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ecological interactions among phlebotomines (diptera: psychodidae) in an agroforestry environment of northeast brazil.phlebotomine vectors transmit parasites and can cause visceral leishmaniasis (vl) or cutaneous leishmaniasis (tl). phlebotomine females are hematophagous but need to ingest carbohydrates, possibly promoting the development of protozoan parasites in their digestive tract. the present study evaluated the species composition and abundance across several habitats in a metropolitan landscape, as well as associations among phlebotomines, plants, and local climatic parameters. three consecutive monthly ...201324581360
study of sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis areas in the central-western state of minas gerais, brazil.the transmission of leishmania involves several species of sand flies that are closely associated with various parasites and reservoirs, with differing transmission cycles in brazil. a study on the phlebotomine species composition has been conducted in the municipality of divinópolis, minas gerais, brazil, an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl), which has intense occurrence of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) cases. in order to study the sand flies populations and their seasonality, cdc lig ...201323178219
ecological and epidemiological aspects of the sand fly (diptera, psychodidae) fauna of the national monument of pontões capixabas, state of espírito santo, southeastern brazil.we evaluated the ecological and epidemiological aspects of the sand fly fauna in an area of the atlantic forest biome with records of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. sand fly collections at three different localities at the national monument of pontões capixabas, state of espírito santo, southeastern brazil, were conducted by using two centers of disease control and prevention automatic light traps in the peridomiciliary environment and eight centers of disease control and prevention autom ...201324843925
epidemiological aspects of american cutaneous leishmaniasis and phlebotomine sandfly population, in the municipality of monte negro, state of rondônia, brazil.this work was carried out on the purpose of identifying the species of phlebotomine sandflies in the municipality of monte negro, state of rondonia, brazil, that may have been transmitting the american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl), and concisely describe epidemiological aspects of disease.201323563827
first autochthonous case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in volta redonda, rio de janeiro, brazil.in brazil, american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) is caused by leishmania (leishmania) chagasi and its main vector is lutzomyia longipalpis. cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) in non-endemic areas have been reported over the last few years throughout the country. the objective of this research note is to describe an autochthonous case of cvl that occurred in the municipality of volta redonda, state of rio de janeiro, an area where the disease is not endemic, alerting veterinarians and t ...201324142177
asymptomatic dogs are highly competent to transmit leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi to the natural vector.we evaluated the ability of dogs naturally infected with leishmania (leishmania) infantum chagasi to transfer the parasite to the vector and the factors associated with transmission. thirty-eight infected dogs were confirmed to be infected by direct observation of leishmania in lymph node smears. dogs were grouped according to external clinical signs and laboratory data into symptomatic (n=24) and asymptomatic (n=14) animals. all dogs were sedated and submitted to xenodiagnosis with f1-laborator ...201323562649
behavioral aspects of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in urban area endemic for visceral leishmaniasis.the study of some of the behavioral aspects of the main vector of leishmania infantum chagasi cunha & chagas in the americas, lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva), such as dispersion, population size, and vector survival rates, is important for the elucidation of the mechanisms of visceral leishmaniasis transmission. these parameters were studied by means of capture-mark-release-recapture experiments in an urban area of campo grande municipality, an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis, situat ...201323540114
the role of surface glycoconjugates in leishmania midgut attachment examined by competitive binding assays and experimental development in sand flies.binding of promastigotes to the sand fly midgut epithelium is regarded as an essential part of the leishmania life cycle in the vector. among leishmania surface molecules putatively involved in attachment to the sand fly midgut, two gpi-anchored molecules are the most prominent: lipophosphoglycan (lpg) and promastigote surface protease gp63. in this work, we examined midgut attachment of leishmania lines mutated in gpi-anchored molecules and compared results from 2 different techniques: in vivo ...201323611086
the effect of temperature on leishmania (kinetoplastida: trypanosomatidae) development in sand flies.the spread of leishmaniasis to areas where it was previously considered nonendemic has been recently found in the new and old worlds, and climate changes are suspected as a crucial factor responsible for this spread. ambient temperature is known to significantly affect the metabolism of sand flies and their developmental times, but little is known about the effect of temperature on the leishmania life cycle in vectors. this study assesses the effect of temperature on the development of two close ...201324180098
cytokine and nitric oxide patterns in dogs immunized with lbsap vaccine, before and after experimental challenge with leishmania chagasi plus saliva of lutzomyia longipalpis.in the studies presented here, dogs were vaccinated against leishmania (leishmania) chagasi challenge infection using a preparation of leishmania braziliensis promastigote proteins and saponin as adjuvant (lbsap). vaccination with lbsap induced a prominent type 1 immune response that was characterized by increased levels of interleukin (il-) 12 and interferon gamma (ifn-γ) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pbmc) upon stimulation with soluble vaccine antigen. importantly, results ...201324129068
climatic factors and population density of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) in an urban endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis in midwest brazil.the life cycle of vectors and the reservoirs that participate in the chain of infectious diseases have a strong relationship with the environmental dynamics of the ecosystems in which they live. oscillations in population abundance and seasonality of insects can be explained by factors inherent in each region and time period. therefore, knowledge of the relationship and influence of environmental factors on the population of lutzomyia longipalpis is necessary because of the high incidence of vis ...201324581349
spatial dynamics of urban populations of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in caxias, state of maranhão, brazil.in this paper, we report the ecology of lutzomyia longipalpis in caxias city, located in the eastern part of state of maranhão, brazil and highlight its seasonal and geographical distribution by environment. in addition, we discuss natural leishmania infection and its relationship with visceral leishmaniasis.201324270246
the dispersion of lutzomyia longipalpis in urban areas. 201323856862
anomalies in the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in brazil.lutzomyia longipalpis is the main species involved in the epidemiological cycle of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. this species shows a wide geographic distribution and belongs to a group that has 2 setae in the paramere with the curved tips towards the apex of this structure among other characteristics. morphological characters in the genitalia of phlebotomines are essential for correct identification of species. the aim of this study was to report the finding of unilateral and bilateral anom ...201323687856
[visceral leishmaniasis in argentina. cases notification and distribution of vectors (2006-2012)].visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a notifiable disease in argentina. every new case diagnosed must be reported to the national health surveillance system. in the period 2006-2012, a total of 103 cases have been notified in four provinces: entre rios, santa fe, misiones and santiago del estero. misiones has the largest amount of cases: a total of 80, detected in 15 towns from may 2006 to july 2012. the highest incidence is observed in children (less than 15 years of age). in 2004 the vector lutzomyi ...201323570757
survey of sandfly fauna (diptera: psychodidae) in uberlândia, minas gerais state, brazil, 2003-2004.we analyzed the sandflies around houses and domestic animal shelters located in residences close to forests in localities on the banks of the araguari river, uberlândia, mg, from february 2003 to november 2004. the phlebotomines were captured in the peridomiciliary area, where shannon traps were utilized in the peridomicile and cdc traps in animal shelters. 2,783 specimens of sandflies were captured, 2,140 females (76.9%) and 643 males (23.1%), distributed between 17 species. the most abundant s ...201323563760
[discriminating concentrations for three insecticides used in public health in a lutzomyia longipalpis experimental strain from colombia].in colombia, periurban populations of lutzomyia longipalpis , vector of the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the upper and middle valley of the magdalena river, may be exposed to insecticide applications with different purposes. thus, it is important to begin a susceptibility surveillance of this species to insecticides.201425504252
effects of azadirachtin on the biology of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) adult female, the main vector of american visceral leishmaniasis.the effects of azadirachtin a added to the sucrose diet of the adult females on the mortality, oviposition, and hatching of the sand fly vector of american visceral leishmaniasis lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) were investigated. concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 microg/mg of azadirachtin significantly increased insect mortality in comparison with control insects. the same dose also significantly reduced oviposition but not hatching. after a long development period, significantly f ...201425118426
the characterization of the fat bodies and oenocytes in the adult females of the sand fly vectors lutzomyia longipalpis and phlebotomus papatasi.the fat body (fb) is responsible for the storage and synthesis of the majority of proteins and metabolites secreted into the hemolymph. oenocytes are responsible for lipid processing and detoxification. the fb is distributed throughout the insect body cavity and organized as peripheral and perivisceral portions in the abdomen, with trophocytes and oenocytes attached to the peripheral portion. here, we investigated the morphology and the subcellular changes in the peripheral and perivisceral fbs ...201424863740
orientation of colonized sand flies phlebotomus papatasi, p. duboscqi, and lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) to diverse honeys using a 3-chamber in-line olfactometer.a 3-chamber in-line olfactometer designed for use with sand flies is described and tested as a high-throughput method to screen honeys for attractiveness to phlebotomus papatasi (four geographic isolates), p. duboscqi (two geographic isolates), and lutzomyia longipalpis maintained in colonies at the walter reed army institute of research. a diversity of unifloral honey odors were evaluated as a proxy for the natural floral odors that sand flies may use in orientation to floral sugar sources in t ...201424820561
epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in jaciara, mato grosso, brazil, 2003 to 2012.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is caused by leishmania (l.) infantum chagasi in the americas. in brazil, it is transmitted by sandflies of the species lutzomyia longipalpis and l. cruzi, and dogs are the main domestic reservoirs. the aim of this study was to analyze data relating to vl transmission in jaciara, state of mato grosso, and discuss vector distribution, domestic reservoirs, and human cases that occurred between 2003 and 2012. the data for analysis were obtained from the notifiable diseas ...201424728362
[expansion of the distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae) in the department of caldas: increased risk of visceral leishmaniasis].diverse taxonomical and molecular studies suggest that lutzomyia longipalpis , main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america, is a complex of species widely distributed throughout the continent and adapted to different habitats.201424652141
predicted altitudinal shifts and reduced spatial distribution of leishmania infantum vector species under climate change scenarios in colombia.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is caused by the trypanosomatid parasite leishmania infantum (=leishmania chagasi), and is epidemiologically relevant due to its wide geographic distribution, the number of annual cases reported and the increase in its co-infection with hiv. two vector species have been incriminated in the americas: lutzomyia longipalpis and lutzomyia evansi. in colombia, l. longipalpis is distributed along the magdalena river valley while l. evansi is only found in the northern part ...201423988300
the first canine visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in campinas, state of são paulo southeastern brazil.early detection of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) outbreak in animals is crucial for controlling this disease in non-endemic areas.201425075492
molecular and parasitological detection of leishmania spp. in a dipteran of the species tabanus importunus.leishmaniasis is an important chronic zoonosis caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania spp. the major vectors of this protozoosis are sand flies, and lutzomyia longipalpis is considered the main species implicated in the transmission of american visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. the presence of the parasite's deoxyribonucleic acid (dna) in ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas has prompted speculations about the existence of new vectors in the cycle of leishmaniasis. the aim of this paper is ...201424473890
polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the detection and identification of sand fly gregarines in lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of visceral leishmaniasis.gregarines that parasitise phlebotomine sand flies belong to the genus psychodiella and, even though they are highly host-specific, only five species have been described to date. their most outstanding features include the unique localisation of the oocysts in the accessory glands of the female host, which ensures contamination of the egg surface during oviposition, and the fact that they naturally parasitise the vectors of leishmania, causal agent of leishmaniasis. the type species, ps. chagasi ...201424820560
phlebotomine fauna, natural infection rate and feeding habits of lutzomyia cruzi in jaciara, state of mato grosso, brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil is transmitted by the phlebotomine lutzomyia longipalpis and in some midwestern regions by lutzomyia cruzi. studies of the phlebotomine fauna, feeding habits and natural infection rate by leishmania contribute to increased understanding of the epidemiological chain of leishmaniases and their vectorial capacity. collections were performed in jaciara, state of mato grosso from 2010-2013, during which time 2,011 phlebotomines (23 species) were captured (68.70% ...201425338156
epidemiological survey of lutzomyia longipalpis infected by leishmania infantum in an endemic area of brazil.the objective of this study was to perform an epidemiological survey to determine the areas at risk of visceral leishmaniasis through the detection and quantification of natural infection by leishmania infantum in lutzomyia longipalpis. the sandflies were captured between february 2009 and january 2010, at 21 sites in four regions of the fortaleza municipality. samples were screened for the presence of leishmania dna by real time pcr (qpcr), amplification of kdna minicircle sequence. out of the ...201424728361
spatial and seasonal distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in dracena, a city in the western region of the state of são paulo, brazil, that is endemic with visceral leishmaniasis.vector seasonality knowledge is important for monitoring and controlling of vector-borne diseases. lutzomyia longipalpis (lu. longipalpis) is the main vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum nicolle, 1908, which is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in the americas.201424474011
comparison of two commercial vaccines against visceral leishmaniasis in dogs from endemic areas: igg, and subclasses, parasitism, and parasite transmission by xenodiagnosis.the incidence of zoonotic canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) would decrease if dogs were effectively vaccinated; however, additional data on the efficacy of canine vaccines are required for their approved preventative use.201424406392
detection of leishmania infantum in lutzomyia longipalpis captured in campo grande, ms.leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania (ross, 1903) and is the focus of considerable attention in human and veterinary medicine. in the city of campo grande, ms, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis is leishmania infantum (= l. chagasi) primary vector, comprising approximately 92.9% of the local sandfly population, is lutzomyia longipalpis. the aim of this work was to compare real-time pcr with pcr as a tool for the detection of the kinetoplast dn ...201425054512
lundep, a sand fly salivary endonuclease increases leishmania parasite survival in neutrophils and inhibits xiia contact activation in human plasma.neutrophils are the host's first line of defense against infections, and their extracellular traps (net) were recently shown to kill leishmania parasites. here we report a net-destroying molecule (lundep) from the salivary glands of lutzomyia longipalpis. previous analysis of the sialotranscriptome of lu. longipalpis showed the potential presence of an endonuclease. indeed, not only was the cloned cdna (lundep) shown to encode a highly active ss- and dsdnase, but also the same activity was demon ...201424516388
vaccines for canine leishmaniasis.leishmania infantum is the obligatory intracellular parasite of mammalian macrophages and causes zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (zvl). the presence of infected dogs as the main reservoir host of zvl is regarded as the most important potential risk for human infection. thus the prevention of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is essential to stop the current increase of the mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis. recently considerable advances in achieving protective immunization of dogs and seve ...201425628897
prostaglandin e2/leukotriene b4 balance induced by lutzomyia longipalpis saliva favors leishmania infantum infection.eicosanoids and sand fly saliva have a critical role in the leishmania infection. here, we evaluated the effect of lutzomyia longipalpis salivary gland sonicate (sgs) on neutrophil and monocyte recruitment and activation of eicosanoid production in a murine model of inflammation.201425526785
the nuclear receptor genes hr3 and e75 are required for the circadian rhythm in a primitive insect.insect circadian rhythms are generated by a circadian clock consisting of transcriptional/translational feedback loops, in which cycle and clock are the key elements in activating the transcription of various clock genes such as timeless (tim) and period (per). although the transcriptional regulation of clock (clk) has been profoundly studied, little is known about the regulation of cycle (cyc). here, we identify the orphan nuclear receptor genes hr3 and e75, which are orthologs of mammalian clo ...201425502221
do size and insecticide treatment matter? evaluation of different nets against phlebotomus argentipes, the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in nepal.in the indian subcontinent, leishmania donovani, the parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is transmitted by the sand fly vector phlebotomus argentipes. long lasting insecticide treated nets (ln) have been postulated as alternative or complement to indoor residual spraying but there are few field studies evaluating the entomological efficacy of different nets against this vector. we conducted two crossover trials in a vl endemic area in nepal to compare the barrier effect of (1) ln with d ...201425494099
effects of nutritional components on aging.nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals regulate various physiological processes and are essential for the survival of organisms. reduced overall caloric intake delays aging in various organisms. however, the role of each nutritional component in the regulation of lifespan is not well established. in this review, we describe recent studies focused on the regulatory role of each type of nutrient in aging. moreover, we will discuss how the amount or composition ...201425339542
ige anti-ljm11 sand fly salivary antigen may herald the onset of fogo selvagem in endemic brazilian regions. 201425285921
expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in macrophages inversely correlates with parasitism of lymphoid tissues in dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.there are only a few studies reporting the role of nitric oxide metabolites for controlling macrophage intracellular parasitism, and these are controversial. therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos) in the lymph nodes and spleen of dogs affected by visceral leishmaniasis through immunohistochemistry and to determine its correlation with tissue parasite burden and serum interferon (ifn)-γ levels. twenty-eight dogs were selected and as ...201425195062
a potential link among antioxidant enzymes, histopathology and trace elements in canine visceral leishmaniasis.canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a severe and fatal systemic chronic inflammatory disease. we investigated the alterations in, and potential associations among, antioxidant enzymes, trace elements and histopathology in cvl. blood and tissue levels of cu-zn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in mixed-breed dogs naturally infected with leishmania infantum chagasi, symptomatic (n = 19) and asymptomatic (n = 11). serum levels of copper, iron, zinc, selenium ...201424766461
synthetic sex pheromone in a long-lasting lure attracts the visceral leishmaniasis vector, lutzomyia longipalpis, for up to 12 weeks in brazil.current control methodologies have not prevented the spread of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) across brazil. here, we describe the development of a new tool for controlling the sand fly vector of the disease: a long-lasting lure, which releases a synthetic male sex pheromone, attractive to both sexes of lutzomyia longipalpis. this device could be used to improve the effectiveness of residual insecticide spraying as a means of sand fly control, attracting l. longipalpis to insecticide-treated animal ...201424651528
female preference and predation risk models can explain the maintenance of a fallow deer (dama dama) lek and its 'handy' location.we tested the predictions of three models (female preference; hotspot; predator avoidance) on lek formation in the fallow deer population of san rossore, tuscany. we collected behavioural observations in two leks and radiotracking data on 67 deer over 7 years. two deer sub-populations were present in the northern and southern sides of the area, respectively, the two sectors being delimited by a river and including one lek each. predictions were tested for one lek (sg), located in the south-side ...201424599036
evaluation of canine and feline leishmaniasis by the association of blood culture, immunofluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction.this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of leishmania spp. in dogs and cats from botucatu, são paulo state, and campo grande, mato grosso do sul state, brazil, by the association of three diagnostic tests: blood culture in liver infusion tryptose medium, immunofluorescent antibody test and polymerase chain reaction. fifty blood samples of dogs and cats from the center for zoonosis control in campo grande, an area endemic for canine visceral leishmaniasis, were collected randomly, as well as ...201424565284
lbsapsal-vaccinated dogs exhibit increased circulating t-lymphocyte subsets (cd4⁺ and cd8⁺) as well as a reduction of parasitism after challenge with leishmania infantum plus salivary gland of lutzomyia longipalpis.the development of a protective vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is an alternative approach for interrupting the domestic cycle of leishmania infantum. given the importance of sand fly salivary proteins as potent immunogens obligatorily co-deposited during transmission of leishmania parasites, their inclusion in an anti-leishmania vaccine has been investigated in the last few decades. in this context, we previously immunized dogs with a vaccine composed of l. braziliensis anti ...201424507702
heterogeneities in leishmania infantum infection: using skin parasite burdens to identify highly infectious dogs.the relationships between heterogeneities in host infection and infectiousness (transmission to arthropod vectors) can provide important insights for disease management. here, we quantify heterogeneities in leishmania infantum parasite numbers in reservoir and non-reservoir host populations, and relate this to their infectiousness during natural infection. tissue parasite number was evaluated as a potential surrogate marker of host transmission potential.201424416460
a listeria monocytogenes-based vaccine that secretes sand fly salivary protein ljm11 confers long-term protection against vector-transmitted leishmania major.cutaneous leishmaniasis is a sand fly-transmitted disease characterized by skin ulcers that carry significant scarring and social stigmatization. over the past years, there has been cumulative evidence that immunity to specific sand fly salivary proteins confers a significant level of protection against leishmaniasis. in this study, we used an attenuated strain of listeria monocytogenes as a vaccine expression system for ljm11, a sand fly salivary protein identified as a good vaccine candidate. ...201424733091
humoral responses in rhodnius prolixus: bacterial feeding induces differential patterns of antibacterial activity and enhances mrna levels of antimicrobial peptides in the midgut.the triatomine, rhodnius prolixus, is a major vector of trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of chagas disease in latin america. it has a strictly blood-sucking habit in all life stages, ingesting large amounts of blood from vertebrate hosts from which it can acquire pathogenic microorganisms. in this context, the production of antimicrobial peptides (amps) in the midgut of the insect is vital to control possible infection, and to maintain the microbiota already present in the digestive tract.201424885969
purification and characterization of midgut α-amylase in a predatory bug, andralus spinidens.α-amylases are widespread enzymes that catalyze endohydrolysis of long α-1,4-glucan chains such as starch and glycogen. the highest amylolytic activity was found in 5th instar nymphs and midgut of the predatory bug, andrallus spinidens f. (hemiptera: pentatomidae). the α-amylase was purified following a three-step procedure. the purified α-amylase had a specific activity of 13.46 u/mg protein, recovery of 4.21, purification fold of 13.87, and molecular weight of 21.3 kda. the enzyme had optimal ...201425373212
identification of blood meal sources of lutzomyia longipalpis using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the cytochrome b gene.an analysis of the dietary content of haematophagous insects can provide important information about the transmission networks of certain zoonoses. the present study evaluated the potential of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (pcr-rflp) analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene to differentiate between vertebrate species that were identified as possible sources of sandfly meals. the complete cytb gene sequences of 11 vertebrate species available in ...201424821056
epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis.leishmania species are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. these parasitic protozoans are usually transmitted between vertebrate hosts by the bite of blood sucking female phlebotomine sand flies. this review focuses on the two parasites causing most human visceral leishmaniasis (vl), which leads to substantial health problems or death for up to 400,000 people per year. except for travel cases, leishmania donovani infections are restricted to the (sub-)tropics of ...201424833919
wild and synanthropic reservoirs of leishmania species in the americas.the definition of a reservoir has changed significantly in the last century, making it necessary to study zoonosis from a broader perspective. one important example is that of leishmania, zoonotic multi-host parasites maintained by several mammal species in nature. the magnitude of the health problem represented by leishmaniasis combined with the complexity of its epidemiology make it necessary to clarify all of the links in transmission net, including non-human mammalian hosts, to develop effec ...201425426421
visceral leishmaniasis: advancements in vaccine development via classical and molecular approaches.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) or kala-azar, a vector-borne protozoan disease, shows endemicity in larger areas of the tropical, subtropical and the mediterranean countries. who report suggested that an annual incidence of vl is nearly 200,000 to 400,000 cases, resulting in 20,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. treatment with available anti-leishmanial drugs are not cost effective, with varied efficacies and higher relapse rate, which poses a major challenge to current kala-azar control program in indi ...201425202307
