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[natural infection with leishmania infantum chagasi in lutzomyia (lutzomyia) longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) sandflies captured in the municipality of janaúba, state of minas gerais, brazil].visceral leishmaniasis has been notified in nearly all states of brazil, and particularly in the north of minas gerais, where the disease is endemic. the aim of this study was to detect natural infection of lutzomyia longipalpis and, through the pcr/rflp technique, identify leishmania species found in sandflies in the municipality of janaúba.201121340410
in vitro effect of aloe vera, coriandrum sativum and ricinus communis fractions on leishmania infantum and on murine monocytic cells.in south america, visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan species leishmania infantum (syn. l. chagasi) and is primarily transmitted through the bite of the female lutzomyia longipalpis. its main reservoir in urban areas is the dog. the application of control measures recommended by health agencies have not achieved significant results in reducing the incidence of human cases, and the lack of effective drugs to treat dogs resulted in the prohibition of this course of action ...201121320755
functional genomics of the horn fly, haematobia irritans (linnaeus, 1758).the horn fly, haematobia irritans (linnaeus, 1758) (diptera: muscidae) is one of the most important ectoparasites of pastured cattle. horn flies infestations reduce cattle weight gain and milk production. additionally, horn flies are mechanical vectors of different pathogens that cause disease in cattle. the aim of this study was to conduct a functional genomics study in female horn flies using expressed sequence tags (est) analysis and rna interference (rnai).201121310032
[distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in the argentine mesopotamia, 2010].the first case of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in argentina was reported in 2006 in posadas, misiones. during the summer 2008-2009 lutzomyia longipalpis, the vl vector, and canine vl cases were already spread along the province of corrientes. in order to know the distribution of vl risk, systematic captures of the vector were performed between february and march 2010, in 18 areas of the provinces of entre ríos and corrientes, and the city of puerto iguazú, misiones, with a total of 313 traps/nigh ...201121296716
sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in a cerrado area of the maranhão state, brazil.the present paper aims to increase the knowledge on the sand fly fauna in the cerrado areas of maranhão state in urban, rural and forest environments. the research was carried out from october 2007 to september 2008, between 18:00h and 06:00h, in the municipality of chapadinha, northeast maranhão. for insect sampling, cdc light traps were set up in peridomicile and domicile areas of urban and rural zones as well as in cerrado and gallery forests. the total of 1,401 specimens belonging to 17 spec ...201021271075
lutzomyia longipalpis naturally infected by leishmania (l.) chagasi in várzea grande, mato grosso state, brazil, an area of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.the american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) is caused by parasites belonging to the genus leishmania (trypanosomatidae) and is transmitted to humans through the bite of certain species of infected phlebotomine sand flies. in this study, we investigated the natural infection ratio of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector species of avl in brazil, in várzea grande, mato grosso state. between july 2004 and june 2006, phlebotomine sand flies were captured in peridomestic areas using cdc light-traps. ...201021243236
[molecular analysis of natural infection of lutzomyia longipalpis in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis in brazil].the main purpose of this study was to investigate natural infection by leishmania chagasi in female sand flies in a visceral leishmaniasis (vl) focus on são luís island, maranhão state, brazil. molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) was applied to determine the rate of natural infection of lutzomyia longipalpis by l. chagasi in areas of old and recent human settlement on são luís island. based on a sample of 800 female specimens captured from march to august 2005, the natural infe ...201021243235
copulatory courtship song in lutzomyia migonei (diptera: psychodidae).lutzomyia migonei is a vector of leishmaniasis with a wide distribution in south america, which could favour population differentiation and speciation. cryptic species of the lutzomyia longipalpis complex, the widely distributed sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america, have previously been shown to display distinct copulation songs. we found that lu. migonei males also produce a song during copulation. this "lovesong" presents short trains (6-8 pulses) with an inter-pulse inte ...201021225208
the molecular detection of different leishmania species within sand flies from a cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis sympatric area in southeastern brazil.over the last 20 years, there has been an increase in the number of leishmaniasis cases in brazil. belo horizonte (bh) is one of the most highly populated brazilian cities that is affected by visceral leishmaniasis (vl). the health services in bh are coordinated by a central nucleus that is subdivided into nine sanitary districts. historically, the highest level of human vl cases was found in the northeast sanitary district (nsd). the objective of our study was to detect leishmania infection in ...201021225201
detection of leishmania (leishmania) infantum rna in fleas and ticks collected from naturally infected dogs.the occurrence of the insect vector (sand flies) with low rates of leishmania infection, as well as autochthonous transmission in the absence of the natural vector in dogs, have been reported. these unexpected data suggest a hypothesis of other arthropods as a possible way of leishmania transmission. the prevalence of leishmania (leishmania) infantum in fleas and ticks collected from dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl), as well as parasite viability, were evaluated herein. the presence ...201121221638
vaccines to combat the neglected tropical diseases.the neglected tropical diseases (ntds) represent a group of parasitic and related infectious diseases such as amebiasis, chagas disease, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, hookworm, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis. together, these conditions are considered the most common infections in low- and middle-income countries, where they produce a level of global disability and human suffering equivalent to better known conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome an ...201121198676
sandflies (psychodidae: phlebotominae) survey in an urban transmission area of visceral leishmaniasis, northeastern brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a major public health challenge in brazil, especially in states where it is endemic. the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of sand fly population density with environmental variables (temperature, rainfall and relative humidity) in urban areas of the city of mossoró, rio grande do norte, northeastern brazil. sand flies were captured with center disease control (cdc) traps installed monthly in the intra and peridomicile of three houses. data anal ...201021184700
[ecological aspects of phlebotomines (diptera: psychodidae) in the urban area of ponta porã municipality, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil].the aim of this study was to carry out an analysis of urban phlebotomine fauna and a survey of infestations (intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary) in ponta porã municipality state of mato grosso do sul.201021181032
study of phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) collected in a leishmania-endemic area of the metropolitan region of belo horizonte, brazil.phlebotomine sand flies are distributed across nearly all faunal regions of the world, represented by over 800 species, of which many are important vectors of human pathogens. brazil is currently faced with the expansion and urbanization of leishmaniases, with an increase in the numbers of human cases and seropositive dogs in various medium-sized to large cities. the objective of the current study was to survey the phlebotomine sand fly species in an area endemic for american cutaneous leishmani ...201021175043
targeting the midgut secreted ppchit1 reduces leishmania major development in its natural vector, the sand fly phlebotomus papatasi.during its developmental cycle within the sand fly vector, leishmania must survive an early proteolytic attack, escape the peritrophic matrix, and then adhere to the midgut epithelia in order to prevent excretion with remnants of the blood meal. these three steps are critical for the establishment of an infection within the vector and are linked to interactions controlling species-specific vector competence. ppchit1 is a midgut-specific chitinase from phlebotomus papatasi presumably involved in ...201021152058
eco-epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in the urban area of paracatu, state of minas gerais, brazil.the present study was developed in the urban area of paracatu, an endemic city for the american visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. a six-month canine survey was performed with 6295 domiciled dogs in 28 districts in that area and showed that 4.2% of those (267 dogs) were positive for vl by elisa and ifat serum assays. prevalence ratios for canine vl varied between 1.2% and 16.1%, depending on the district under investigation. fifteen dogs - 80% of which were clinically asymptomatic for vl - were s ...201021146311
a canine leishmaniasis pilot survey in an emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis: posadas (misiones, argentina).an increasing number of reports are calling our attention to the worldwide spread of leishmaniasis. the urbanization of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (vl) has been observed in different south american countries, due to changes in demographic and ecological factors. in may 2006, vl was detected for the first time in the city of posadas (misiones, argentina). this event encouraged us to conduct a clinical and parasitological pilot survey on domestic dogs from posadas to identify their potential ...201021122107
sex pheromone and period gene characterization of lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (lutz & neiva) (diptera: psychodidae) from posadas, argentina.lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. is the primary vector of leishmania (l.) infantum in the new world. in this study, male lutzomyia longipalpis specimens from posadas, argentina were characterized for two polymorphic markers: the male sex pheromone and the period (per) gene. the male sex pheromone was identified as (s)-9-methylgermacrene-b, the same compound produced by lu. longipalpis from paraguay and many populations from brazil. the analysis of per gene sequences revealed that the population from a ...201021120366
sand flies of nicaragua: a checklist and reports of new collections.sand flies within the genus lutzomyia serve as the vectors for all species of the protozoan parasite leishmania in the new world. in this paper, we present a summary of the 29 species of lutzomyia and one of brumptomyia previously reported for nicaragua and report results of our recent collections of 565 sand flies at eight localities in the country from 2001-2006. lutzomyia longipalpis was the predominant species collected within the pacific plains region of western nicaragua, while lutzomyia c ...201021120358
leishmania infantum: lipophosphoglycan intraspecific variation and interaction with vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.interspecies variations in lipophosphoglycan (lpg) have been the focus of intense study over the years due its role in specificity during sand fly-leishmania interaction. this cell surface glycoconjugate is highly polymorphic among species with variations in sugars that branch off the conserved gal(β1,4)man(α1)-po(4) backbone of repeat units. however, the degree of intraspecies polymorphism in lpg of leishmania infantum (syn. leishmania chagasi) is not known. in this study, intraspecific variati ...201021118695
phlebotominae fauna (diptera: psychodidae) in an urban district of belo horizonte, brazil, endemic for visceral leishmaniasis: characterization of favored locations as determined by spatial analysis.belo horizonte, the capital of the southeastern state of minas gerais, brazil, and the fourth-largest city in the country, has the highest incidence of human visceral leishmaniasis (vl) together with a high prevalence of canine vl. the northeast sanitary district (nsd) of belo horizonte has the largest historical average of human vl cases in the metropolitan region, and is classified as a priority area for epidemiological and entomological monitoring of the disease. the objectives of the present ...201021110938
sand fly captures with disney traps in area of occurrence of leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis in the state of mato grosso do sul, mid-western brazil.the work was conducted to study phlebotomine fauna (diptera: psychodidae) and aspects of american cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in a forested area where leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis occurs, situated in the municipality of bela vista, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.201021085855
lutzomyia longipalpis saliva triggers lipid body formation and prostaglandin e₂ production in murine macrophages.sand fly saliva contains molecules that modify the host's hemostasis and immune responses. nevertheless, the role played by this saliva in the induction of key elements of inflammatory responses, such as lipid bodies (lb, also known as lipid droplets) and eicosanoids, has been poorly investigated. lbs are cytoplasmic organelles involved in arachidonic acid metabolism that form eicosanoids in response to inflammatory stimuli. in this study, we assessed the role of salivary gland sonicate (sgs) fr ...201021072234
pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor 1 mediates anti-inflammatory effects in allergic airway inflammation in mice.bronchial asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and reversible obstruction. since the gold standard of therapy, a combination of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids and bronchodilatory β(2) agonists, has recently been discussed to be related to an increased mortality, there is a need for novel therapeutic pathways.201021059121
canine visceral leishmaniasis due to leishmania (l.) infantum chagasi in amazonian brazil: comparison of the parasite density from the skin, lymph node and visceral tissues between symptomatic and asymptomatic, seropositive dogs.canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is recognizable by characteristic signs of disease and is highly lethal. the infection, however, may be quite inapparent in some seropositive dogs, and this has raised the polemic question as to whether or not such animals can be a source of infection for lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl). in this study we have examined 51 dogs with acute cvl from an avl area in pará state, northern brazil, and compared the parasite den ...201021049230
blueport: a platform to study the eosinophilic response of mice to the bite of a vector of leishmania parasites, lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies.visceral leishmaniasis is a serious human disease transmitted, in the new world, by lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. natural resistance to leishmania transmission in residents of endemic areas has been attributed to the acquisition of immunity to sand fly salivary proteins. one theoretical way to accelerate the acquisition of this immunity is to increase the density of antigen-presenting cells at the sand fly bite site. here we describe a novel tissue platform that can be used for this purpose.201021048957
detection of leishmania infantum in naturally infected lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) and canis familiaris in misiones, argentina: the first report of a pcr-rflp and sequencing-based confirmation assay.in this study, a genotypification of leishmania was performed using polimerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (pcr-rflp) and sequencing techniques to identify species of leishmania parasites in phlebotomine sand flies and dogs naturally infected. between january-february of 2009, cdc light traps were used to collect insect samples from 13 capture sites in the municipality of posadas, which is located in the province of misiones of argentina. sand flies identified as lutz ...201020944995
epidemiological study of the association between anti-lutzomyia longipalpis saliva antibodies and development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to leishmania antigen.recent reports from animal models and from cross-sectional studies have suggested that host responses to anti-lutzomyia longipalpis saliva antibodies may be related to delayed-type hypersensitivity to leishmania antigen. in a prospective cohort study, we evaluated 1,080 children from two endemic areas for visceral leishmaniasis (vl) by means of kaplan-meier analysis. the incidence rate of delayed-type hypersensitivity to leishmania antigen, measured at the 24th follow-up month, was higher among ...201020889873
remodeling of protein and mrna expression in leishmania mexicana induced by deletion of glucose transporter genes.glucose is a major nutrient in the insect vector stage of leishmania parasites. glucose transporter null mutants of leishmania mexicana exhibit profound phenotypic changes in both insect stage promastigotes and mammalian host stage amastigotes that reside within phagolysosomes of host macrophages. some of these phenotypic changes could be either mediated or attenuated by changes in gene expression that accompany deletion of the glucose transporter genes. to search for changes in protein expressi ...201020869991
stage-specific adhesion of leishmania promastigotes to sand fly midguts assessed using an improved comparative binding assay.the binding of leishmania promastigotes to the midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the life-cycle in the sand fly vector, enabling the parasites to persist beyond the initial blood meal phase and establish the infection. however, the precise nature of the promastigote stage(s) that mediate binding is not fully understood.201020838647
first report of infection of lutzomyia longipalpis by leishmania (leishmania) infantum from a naturally infected cat of brazil.in recent years, cases of feline visceral leishmaniasis (fvl) have been described in different countries. in urban areas, domestic cats are suggested as possible alternative reservoirs of leishmania (l.) infantum, the causal agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl). this paper reports the first case of infection of lutzomyia longipalpis by l. infantum of a naturally infected cat from brazil through xenodiagnosis. the presence of a cat with fvl and its infectivity to the natural vector in belo horizo ...201020832944
canine visceral leishmaniasis in teresina, brazil: relationship between clinical features and infectivity for sand flies.leishmania chagasi is an intracellular parasite transmitted by the bite of the phlebotomine sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis, which is the most important of american visceral leishmaniasis. in the gut of the vector, amastigoste forms of the parasite transform into metacyclic promastigotes, from there to the foregut, where they could be transmitted in the next blood meal. xenodiagnosis is an important tool for the detection of leishmania, especially when associated to molecular techniques, both bei ...201120816657
lack of protection of pre-immunization with saliva of long-term colonized phlebotomus papatasi against experimental challenge with leishmania major and saliva of wild-caught p. papatasi.immunity to saliva of phlebotomus papatasi protects against leishmania major infection as determined by co-inoculation of parasites with salivary gland homogenates (sghs) of this vector. these results were obtained with long-term colonized female p. papatasi. we investigated the effect of pre-immunization with sgh of long-term colonized p. papatasi against l. major infection co-inoculated with sgh of wild-caught p. papatasi. our results showed that pre-exposure to sgh of long-term, colonized p. ...201020810812
autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis in brasília, federal district, brazil.visceral leishmaniasis is a public health threat in brazil considering the high lethality rates and increasing geographical dispersion to large urban conglomerates over the past 25 years. this study aimed to confirm suspected autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis reported from 2005 to 2009 among individuals living in brasilia, federal district.201020802938
canine leishmaniasis in brazil: serological follow-up of a dog population in an endemic area of american visceral leishmaniasis.we performed a serological, clinical, and parasitological follow-up of a dog population in an endemic area of american visceral leishmaniasis estimated by indirect immunofluorescent assay (ifa) and western blot (wb). after twelve months, the results obtained from ifa demonstrated that 50% were seropositive and two serological profiles were observed: the first one ranging from 1/40 to 1/80 and the second >/=1/160. by wb, it was observed that the same percentage and sera from positive dogs present ...201020798762
an insight into the sialome of blood-feeding nematocera.within the diptera and outside the suborder brachycera, the blood-feeding habit occurred at least twice, producing the present day sand flies, and the culicomorpha, including the mosquitoes (culicidae), black flies (simulidae), biting midges (ceratopogonidae) and frog feeding flies (corethrellidae). alternatives to this scenario are also discussed. successful blood-feeding requires adaptations to antagonize the vertebrate's mechanisms of blood clotting, platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, pa ...201020728537
pacap protects against tnfα-induced cell death in olfactory epithelium and olfactory placodal cell lines.in mouse olfactory epithelium (oe), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (pacap) protects against axotomy-induced apoptosis. we used mouse oe to determine whether pacap protects neurons during exposure to the inflammatory cytokine tnfα. live slices of neonatal mouse oe were treated with 40 ng/ml tnfα ± 40nm pacap for 6h and dying cells were live-labeled with 0.5% propidium iodide. tnfα significantly increased the percentage of dying cells while co-incubation with pacap prevented cell d ...201020654718
humoral immunological profile and parasitological statuses of leishmune vaccinated and visceral leishmaniasis infected dogs from an endemic area.dogs represent the major reservoir of leishmaniao chagasi and vaccination against the canine disease is a potential control strategy. however, seroconversion occurs post-vaccine and hence, there is need to discriminate between the former group and naturally infected dogs. the present study represents a comparison of the humoral immunological profiles of both groups using leishmania soluble antigen (lsa) and fucose-mannose ligand (fml). for both categories, ear skin samples were evaluated immunoh ...201020638182
invasion of mosquito salivary glands by malaria parasites: prerequisites and defense strategies.the interplay between vector and pathogen is essential for vector-borne disease transmission. dissecting the molecular basis of refractoriness of some vectors may pave the way to novel disease control mechanisms. a pathogen often needs to overcome several physical barriers, such as the peritrophic matrix, midgut epithelium and salivary glands. additionally, the arthropod vector elicites immune responses that can severely limit transmission success. one important step in the transmission of most ...201020621627
the biology and control of leishmaniasis vectors.vector control remains a key component of many anti-leishmaniasis programs and probably will remain so until an effective vaccine becomes available. technologies similar to those used for control of adult mosquitoes, specifically interior residual sprays and insecticide-treated nets, are currently at the forefront as disease control measures. this article provides a review of literature on the biology and control of sand fly vectors of leishmaniasis in the context of changing disease risks and t ...020606968
species delineation using bayesian model-based assignment tests: a case study using chinese toad-headed agamas (genus phrynocephalus).species are fundamental units in biology, yet much debate exists surrounding how we should delineate species in nature. species discovery now requires the use of separate, corroborating datasets to quantify independently evolving lineages and test species criteria. however, the complexity of the speciation process has ushered in a need to infuse studies with new tools capable of aiding in species delineation. we suggest that model-based assignment tests are one such tool. this method circumvents ...201020579368
leishmania infantum proteophosphoglycans regurgitated by the bite of its natural sand fly vector, lutzomyia longipalpis, promote parasite establishment in mouse skin and skin-distant tissues.we demonstrate that a proteophosphoglycan-rich gel secreted by leishmania infantum inside the midgut of lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies (promastigote secretory gel) is regurgitated along with an average dose of 500 l. infantum metacyclic promastigotes per infected bite. using both low (10³) and high (10⁵) doses of parasites in the ears of balb/c mice we show that the infections benefit from the presence of vector saliva and parasite gel in the skin. however, chronic infection of the spleen was ...201020561596
immunity to lutzomyia intermedia saliva modulates the inflammatory environment induced by leishmania braziliensis.during blood feeding, sand flies inject leishmania parasites in the presence of saliva. the types and functions of cells present at the first host-parasite contact are critical to the outcome on infection and sand fly saliva has been shown to play an important role in this setting. herein, we investigated the in vivo chemotactic effects of lutzomyia intermedia saliva, the vector of leishmania braziliensis, combined or not with the parasite.201020559550
trypsin-like serine proteases in lutzomyia longipalpis--expression, activity and possible modulation by leishmania infantum chagasi.midgut enzymatic activity is one of the obstacles that leishmania must surpass to succeed in establishing infection. trypsins are abundant digestive enzymes in most insects. we have previously described two trypsin cdnas of l. longipalpis: one (lltryp1) with a bloodmeal induced transcription pattern, the other (lltryp2) with a constitutive transcription pattern. we have now characterized the expression and activity of trypsin-like proteases of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral l ...201020502532
characterization of a leishmania stage-specific mitochondrial membrane protein that enhances the activity of cytochrome c oxidase and its role in virulence.leishmaniasis is caused by the dimorphic protozoan parasite leishmania. differentiation of the insect form, promastigotes, to the vertebrate form, amastigotes, and survival inside the vertebrate host accompanies a drastic metabolic shift. we describe a gene first identified in amastigotes that is essential for survival inside the host. gene expression analysis identified a 27 kda protein-encoding gene (ldp27) that was more abundantly expressed in amastigotes and metacyclic promastigotes than in ...201020497506
lovesongs and period gene polymorphisms indicate lutzomyia cruzi (mangabeira, 1938) as a sibling species of the lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz and neiva, 1912) complex.the sand fly lutzomyia cruzi (mangabeira, 1938) is implicated as a vector of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) in some areas of brazil. lutzomyia cruzi is closely related to lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. (lutz and neiva, 1912) the main latin american vector of avl and a species complex. although females of the two species are identical, the males can be distinguished by differences in the genitalia. nevertheless, pheromone analysis shows that lu. cruzi males produce 9-methyl-germacrene-b, which ...201020478408
natural leishmania infantum infection in migonemyia migonei (frança, 1920) (diptera:psychodidae:phlebotominae) the putative vector of visceral leishmaniasis in pernambuco state, brazil.a study of the natural infection of phlebotomine sand flies by leishmania (leishmania) infantum was conducted in an area of visceral leishmaniasis in são vicente férrer, located in the northern part of the atlantic rain forest region in the state of pernambuco, brazil. in a previous study, migonemyia migonei have been found predominantly in peridomiciles and houses in this endemic area. the analysis of m. migonei, collected by cdc light trap, by multiplex pcr assay coupled to non-isotopic hybrid ...201020457120
insight into the sialome of the bed bug, cimex lectularius.the evolution of insects to a blood diet leads to the development of a saliva that antagonizes their hosts' hemostasis and inflammation. hemostasis and inflammation are redundant processes, and thus a complex salivary potion composed of dozens or near 100 different polypeptides is commonly found by transcriptome or proteome analysis of these organisms. several insect orders or families evolved independently to hematophagy, creating unique salivary potions in the form of novel pharmacological use ...201020441151
heterogeneity of leishmania infantum chagasi kinetoplast dna in teresina (brazil).leishmania infantum chagasi is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (pcr-rflp) analysis of kinetoplast dna (kdna) minicircles was used to evaluate genetic profiles of 48 leishmania infantum chagasi strains from dog and human parasite cultures, fresh collected dog bone marrow aspirates, and from infected sand flies. results revealed that heterogeneity in kdna minicircles depends mostly on the source of the samp ...201020439961
measurement of recent exposure to phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of indian visceral leishmaniasis, by using human antibody responses to sand fly saliva.antibody (igg) responses to the saliva of phlebotomus argentipes were investigated using serum samples from regions of india endemic and non-endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (vl). by pre-adsorbing the sera against the saliva of the competing human-biting but non-vl vector p. papatasi, we significantly improved the specificity of a p. argentipes saliva enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. using this method, we observed a statistically significant correlation between antibodies to p. argenitpes sa ...201020439958
study of sand fly fauna in an endemic area of american cutaneous leishmaniasis and canine visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality of espírito santo do pinhal, são paulo, brazil.canine american visceral leishmaniasis and american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl) cases have been recorded in espírito santo do pinhal. the aim of this study was to gather knowledge of the sand fly community and its population ecology within the municipality. captures were made weekly over a period of 15 months in the urban, periurban and rural areas of the municipality, using automatic light traps. a total of 5,562 sand flies were collected, comprising 17 species. the most abundant species were ...201020428683
american visceral leishmaniasis dissociated from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera, psychodidae) in the state of espírito santo, brazil.the occurrence of american visceral leishmaniasis in the state of espírito santo, brazil has always been associated with the presence of the lutzomyia longipalpis vector. the geographic distribution of this vector in this state is related to the presence of specific geoclimatic characteristics, such as a dry climate, low elevations (< 450 m), steep slopes and rocky outcrops. the occurrence of human autochthonous cases of american visceral leishmaniasis in municipalities without these geoclimatic ...201020396851
monitoring of lutzomyia longipalpis lutz & neiva, 1912 in an area of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in rio grande do norte, northeast brazil.urban increase of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil is associated with the adaptation of its vector, lutzomyia longipalpis, to environments modified by humans. the present study reports the results of an entomological monitoring of l. longipalpis and the effect of environmental variables on its population density. sandflies were captured in the municipality of mossoró, state of rio grande do norte, northeastern brazil, from january 2005 to december 2006. two cdc light traps were placed month ...201020385058
[in vitro insecticidal activity of seed neem oil on lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae)].lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. the objective was to evaluate the effect of oil from (azadirachta indica) neem seeds on eggs, larvae and adults of the vector. the insects were captured in the field and kept in the laboratory at +/- 27 °c and 80% relative humidity. five treatments with different concentrations were performed using two negative controls (distilled water and tween 80) and a positive control. the eggs were sprayed with the oil at differe ...201620385053
discovery of markers of exposure specific to bites of lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of leishmania infantum chagasi in latin america.sand flies deliver leishmania parasites to a host alongside salivary molecules that affect infection outcomes. though some proteins are immunogenic and have potential as markers of vector exposure, their identity and vector specificity remain elusive.201020351786
using recombinant proteins from lutzomyia longipalpis saliva to estimate human vector exposure in visceral leishmaniasis endemic areas.leishmania is transmitted by female sand flies and deposited together with saliva, which contains a vast repertoire of pharmacologically active molecules that contribute to the establishment of the infection. the exposure to vector saliva induces an immune response against its components that can be used as a marker of exposure to the vector. performing large-scale serological studies to detect vector exposure has been limited by the difficulty in obtaining sand fly saliva. here, we validate the ...201020351785
identification of a tsetse fly salivary protein with dual inhibitory action on human platelet aggregation.tsetse flies (glossina sp.), the african trypanosome vectors, rely on anti-hemostatic compounds for efficient blood feeding. despite their medical importance, very few salivary proteins have been characterized and functionally annotated.201020351782
presence of the fire ant solenopsis invicta (westwood) (hymenoptera: formicidae) stimulates burrowing behavior by larvae of the sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva) (diptera: psychodidae).the sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva) vectors leishmaniasis in the neotropics. although much is known about the biology of adult flies, little is known about interactions with its natural enemies. here, we examined behavior of larvae of l4 l.longipalpis on a soil substrate when exposed to the fire ant solenopsis invicata (westwood). when ants were absent, most larvae tended to remain at or close to the soil surface, but when ants were present the larvae burrowed into the soil. sandfli ...201020305911
cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in dogs from a rural community in northeastern brazil.a community-based epidemiological study was carried out in a rural area in northeastern brazil, where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic, but the primary vector lutzomyia longipalpis has never been found. forty-one dogs were screened by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat) for the presence of anti-leishmania antibodies and 12 (29.3%) of them were positive. one of the ifat-positive dogs was also positive for leishmania amastigotes in bone marrow cytology and for leishmania infantum ...201020227186
synthetic sex pheromone attracts the leishmaniasis vector lutzomyia longipalpis to experimental chicken sheds treated with insecticide.abstract:201020222954
species-specific identification of leishmania in naturally infected sand flies captured in mato grosso do sul state, brazil.an increase in cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis cases has been reported in recent years in the state of mato grosso do sul, brazil, and little is known to date about their etiological agents. an investigation into natural leishmania infection of sand flies captured in this state between december 2003 and august 2004 was carried out. mini-exon sequences were used as targets to identify leishmania, and an rflp technique was employed for those identified as belonging to the viannia subgenus. ca ...201020219438
