title: Molecular detection of Leishmania in phlebotomine sand flies in a cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis endemic area in northeastern Brazil.
abstract: Several phlebotomine sand fly species have been regarded as putative or proven vectors of parasites of the genus Leishmania in Brazil, but data for the northeastern region remains incipient. In this study, a total of 600 phlebotomine sand flies were grouped in pools of 10 specimens each and tested by a Leishmania genus-specific PCR and by a PCR targeting Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. Fourteen out of 60 pools were positive by the genus-specific PCR, being five pools of L. migonei, seven of L. complexa, one of L. sordellii and one of L. naftalekatzi, which correspond to a minimal infection rate of 2.3% (14/600). Our results, associated with their known anthropophily and their abundance, suggest the participation of L. migonei and L. complexa as vectors of Leishmania in northeastern Brazil. Remarkably, this is the first time in this country that the detection of Leishmania DNA in L. sordellii and L. naftalekatzi has been reported, but future studies are necessary to better understand the significance of these findings.
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Vanessa Cristina Fitipaldi Veloso
authors: VC
authors: Guimarães
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Pietra Lemos
authors: PL
authors: Costa
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Fernando José da
authors: FJ
authors: Silva
authors: Department of Parasitology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Fábio Lopes de
authors: FL
authors: Melo
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Filipe
authors: F
authors: Dantas-Torres
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Eduardo Henrique Gomes
authors: EH
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Department of Immunology, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors: Sinval Pinto
authors: SP
authors: Brandão Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan