Natural Leishmania infection of Lutzomyia auraensis in Madre de Dios, Peru, detected by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Leishmania species of the Viannia subgenus are responsible for most cases of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis. However, little is known about the vectors involved in disease transmission in the Amazon regions of Peru. We used a novel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess Leishmania infections in phlebotomines collected in rural areas of Madre de Dios, Peru. A total of 1,299 non-blood fed female sand flies from 33 species were captured by using miniature CDC light traps. Lutzomyia auraensis was the most abundant species (63%) in this area. Seven of 164 pools were positive by PCR for Leishmania by kinetoplast DNA. The real-time PCR identified four Lu. auraensis pools as positive for L. (Viannia) lainsoni and L. (V.) braziliensis. The minimum infection prevalence for Lu. auraensis was estimated to be 0.6% (95% confidence interval = 0.20-1.42%). Further studies are needed to assess the importance of Lu. auraensis in the transmission of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis in hyperendemic areas of Peru.
United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
Hugo O
HO
Valdivia
Maxy B
MB
De Los Santos
Roberto
R
Fernandez
G Christian
GC
Baldeviano
Victor O
VO
Zorrilla
Hubert
H
Vera
Carmen M
CM
Lucas
Kimberly A
KA
Edgel
Andrés G
AG
Lescano
Kirk D
KD
Mundal
Paul C F
PC
Graf
D000818:Animals; D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D018105:DNA, Kinetoplast