title: Detection of high Leishmania infantum loads in Phlebotomus perniciosus captured in the leishmaniasis focus of southwestern Madrid region (Spain) by real time PCR.
abstract: Since 2010 a human leishmaniasis outbreak has been notified in southwestern Madrid region that still remains active. Entomological surveys have been carried out in the affected area in order to obtain information about species diversity, distribution, and density of sand flies. Moreover, molecular identification of blood meal preferences of sand flies and molecular detection of Leishmania infantum has been performed. In this work, we optimized a real time PCR assay in order to determine parasite loads in unfed and blood-fed Phlebotomus perniciosus female sand flies caught in the focus area. Results showed elevated parasite loads in nearly 70% of the studied positive sand flies. Furthermore, significantly higher parasite loads were observed in females without blood in their guts. In conclusion, high L. infantum loads found in P. perniciosus sand flies from the Madrid focus support the exceptional characteristics of this outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: mjimenez@isciii.es.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000469:parasitology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Human leishmaniasis outbreak of; Leishmania infantum loads; M; Phlebotomus perniciosus; adrid; qPCR