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Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus is circulating both Leishmania donovani and L. infantum in northwest Iran

Mohammad Ali Oshaghi1, Naseh Maleki Ravasan, Mallorie Hide

  • 1Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14155-6446, Iran. moshaghi@sina.tums.ac.ir

Experimental Parasitology
|July 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Leishmania infantum was thought to be the main cause of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran. However, this study found Leishmania donovani, a different species, in sandflies, suggesting a broader range of visceral leishmaniasis vectors.

Area of Science:

  • * Parasitology
  • * Molecular Biology
  • * Medical Entomology

Background:

  • * Leishmania infantum is traditionally considered the primary cause of infantile visceral leishmaniasis (IVL) in the Mediterranean Basin and Iran, often identified through isoenzyme typing in canine reservoirs.
  • * Previous understanding suggested L. infantum predominated in all IVL foci within Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To investigate the species of Leishmania parasites infecting sandflies in Iran using molecular methods.
  • * To characterize the Cysteine Protease B (CPB) gene of detected Leishmania species.
  • * To assess the vector competence of Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus for different Leishmania species.

Main Methods:

  • * Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection and sequencing of the Cysteine Protease B (CPB) gene in sandfly infections.
  • * Analysis of Leishmania parasite DNA extracted from Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus.
  • * Comparison of obtained sequences with known Leishmania species.

Main Results:

  • * Only one of seven sandfly infections in Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus was identified as Leishmania infantum.
  • * The remaining six infections were identified as haplotypes of Leishmania donovani, a known agent of anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis (AVL).
  • * A novel and shortest CPB protein sequence for Leishmania donovani was identified.

Conclusions:

  • * Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus can transmit both Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani, indicating it is a permissive vector.
  • * The presence of Leishmania donovani in this vector necessitates re-evaluation of visceral leishmaniasis epidemiology in Iran and the Mediterranean.
  • * Further extensive typing of natural Leishmania infections is crucial for accurate epidemiological surveillance.

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