title: Measurement of recent exposure to Phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of Indian visceral Leishmaniasis, by using human antibody responses to sand fly saliva.
abstract: Antibody (IgG) responses to the saliva of Phlebotomus argentipes were investigated using serum samples from regions of India endemic and non-endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). By pre-adsorbing the sera against the saliva of the competing human-biting but non-VL vector P. papatasi, we significantly improved the specificity of a P. argentipes saliva enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Using this method, we observed a statistically significant correlation between antibodies to P. argenitpes saliva and the average indoor density of female sand flies. Additionally, the method was able to detect recent changes in vector exposure when sera from VL patients were assayed before, during, and after hospitalization and protected from sand fly bites under untreated bed nets. Collectively, these results highlight the utility of antibodies to P. argentipes saliva as an important tool to evaluate VL vector control programs.
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Meredith F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Kamlesh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gidwani
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Jitka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hostomska
authors.forename: Diwakar S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dinesh
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Volfova
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.forename: Murari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rijal
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picado
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volf
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.forename: Clive R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000276:immunology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G