Leishmania amazonensis DNA in wild females ofLutzomyia cruzi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Author(s)

Everton Falcão de Oliveira ^[1] ; Aline Etelvina Casaril ^[2] ; Nathália Lopes Fontoura Mateus ^[3] ; Paula Guerra Murat ^[4] ; Wagner Souza Fernandes ^[5] ; Elisa Teruya Oshiro ^[6] ; Alessandra Gutierrez de Oliveira ^[7] ; Eunice Aparecida Bianchi Galati

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Saúde Pública - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[3] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[5] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[6] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

^[7] Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; v. 110, n. 8, p. 1051-1057, 2015-11-24.

Abstract

Studies on natural infection by Leishmania spp of sandflies collected in endemic and nonendemic areas can provide important information on the distribution and intensity of the transmission of these parasites. This study sought to investigate the natural infection by Leishmaniain wild female sandflies. The specimens were caught in the city of Corumbá, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) between October 2012-March 2014, and dissected to investigate flagellates and/or submitted to molecular analysis to detect Leishmania DNA. A total of 1,164 females (77.56% of which were Lutzomyia cruzi) representing 11 species were investigated using molecular analysis; 126 specimens of Lu. cruziwere dissected and also submitted to molecular analysis. The infection rate based on the presence of Leishmania DNA considering all the sandfly species analysed was 0.69%; only Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis was identified in Lu. cruzi by the molecular analysis. The dissections were negative for flagellates. This is the first record of the presence of L. (L.) amazonensis DNA in Lu. cruzi, and the first record of this parasite in this area. These findings point to the need for further investigation into the possible role of this sandfly as vector of this parasite. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/23414-0 - Vectorial capacity of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) cruzi and Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) forattinii (Diptera: Psychodidae) to Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi
• Grantee: Everton Falcão de Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate