods, there was a predominance of female emergence; however, the ratio between males and females did not show significant differences, IF (P = 0.8023) and GF (P = 0.1831). Using the method of individualized females, the F4 generation took the longest to appear (234 d; 64 ± 57 d); by grouped females, F3 took the longest to appear (102 d; 47 ± 20 d). This method provides sufficient numbers of insects to perform vector competence tests for Leishmania spp. that cause the cutaneous form of leishmaniasis, usually found in Lu. longipalpis sampled from the study location.

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Genetic structure of natural populations of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Brazilian northeastern region

Acta Tropica ◽

10.1016/j.actatropica.2006.01.007 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 98 (1) ◽

pp. 15-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Valdir de Queiroz Balbino ◽

Iliano Vieira Coutinho-Abreu ◽

Ivan Vieira Sonoda ◽

Márcia Almeida Melo ◽

Paulo Paes de Andrade ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Northeastern Region

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Studies on the Feeding Habits ofLutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis(Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Populations from Endemic Areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil

Journal of Tropical Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/858657 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Margarete Martins dos Santos Afonso ◽

Rosemere Duarte ◽

José Carlos Miranda ◽

Lindenbergh Caranha ◽

Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Elisa Technique ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

Feeding Sources

The aim of this study was to identify potential blood feeding sources ofL. (L.) longipalpisspecimens from populations in Northeastern Brazil, endemic areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) and its correlation with the transmission ofL. (L.) i. chagasi. The ELISA technique was applied using bird, dog, goat, opossum, equine, feline, human, sheep, and rodent antisera to analyze 609 females, resulting in an overall positivity of 60%. In all municipalities, females showed higher positivity for bird followed by dog antiserum and sand fly specimens were also positive for equine, feline, human, sheep, goat, opossum, and rodent antisera. The finding for 17 combinations of two or three types of blood in some females corroborates the opportunistic habit of this sand fly species. The results demonstrating the association betweenL. (L.) longipalpisand opossum suggest the need for further evaluation of the real role of this synanthropic mammal in the eco-epidemiology of AVL.

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Identification of the sex chromosome system in a sand fly species, Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l.

G3 Genes|Genome|Genetics ◽

10.1093/g3journal/jkab217 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Felipe M Vigoder ◽

Luciana O Araripe ◽

Antonio Bernardo Carvalho

Keyword(s):

Sex Chromosomes ◽

Sex Chromosome ◽

Morphological Difference ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sex Chromosome System ◽

Males And Females ◽

Heterogametic Sex ◽

Visceral Leishmaniosis ◽

Specific Sequences

Abstract In many animal species sex determination is accomplished by heterogamety i.e., one of the sexes produces two types of gametes, which upon fertilization will direct the development towards males or females. Both male (“XY”) and female (“ZW”) heterogamety are known to occur and can be easily distinguished when the sex-chromosomes are morphologically different. However, this approach fails in cases of homomorphic sex chromosomes, such as the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. (Psychodidae, Diptera), which is the main vector of visceral leishmaniosis in Brazil. In order to identify the heterogametic sex in L. longipalpis s.l., we did a whole genome sequencing of males and females separately and used the “Y chromosome Genome Scan” (YGS) method to find sex-specific sequences. Our results, which were confirmed by PCR, show that L. longipalpis s.l. has XY system. The YGS method can be especially useful in situations in which no morphological difference is observed in the sex-chromosomes or when fresh specimens are not readily available.

