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Shah HK, Fathima PA, Ajithlal PM, Mathew JS, Saini P. Molecular Identification of Host Blood Meal from Phlebotomine Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Kerala, India. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 39066720 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Female phlebotomine sandflies serve as vectors for the transmission of Leishmania parasites, perpetuating an enzootic cycle by disseminating between sylvatic and domestic animals. Humans form a part of this cycle because the sandflies search for a blood source required for egg development. The present study aimed to identify the feeding preferences of different sandfly fauna from six districts of Kerala, India, using molecular tools. An entomological survey was conducted during 2021-2023 in Kollam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Malappuram, and Palakkad. Both indoor and outdoor habitats were targeted from sandfly collection using different standard tools and methods. Sandflies were identified using standard taxonomic keys, and DNA was extracted from blood meal collected from sandflies. A total of 7366 sandfly specimens were collected during the study period, which belonged to three different genera and 19 species. Blood source was successfully identified from 119 sandflies revealing that the Sergentomyia genus preferably fed on small reptiles and amphibians, whereas Phlebotomus genus was found to mainly feed on mammalian and avian blood. Sergentomyia zeylanica was an exception, as it primarily fed on mammalian blood sources. Interestingly, humans were the second feeding source for Phlebotomus species, which are the proven vectors. Comprehending the feeding patterns of sandflies is crucial, not just for public health but also for obtaining insights into the ecological dynamics between vectors and hosts, ultimately enabling more efficient strategies for disease control and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - P A Fathima
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Kottayam, India
| | - P M Ajithlal
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Kottayam, India
| | - Jessu S Mathew
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Kottayam, India
| | - Prasanta Saini
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Kottayam, India
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Bezerra-Santos MA, Benelli G, Germinara GS, Volf P, Otranto D. Smelly interactions: host-borne volatile organic compounds triggering behavioural responses in mosquitoes, sand flies, and ticks. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:227. [PMID: 38755646 PMCID: PMC11100076 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06299-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Amaro F, Vilares A, Martins S, Reis T, Osório HC, Alves MJ, Gargaté MJ. Co-Circulation of Leishmania Parasites and Phleboviruses in a Population of Sand Flies Collected in the South of Portugal. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 9:3. [PMID: 38276633 PMCID: PMC10821132 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In the Old World, phlebotomine sand flies from the genus Phlebotomus are implicated in the transmission of Leishmania spp. parasites (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and viruses belonging to the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyavirales: Phenuiviridae). Two of the five sand fly species known to occur in Portugal, Phlebotomus perniciosus and Ph. ariasi, the former being the most ubiquitous, are recognized vectors of Leishmania infantum, which causes visceral leishmaniasis, the most prevalent form of leishmaniasis in the country. Phlebotomus perniciosus is also the vector of the neurotropic Toscana virus, which can cause aseptic meningitis. Entomological surveillance is essential to provide fundamental data about the presence of vectors and the pathogens they can carry. As such, and given the lack of data in Portugal, an entomological survey took place in the Algarve, the southernmost region of the country, from May to October 2018. Polymerase chain reaction assays were performed in order to detect the presence of the above-mentioned pathogens in sand fly pools. Not only were both Leishmania parasites and phleboviruses detected during this study, but more importantly, it was the first time their co-circulation was verified in the same sand fly population collected in Portugal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima Amaro
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, No. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; (H.C.O.); (M.J.A.)
- Environment and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Environmental Health Institute, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Animal Science Studies (CECA), University of Porto, 4050-453 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Vilares
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.V.); (S.M.); (T.R.); (M.J.G.)
| | - Susana Martins
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.V.); (S.M.); (T.R.); (M.J.G.)
| | - Tânia Reis
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.V.); (S.M.); (T.R.); (M.J.G.)
| | - Hugo Costa Osório
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, No. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; (H.C.O.); (M.J.A.)
- Environment and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Environmental Health Institute, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Alves
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, No. 5, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; (H.C.O.); (M.J.A.)
- Environment and Infectious Diseases Research Group, Environmental Health Institute, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Animal Science Studies (CECA), University of Porto, 4050-453 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria João Gargaté
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.V.); (S.M.); (T.R.); (M.J.G.)
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