title: Ecological and epidemiological status of species of the Phlebotomus perniciosus complex (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Morocco.
abstract: Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) infection is transmitted by an infected female sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) of the subgenus Larroussius: Phlebotomus ariasi, Phlebotomus perniciosus, and Phlebotomus longicuspis in the Mediterranean basin. In Morocco, the vectorial role of P. ariasi was demonstrated, while that of P. longicuspis and P. perniciosus is not elucidated. In addition, Moroccan P. longicuspis and P. perniciosus populations present a higher morphologic and genetic variability. It was classified as P. perniciosus complex, including typical (PN) and atypical (PNA) morphs of P. perniciosus, P. longicuspis sensu stricto (LCss), and a sibling species of P. longicuspis (LCx). With the aim to study the ecological and epidemiological status of P. perniciosus complex species in Morocco, entomological surveys were carried out during three entomological seasons (2012, 2013, and 2014). We collected a total of 6298 specimens from 81 localities of northern, central, and southern Morocco. After describing the geographical distribution of P. perniciosus complex trough Morocco according to many variables (altitude, latitude, and longitude), we discuss the resulting epidemiological implications of its species. Our results highlight the geographical distribution of the two morphs of P. perniciosus through Morocco: PN is limited to the north, while PNA is widespread in northern, central, and southern Morocco. In terms of vectorial role, we hypothesize the potential involvement of PN, LCss, and LCx, at least, with P. ariasi, in the epidemiological cycle of L. infantum in Morocco.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Ecology, Biodiversity and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tétouan, Morocco.
authors.forename: Asmae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrouk
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Ecology and Environment L2E, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
authors.forename: Kholoud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kahime
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Ecology and Environment L2E, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. samiaboussaa@gmail.com.|Ministry of Health, Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et des Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Marrakech, 40000, Morocco. samiaboussaa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boussaa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Ecology, Biodiversity and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Tétouan, Morocco.
authors.forename: Boutaïna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belqat
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D000818:Animals; D004463:Ecology; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000469:parasitology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000469:parasitology; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Ecology; Human visceral leishmaniasis; Morocco; Phlebotomus perniciosus complex