Phlebotomus Sergenti in a Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus in Azilal Province (High Atlas, Morocco): Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Leishmania Tropica, and Feeding Behavior

Overview

Journal PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Tropical Medicine

Date 2015 Apr 1

PMID 25826399

Citations 11

Authors

Malika Ajaoud

Nargys Es-sette

Remi N Charrel

Abderahmane Laamrani-Idrissi

Haddou Nhammi

Myriam Riyad

Meryem Lemrani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti is at least one of the confirmed vectors for the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica and distributed widely in Morocco. This form of leishmaniasis is considered largely as anthroponotic, although dogs were found infected with Leishmania tropica, suggestive of zoonosis in some rural areas.

Methodology And Findings: This survey aimed at (i) studying the presence of Leishmania in field caught Phlebotomus sergenti, (ii) investigating genetic diversity within Leishmania tropica and (iii) identifying the host-blood feeding preferences of Phlebotomus sergenti. A total of 4,407 sand flies were collected in three rural areas of Azilal province, using CDC miniature light traps. Samples collected were found to consist of 13 species: Phlebotomus spp. and 3 Sergentomyia spp. The most abundant species was Phlebotomus sergenti, accounting for 45.75 % of the total. 965 female Phlebotomus sergenti were screened for the presence of Leishmania by ITS1-PCR-RFLP, giving a positive rate of 5.7% (55/965), all being identified as Leishmania tropica. Nucleotide heterogeneity of PCR-amplified ITS1-5.8S rRNA gene-ITS2 was noted. Analyses of 31 sequences obtained segregated them into 16 haplotypes, of which 7 contain superimposed peaks at certain nucleotide positions, suggestive of heterozygosity. Phlebotomus sergenti collected were found to feed on a large variety of vertebrate hosts, as determined by Cytochrome b sequencing of the DNA from the blood meals of 64 engorged females.

Conclusion: Our findings supported the notion that Phlebotomus sergenti is the primary vector of Leishmania tropica in this focus, and that the latter is genetically very heterogeneous. Furthermore, our results might be suggestive of a certain level of heterozygosity in Leishmania tropica population. This finding, as well as the feeding of the vectors on different animals are of interest for further investigation.

Citing Articles

A systematic review and global analysis of the seasonal activity of Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti, the primary vectors of L. tropica.

Karmaoui A, Sereno D, El Jaafari S, Hajji L PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022; 16(12):e0010886.

PMID: 36469546 PMC: 9754588. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010886.

Environmental, Climatic, and Parasite Molecular Factors Impacting the Incidence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Due to in Three Moroccan Foci.

Daoui O, Bennaid H, Kbaich M, Mhaidi I, Aderdour N, Rhinane H Microorganisms. 2022; 10(9).

PMID: 36144314 PMC: 9506065. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091712.

Transmission patterns of Leishmania tropica around the Mediterranean basin: Could Morocco be impacted by a zoonotic spillover?.

Saik I, Benlabsir C, Fellah H, Lemrani M, Riyad M PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022; 16(1):e0010009.

PMID: 35025884 PMC: 8757988. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010009.

Emerging and Re-Emerging Leishmaniases in the Mediterranean Area: What Can Be Learned from a Retrospective Review Analysis of the Situation in Morocco during 1990 to 2010?.

Kholoud K, Bounoua L, Sereno D, El Hidan M, Messouli M Microorganisms. 2020; 8(10).

PMID: 33008038 PMC: 7650785. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101511.

Modeling Spatial Distribution of (Diptera: Psychodidae) and Its Potential Implication in Leishmaniasis Transmission in Morocco.

Daoudi M, Boussaa S, Boumezzough A J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2020; 14(1):17-28.

PMID: 32766345 PMC: 7382697. DOI: 10.18502/jad.v14i1.2700.

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