title: Detection of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis in Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Brazilian Amazonia.
abstract: Biting midges in the genus Culicoides act as vectors of arboviruses throughout the world and as vectors of filariasis in Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa. Although Culicoides spp. are currently not considered to be vectors of Leishmania protozoa, the high abundance of biting midges in areas with active cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission points to the possibility of Culicoides infection by these pathogens. We used PCR to test captured Culicoides species for natural infection with Leishmania spp. We tested 450 Culicoides females, divided into 30 pools of 15 individuals each, as follows: nine pools of C. foxi (135 specimens), seven pools of C. filariferus (105), seven pools of C. insignis (105), five pools of C. ignacioi (75), and two pools of C. flavivenula (30). PCR confirmed the presence of Leishmania braziliensis DNA in C. ignacioi (0.14%), C. insignis (0.14%), and C. foxi (0.11); and Le. amazonensis DNA in C. filariferus (0.14%) and C. flavivenula (0.50%). We conclude that these Culicoides species can be naturally infected, but vector competence and transmission capability must be confirmed in future studies. Our results warrant further investigation into the role of these biting midge species in the leishmaniasis epidemiological cycle.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology and Vectors, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão (Universidade Federal do Maranhão-UFMA), São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Manuel Macário
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rebêlo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Entomology and Vectors, Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão (Universidade Federal do Maranhão-UFMA), São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Leite
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation, UFMA, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria da Conceição Abreu
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bandeira
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation, UFMA, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge Luiz Pinto
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation, UFMA, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Silva
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fonteles
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, UFMA, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silma Regina Ferreira
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002519:Ceratopogonidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007891:Leishmania / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Biting midge; Leishmania; biological vector; parasite ecology