meeting the challenges of on-host and off-host water balance in blood-feeding arthropods.in this review, we describe water balance requirements of blood-feeding arthropods, particularly contrasting dehydration tolerance during the unfed, off-host state and the challenges of excess water that accompany receipt of the bloodmeal. most basic water balance characteristics during the off-host stage are applicable to other terrestrial arthropods, as well. a well-coordinated suite of responses enable arthropods to conserve water resources, enhance their desiccation tolerance, and increase t ...201020206630
chicken blood provides a suitable meal for the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis and does not inhibit leishmania development in the gut.abstract:201020205803
of cattle, sand flies and men: a systematic review of risk factor analyses for south asian visceral leishmaniasis and implications for elimination.studies performed over the past decade have identified fairly consistent epidemiological patterns of risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the indian subcontinent.201020161727
structural basis for the growth factor activity of human adenosine deaminase ada2.two distinct adenosine deaminases, ada1 and ada2, are found in humans. ada1 has an important role in lymphocyte function and inherited mutations in ada1 result in severe combined immunodeficiency. the recently isolated ada2 belongs to the novel family of adenosine deaminase growth factors (adgfs), which play an important role in tissue development. the crystal structures of ada2 and ada2 bound to a transition state analogue presented here reveal the structural basis of the catalytic/signaling ac ...201020147294
should reproductively isolated populations of lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato receive taxonomically valid names?a group of 18 research workers involved in different aspects of the biology of lutzomyia longipalpis discussed whether or not it is important to give taxonomically valid names to populations that have been defined by biological, biochemical and molecular methods to be reproductively isolated. the type material of this medically important species has been lost and because of this it was recommended that a colony should be established from insects captured in the region of the type area and that t ...200920140386
association of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) population density with climate variables in montes claros, an area of american visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the state of minas gerais, brazil.in the present paper, we evaluate the relationship between climate variables and population density of lutzomyia longipalpis in montes claros, an area of active transmission of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) in brazil. entomological captures were performed in 10 selected districts of the city, between september 2002-august 2003. a total of 773 specimens of l. longipalpiswere captured in the period and the population density could be associated with local climate variables (cumulative rain ...200920140384
the first report of the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in america, lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae), in the state of rio grande do sul, brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a widespread zoonosis in brazil and, up to now, there has been no record of the main vector of its agent, lutzomyia longipalpis, in the southern region. due to the diagnosis of vl in a dog in october 2008 in the city of são borja, in the southernmost brazilian state of rio grande do sul, a collection of phlebotomines was undertaken to detect the presence of the vector lu. longipalpis. the captures were carried out with cdc light traps on three consecutive nights in ...200920140381
control of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america-a systematic review.while three countries in south asia decided to eliminate anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis (vl) by 2015, its control in other regions seems fraught with difficulties. is there a scope for more effective vl control in the americas where transmission is zoonotic? we reviewed the evidence on vl control strategies in latin america-diagnosis, treatment, veterinary interventions, vector control-with respect to entomological and clinical outcomes.201020098726
lutzomyia longipalpis spatial distribution and association with environmental variables in an urban focus of visceral leishmaniasis, misiones, argentina.this study describes the spatial distribution pattern of lu. longipalpis abundance in posadas-garupá, argentina, where four cases of human visceral leishmaniasis had been recorded. a total of 2428 lu. longipalpis were captured in 42% of the 305 sites sampled with cdc light traps, its abundance shows spatial autocorrelation ranging up to 590 m (semivariogram model), with six downtown 'islands' of vector highest abundance (>or=60 individuals). a significant association between lu. longipalpis and ...201020096256
proteophosphoglycan confers resistance of leishmania major to midgut digestive enzymes induced by blood feeding in vector sand flies.leishmania synthesize abundant phosphoglycan-containing molecules made up of [gal-man-po(4)] repeating units, including the surface lipophosphoglycan (lpg), and the surface and secreted proteophosphoglycan (ppg). the vector competence of phlebotomus duboscqi and lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies was tested using l. major knockout mutants deficient in either total phosphoglycans (lpg2(-) or lpg5a(-)/5b(-)) or lpg alone (lpg1(-)) along with their respective gene add-back controls. our results confi ...201020088949
sequence and structural analysis of the chitinase insertion domain reveals two conserved motifs involved in chitin-binding.chitinases are prevalent in life and are found in species including archaea, bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. they break down chitin, which is the second most abundant carbohydrate in nature after cellulose. hence, they are important for maintaining a balance between carbon and nitrogen trapped as insoluble chitin in biomass. chitinases are classified into two families, 18 and 19 glycoside hydrolases. in addition to a catalytic domain, which is a triosephosphate isomerase barrel, many famil ...201020084296
leishmania major glycosylation mutants require phosphoglycans (lpg2-) but not lipophosphoglycan (lpg1-) for survival in permissive sand fly vectors.sand fly species able to support the survival of the protozoan parasite leishmania have been classified as permissive or specific, based upon their ability to support a wide or limited range of strains and/or species. studies of a limited number of fly/parasite species combinations have implicated parasite surface molecules in this process and here we provide further evidence in support of this proposal. we investigated the role of lipophosphoglycan (lpg) and other phosphoglycans (pgs) in sand f ...201020084096
[seroprevalence, clinical and biochemical data of dogs naturally infected by leishmania and phlebotominae sandfly fauna in an endemic area in são luis island, maranhão state, brazil].the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence, clinical and biochemical profile of leishmania chagasi infection in dogs naturally infected and identify the phlebotominae fauna in an endemic area of são luis island. in this present study, 62 household mongrel dogs were sampled for antibodies anti-leishmania. the seroprevalence was 51.61%. in the clinical evaluation, 36.68% dogs were symptomatic, 38.41% were oligosymptomatic and 26.13% were asymptomatic. the most frequent signs were on ...200820059848
