<i>Phlebotomus sergenti</i> a common vector of <i>Leishmania tropica</i> and Toscana virus in Morocco

oleh: Nargys Es-Sette, Malika Ajaoud, Laurence Bichaud, Salsabil Hamdi, Fouad Mellouki, R&#953;mi N. Charrel, Meryem Lemrani

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-04-01

Deskripsi

<i>Background & objectives:</i> An entomological study using CDC miniature light-traps was performed in El Hanchane locality, where cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) was emerging during the summer of 2011. The aim of this study is to identify the vectors of <i>Leishmania</i> and of phleboviruses. <i>Methods:</i> In the field, a total of 643 sandfly specimens were collected, identified by morphological keys and categorized by sex and species. A total of nine distinct species were morphologically identified where seven belonged to the <i>Phlebotomus</i> genus and two species to the <i>Sergentomyia</i> genus. <i>Phlebotomus sergenti</i> was the most abundant species (76%). Phleboviruses were detected by nested RT-PCR using 30 pooled sandflies while <i>P. sergenti</i> females were tested individually for infections of <i>Leishmania</i> species. <i>Results:</i> By using ITS1-PCR-RFLP approach, <i>Leishmania tropica</i> DNA was detected in 10 females, caught in this emerging focus, and provide additional evidence in favour of the role of <i>P. sergenti</i> as vector of <i>L. tropica</i> in Morocco. Real-time PCR screening for phlebovirus RNA, using an assay targeting the polymerase gene, showed positive result in one pool of male <i>P. sergenti</i>. <i>Interpretation & conclusion:</i> In this study, <i>P. sergenti</i> were infected by <i>L. tropica</i> and Toscana virus. To our knowledge, actually this is the first time that Toscana virus has been detected in <i>P. sergenti</i>.