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Sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) survey in an urban transmission area of visceral leishmaniasis, Northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612010000400008 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 233-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sthenia Santos Albano Amóra ◽

Claudia Maria Leal Bevilaqua ◽

Francisco Marlon Carneiro Feijó ◽

Paula Gabriela Melo de Oliveira ◽

Gislayne Christianne Xavier Peixoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Population Density ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Control Measures ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a major public health challenge in Brazil, especially in states where it is endemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of sand fly population density with environmental variables (temperature, rainfall and relative humidity) in urban areas of the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil. Sand flies were captured with Center Disease Control (CDC) traps installed monthly in the intra and peridomicile of three houses. Data analysis was based on the chi-square test and linear regression. A total of 7,347 sand flies were captured, being 93.85% Lutzomyia longipalpis and 6.15% Lutzomyia evandroi. Sand flies were more commonly found in the peridomicile and there was no difference between the number of males and females. The variables rainy season as well as relative humidity and rainfall, alone or together, did not have an effect on sand fly population density. However, high temperatures had a negative effect. The study of the behavior of sand flies in specific units of endemic areas can provide input to public health authorities for planning appropriate VL vector control measures.

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Binding of Leishmania infantum Lipophosphoglycan to the Midgut Is Not Sufficient To Define Vector Competence in Lutzomyia longipalpis Sand Flies

mSphere ◽

10.1128/msphere.00594-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Iliano V. Coutinho-Abreu ◽

James Oristian ◽

Waldionê de Castro ◽

Timothy R. Wilson ◽

Claudio Meneses ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Parasite Development ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Content Type ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Blood Meal Digestion ◽

Insect Gut

It is well established that the presence of LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors with respect to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies with respect to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is of relevance for the understanding of vector-parasite molecular interactions and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclic-stage parasites (metacyclics) lose their ability to attach to the midgut, with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be a complex issue and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis.

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Exploring Lutzomyia longipalpis Sand Fly Vector Competence for Leishmania major Parasites

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiaa203 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 (7) ◽

pp. 1199-1203 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pedro Cecílio ◽

Ana Clara A M Pires ◽

Jesus G Valenzuela ◽

Paulo F P Pimenta ◽

Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New World ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Leishmania Species ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Potential Vector ◽

Natural Vector

Abstract Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies are the major natural vector of Leishmania infantum parasites, responsible for transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in the New World. Several experimental studies have demonstrated the ability of Lu. longipalpis to sustain development of different Leishmania species. However, no study had explored in depth the potential vector competence of Lu. longipalpis for Leishmania species other than L. infantum. Here, we show that Lu. longipalpis is a competent vector of L. major parasites, being able to acquire parasites from active cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions, sustain mature infections, and transmit them to naive hosts, causing disease.

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Binding of Leishmania infantum LPG to the midgut is not sufficient to define vector competence in Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies

10.1101/2020.06.10.145342 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Iliano V. Coutinho-Abreu ◽

James Oristian ◽

Waldionê de Castro ◽

Timothy R. Wilson ◽

Claudio Meneses ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Late Stage ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Parasite Development ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Survival And Development ◽

Sand Fly Vectors

AbstractThe major surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania parasites is critical to vector competence in restrictive sand fly vectors by mediating Leishmania attachment to the midgut epithelium, considered essential to parasite survival and development. However, the relevance of LPG for sand flies that harbor multiple species of Leishmania remains elusive. We tested binding of Leishmania infantum wild type (WT), LPG-defective (Δlpg1 mutants) and add-back lines (Δlpg1 + LPG1) to sand fly midguts in vitro and their survival in Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies in vivo. Le. infantum WT parasites attached to the Lu. longipalpis midgut in vitro with late-stage parasites binding to midguts in significantly higher numbers compared to early-stage stage promastigotes. Δlpg1 mutants did not bind to Lu. longipalpis midguts, and this was rescued in the Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines, indicating that midgut binding is mediated by LPG. When Lu. longipalpis sand flies were infected with either Le. infantum WT, Δlpg1, or Δlpg1 + LPG1 of the BH46 or BA262 strains, the BH46 Δlpg1 mutant, but not the BA262 Δlpg1 mutant, survived and grew to similar numbers as the WT and Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines. Exposure of BH46 and BA262 Δlpg1 mutants to blood engorged midgut extracts led to the mortality of the BA262 Δlpg1 but not the BH46 Δlpg1 parasites. These findings suggest that Le. infantum LPG protects parasites on a strain-specific basis early in infection, likely against toxic components of blood digestion, however, it is not necessary to prevent Le. infantum evacuation along with the feces in the permissive vector Lu. longipalpis.IMPORTANCEIt is well established that LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found out that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is paradigm-changing and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclics lose their ability to attach to the midgut with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be complex and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis.