[distribution of vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in the province of corrientes, 2008].visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a relevant parasitic disease in public health, produced by leishmania infantum chagasi. since the urbanization and emergence in southern brazil and paraguay, the vector lutzomyia longipalpis in formosa, 2004, and the first human visceral leishmaniasis case in misiones, 2006, have been reported in argentina. due to the reports of canine vl, a search of the vector in the province of corrientes, contiguous to misiones, was performed during december 2008. standarized t ...200920053601
platelet aggregation inhibitors from hematophagous animals.salivary glands from blood-sucking animals (e.g., mosquitoes, bugs, sand flies, fleas, ticks, leeches, hookworms, bats) are a rich source of bioactive molecules that counteract hemostasis in a redundant and synergistic manner. this review discusses recent progress in the identification of salivary inhibitors of platelet aggregation, their molecular characterization, and detailed mechanism of action. diversity of inhibitors is remarkable, with distinct families of proteins characterized as apyras ...200920035779
large-scale identification of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins from expressed sequence tags in insects.insect odorant binding proteins (obps) and chemosensory proteins (csps) play an important role in chemical communication of insects. gene discovery of these proteins is a time-consuming task. in recent years, expressed sequence tags (ests) of many insect species have accumulated, thus providing a useful resource for gene discovery.200920034407
inhibition of trypsin expression in lutzomyia longipalpis using rnai enhances the survival of leishmania.abstract:200920003192
[sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) in indigenous villages in the state of mato grosso].this study was conducted in 25 indigenous villages in 13 municipalities of the state of mato grosso. 4,424 specimens of 37 species of the genus lutzomyia and one species of the genus brumptomyia were identified. vectors for american tegumentary leishmaniasis and visceral leishmaniasis were abundantly captured, and these represented 28.7% (lutzomyia whitmani) and 23.6% (lutzomyia longipalpis), respectively.200919967248
visceral leishmaniasis in rio de janeiro, brazil: eco-epidemiological aspects and control.from 1977 (index case) to 2006, 87 cases of visceral leishmaniasis were confirmed in the municipality of rio de janeiro, brazil, in periurban areas on the continental and coastal slopes of the pedra branca massif and the continental slopes of the gericinó massif. the majority (65.5%) of the patients were more than five years old, predominantly males (61.5%), but without any difference between the sexes below the age of 14 years. the overall fatality rate was 10.4%. two cases of visceral leishman ...200919967242
epidemiological study on leishmaniasis in an area of environmental tourism and ecotourism, state of mato grosso do sul, 2006-2007.the aims of this study were to carry out a serological survey of canine leishmaniasis and identify the phlebotomine fauna in the urban area of bonito, mato grosso do sul. the serological survey was conducted on a sample of 303 dogs, by means of the indirect immunofluorescence test. phlebotomines were captured using automated light traps. the serological survey found that 30% of the dogs were seropositive, both from the center and from all districts of the town. a total of 2,772 specimens of phle ...200919967228
phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) of alagoas state, northeast of brazil.the phlebotomine sandflies of the state of alagoas are poorly known, with more than 40 years since the last report on sandflies in the state. in here, psathyromyia brasiliensis (costa lima), micropygomyia quinquefer (dyar,) and evandromyia termitophila (martins, falcão & silva) are registered for the first time in alagoas. this report increases to nine the number of species collected in the state, including lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva), migonemyia migonei (frança), nyssomyia whitmani (an ...200919943022
a repertoire of the dominant transcripts from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking bug, triatoma dimidiata, a vector of chagas disease.triatoma (t.) dimidiata is a hematophagous hemiptera and a main vector of chagas disease. the saliva of this and other blood-sucking insects contains potent pharmacologically active components that assist them in counteracting the host hemostatic and inflammatory systems during blood feeding. to describe the repertoire of potential bioactive salivary molecules from this insect, a number of randomly selected transcripts from the salivary gland cdna library of t. dimidiata were sequenced and analy ...200919900580
chemical composition of eucalyptus spp. essential oils and their insecticidal effects on lutzomyia longipalpis.the chemical composition of essential oils from three species of plants belonging to the eucalyptus genus was determined and, their insecticidal effects on egg, larva and adult phases of lutzomyia longipalpis were assessed. the insects were collected in the municipality of sobral in the state of ceará, brazil. five treatments with different concentrations were performed along with two negative controls, distilled water and tween 80 (3%), and a positive control, cypermethrin (0.196mg/ml). the tes ...201019896276
the effects of the fungus metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on different stages of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae).the control of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) vector is often based on the application of chemical residual insecticide. however, this strategy has not been effective. the continuing search for an appropriate vector control may include the use of biological control. this study evaluates the effects of the fungus metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on lutzomyia longipalpis. five concentrations of the fungus were utilized, 1 x 10(4) to 1 x 10(8) conidia/ml, accompanied by controls. the unhatched eggs ...201019883621
identification of the sex pheromone of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae) from asunción, paraguay.abstract: the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of leishmania (l.) infantum (nicolle), the causative agent of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) in the new world. male lu. longipalpis have secretory glands which produce sex pheromones in either abdominal tergites 4 or 3 and 4. these glands are sites of sex pheromone production and each pheromone type may represent true sibling species. in latin america, apart from lu. pseudolongipalpis arrivillaga and feliciangeli from venezue ...200919883505
molecular genomic approaches to infectious diseases in resource-limited settings. 200919855820
immunogenic salivary proteins of triatoma infestans: development of a recombinant antigen for the detection of low-level infestation of triatomines.triatomines are vectors of trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of chagas disease in latin america. the most effective vector, triatoma infestans, has been controlled successfully in much of latin america using insecticide spraying. though rarely undertaken, surveillance programs are necessary in order to identify new infestations and estimate the intensity of triatomine bug infestations in domestic and peridomestic habitats. since hosts exposed to triatomines develop immune responses to sal ...200919841746
visceral leishmaniasis in border areas: clustered distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in clorinda, argentina.three years after the first report of lutzomyia longipalpis in clorinda, argentina, a border city near asunción, paraguay, the city was surveyed again. lu. longipalpis was found clustered in the same neighbourhoods in 2007 as in 2004, even though the scattered distribution of canine visceral leishmaniasis was more related to the traffic of dogs through the border.200919820846
phlebotomine fauna (diptera: psychodidae) of an american cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in the state of mato grosso do sul, brazil.the occurrence of an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis associated with leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis in the municipality of bela vista, state of mato grosso do sul, brazil, and the absence of information on its vectors in this area led the authors to undertake captures of phlebotomine sand flies, using shannon traps and automatic cdc light traps, in domiciles, forested areas and animal shelters from february 2004-january 2006. a total of 808 specimens belonging to 18 sandfly species have ...200919820827
[allochthonous cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis in paraná, brazil: epidemiological implications].the south region is the only area in brazil that does not present autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis (vl), however, in the state of paraná, dogs and humans have been found showing a vl compatible clinical profile. in view of this problem, the present work aimed at isolating and identifying the parasite and determining the cases autochthony. all animals clinically suspect of vl were clinically evaluated, and had samples of their blood collected for hemoculture (nnn culture medium), ser ...200919772775
susceptibility to chemical insecticides of two brazilian populations of the visceral leishmaniasis vector lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae).to investigate the insecticide susceptibility of two geographically separated lutzomyia longipalpis populations (lapinha and montes claros) with different histories of insecticide exposure (i.e. no exposure and repeated exposure, respectively).200919772549
effect of fruit and leaves of meliaceae plants (azadirachta indica and melia azedarach) on the development of lutzomyia longipalpis larvae (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) under experimental conditions.this no-choice, laboratory study focuses on the feeding of dried, ground, homogeneous powdered, unprocessed fruit and leaves of azadirachta indica and melia azedarach to lutzomyia longipalpis larvae to determine the effects on their mortality and metamorphosis. a. indica and m. azedarach fruit and leaves significantly increased larval mortality in comparison to larvae fed the untreated, standard diet. a. indica fruit and leaves blocked the molting of the larvae to the fourth instar, resulting in ...200919769044
[two new populations of lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis arrivillaga & feliciangeli (diptera: phlebotominae) vector of visceral leishmaniasis in venezuela].two new populations of lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis arrivillaga & feliciangeli, species belonging to the lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva) complex, are reported in venezuela on diagnostic isoenzymes.200919768281
new means of canine leishmaniasis transmission in north america: the possibility of transmission to humans still unknown.at present it is not possible to determine in advance the outcome of leishmania infantum infection. canine visceral leishmaniasis (vl), caused by le. infantum, is a natural disease process which offers a insight into the interaction of the host and resultant disease outcome. canine vl results in the same altered pathophysiology and immunodysregulation seen in humans. vl in us dogs is likely to be transmitted primarily via nontraditional, nonvector means. vl mediated by le. infantum is endemic in ...200919753139
effects of salivary gland homogenate from wild-caught and laboratory-reared lutzomyia longipalpis on the evolution and immunomodulation of leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis infection.we investigated the effects of lutzomyia longipalpis salivary glands homogenate of wild-caught and laboratory-reared vectors on the lesion evolution and immunomodulation of the infection caused by leishmania (leishmania) amazonensis. to compare the effect of both salivary glands homogenate (sgh), c57bl/6 mice were inoculated subcutaneously into the hind footpads or into the ear dermis with 10(6) promastigotes in the presence or not of sgh from wild-caught and laboratory-colonized sand flies. com ...200919751274
the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 contributes to renal dysfunction in swine renovascular hypertension.renal artery stenosis (ras) causes renovascular hypertension and renal damage, which may result from tissue inflammation. we have previously shown that the kidney in ras exhibits increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein (mcp)-1, but its contribution to renal injury remained unknown. this study tested the hypothesis that mcp-1 contributes to renal injury and dysfunction in the stenotic kidney.200919730125
life cycle differences among brazilian sandflies of the lutzomyia longipalpis sibling species complex.the developmental cycles of five brazilian populations of the lutzomyia longipalpis lutz & neiva species complex (diptera: psychodidae) were compared under laboratory conditions. three of the populations were derived from insects collected in allopatric sites at natal (rio grande do norte state), jacobina (bahia state) and lapinha cave (minas gerais state). the other two originated from sobral (ceará state), where the males of two sympatric species can be distinguished by the presence of one (1s ...200919712160
a long-lasting topical deltamethrin treatment to protect dogs against visceral leishmaniasis.to develop long-lasting, topical pour-on insecticides for dogs to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis, two deltamethrin-based formulations (emulsifiable concentrate [ec] and suspension concentrate [sc]) were tested for their efficacy against the phlebotomine sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis lutz & neiva (diptera: psychodidae), vector of leishmania infantum nicolle (kinetoplastida: trypanosomatidae). the entomological outcomes tested were anti-feeding effect (proportion of female sandflies unfed ...200919712155
proteophosophoglycans regurgitated by leishmania-infected sand flies target the l-arginine metabolism of host macrophages to promote parasite survival.all natural leishmania infections start in the skin; however, little is known of the contribution made by the sand fly vector to the earliest events in mammalian infection, especially in inflamed skin that can rapidly kill invading parasites. during transmission sand flies regurgitate a proteophosphoglycan gel synthesized by the parasites inside the fly midgut, termed promastigote secretory gel (psg). regurgitated psg can exacerbate cutaneous leishmaniasis. here, we show that the amount of leish ...200919696894
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