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Estimation of vector competence of Moroccan Sand fly Populations Using a Proteomic Approach

10.21203/rs.3.rs-79497/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Daoudi ◽

George Dong ◽

Samia Boussaa ◽

Caroline Martel ◽

Mohamed Hafidi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Proteomic Analysis ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽

Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry ◽

Proteomic Approach ◽

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽

Leishmania Spp

Abstract Background Phlebotomine vector born disease are distributed throughout the world, and different pathogens are associated with varying degrees of disease severity. In Morocco, sand fly populations are incriminated in the transmission of several pathogens, such Leishmania spp. and phlebovirus, in particular the most relevant sand fly species as the case of Phlebotomus papatasi. This species is the main vector of Leishmania major in Morocco, and incriminated in phlebovirus transmission. Not to pass over without investigating its possible role on the transmission of entomopathogenic parasite already reported in literature. Methodology and finding The present study focused on proteomic analysis in Phlebotomus papatasi from four localities in Morocco. Proteomic analysis in female P. papatasi was performed with Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 239 identified proteins for Leishmania spp., 26 identified proteins for phlebovirus and 1132 identified proteins for nematode were detected in the 20 pools of P. papatasi from investigated localities. The microscopic examination of 1752 sandflies collected showed, the infection of two specimens of female’s P. sergenti with Tetranematid Didilia spp. and potential Microfilariae in Imintanout locality (Z2).Conclusion This study presents the first report of nematodes in sand flies of Africa. Also, the first use of proteomic tools for estimation of vector competence of P. papatasi which could be a specific tool to a better understanding of the vectorial capacity of Moroccan sandflies population.

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Synthetic sex-aggregation pheromone of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the South American sand fly vector of Leishmania infantum, attracts males and females over long-distance

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0008798 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. e0008798

Author(s):

Mikel A. González ◽

Melissa Bell ◽

Cristian F. Souza ◽

Rafael Maciel-de-Freitas ◽

Reginaldo P. Brazil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aggregation Pheromone ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

South American ◽

The South ◽

Long Distance ◽

Males And Females

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MICROSCOPIC AND MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF Ascaridia spp. IN DOMESTIC PIGEONS(Columba livia domestica) IN BAGHDAD CITY,IRAQ

IRAQI JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES ◽

10.36103/ijas.v51i4.1101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 1220-1225

Author(s):

Faraj & Al- Amery

Keyword(s):

Molecular Diagnosis ◽

Columba Livia ◽

Ascaridia Galli ◽

Molecular Assay ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Conventional Pcr ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pcr Products ◽

Males And Females ◽

Domestic Pigeons

Ascaridiosis is a very important parasitic disease of birds, it is caused by Ascaridia. This study was conducted to identify the Ascaridia species by microscopic and molecular assay in Baghdad city. One hundred and sixty fecal samples were collected from domestic pigeons during the period from 1/1/ 2019 to 31/3/ 2019. Results showed that the rate of infection for Ascaridia spp. 15.62% by microscopic examination. Significant difference was observed in infection rates between males and females pigeons. Fifty samples randomly selected and subjected to molecular diagnosis of Ascaridia spp.. Molecular examination results, the total infection rate showed 16%(8/50). The eight positive PCR products were sequenced and deposited in Gene bank data base, phylogenic analysis demonstrated that 4 sequences belongs to Ascaridia galli ( MK918635.1, MK918636.1, MK918847.1, MK919081.1), while 2 (MK919199.1, MK919200.1) belong to Ascaridia nymphii and 2 (MK919207.1, MK919264.1) belong to Ascaridia numidae. It is the first study in Iraq to diagnosis of Ascaridia nymphii and Ascaridia numidae in domesticed pigeons by using conventional PCR.

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