vector saliva in vaccines for visceral leishmaniasis: a brief encounter of high consequence?visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a vector-borne disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and remains the most serious form of the disease with no available human vaccine. repeatedly, studies have demonstrated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a number of sand fly salivary proteins against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. all leishmania species including agents of vl are co-deposited into the skin together with vector saliva. generally, the immune response to a protective sal ...201425152872
colonisation resistance in the sand fly gut: leishmania protects lutzomyia longipalpis from bacterial infection.phlebotomine sand flies transmit the haemoflagellate leishmania, the causative agent of human leishmaniasis. the leishmania promastigotes are confined to the gut lumen and are exposed to the gut microbiota within female sand flies. here we study the colonisation resistance of yeast and bacteria in preventing the establishment of a leishmania population in sand flies and the ability of leishmania to provide colonisation resistance towards the insect bacterial pathogen serratia marcescens that is ...201425051919
cross-species genetic exchange between visceral and cutaneous strains of leishmania in the sand fly vector.genetic exchange between leishmania major strains during their development in the sand fly vector has been experimentally shown. to investigate the possibility of genetic exchange between different leishmania species, a cutaneous strain of l. major and a visceral strain of leishmania infantum, each bearing a different drug-resistant marker, were used to coinfect lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. eleven double-drug-resistant progeny clones, each the product of an independent mating event, were ge ...201425385616
anopheles darlingi (diptera: culicidae) displays increased attractiveness to infected individuals with plasmodium vivax gametocytes.most hematophagous insects use host odours as chemical cues. the odour components, some physiological parameters and host attractiveness are affected by several conditions, including infection by parasites, e.g., plasmodia and, therefore, change the epidemiological scenario. this study evaluated the attractiveness of individuals with vivax malaria before, during (7 days) and after treatment (14 days) with specific antimalarial drugs.201424885914
the α1,6-fucosyltransferase gene (fut8) from the sf9 lepidopteran insect cell line: insights into fut8 evolution.the core alpha1,6-fucosyltransferase (fut8) catalyzes the transfer of a fucosyl moiety from gdp-fucose to the innermost asparagine-linked n-acetylglucosamine residue of glycoproteins. in mammals, this glycosylation has an important function in many fundamental biological processes and although no essential role has been demonstrated yet in all animals, fut8 amino acid (aa) sequence and fut8 activity are very well conserved throughout the animal kingdom. we have cloned the cdna and the complete g ...201425333276
canine visceral leishmaniasis in an urban setting of southeastern brazil: an ecological study involving spatial analysis.the physical characteristics of the environment influence the composition, distribution and behavior of the vectors and mammalian hosts involved in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (vl), thereby affecting the epidemiology of the disease. in brazil, urbanization of human vl is a recent phenomenon and represents an issue of particular concern to local health authorities. the present study aimed to establish the degree of spatial dependency between canine and human vl in the municipality ...201425326767
characterization of guinea pig antibody responses to salivary proteins of triatoma infestans for the development of a triatomine exposure marker.salivary proteins of triatoma infestans elicit humoral immune responses in their vertebrate hosts. these immune responses indicate exposure to triatomines and thus can be a useful epidemiological tool to estimate triatomine infestation. in the present study, we analyzed antibody responses of guinea pigs to salivary antigens of different developmental stages of four t. infestans strains originating from domestic and/or peridomestic habitats in argentina, bolivia, chile and peru. we aimed to ident ...201424699441
effects of insemination and blood-feeding on locomotor activity of aedes albopictus and aedes aegypti (diptera: culicidae) females under laboratory conditions.dengue is an arbovirus disease transmitted by two aedes mosquitoes: ae. aegypti and ae. albopictus. virgin females of these two species generally show a bimodal and diurnal pattern of activity, with early morning and late afternoon peaks. although some studies on the flight activity of virgin, inseminated and blood-fed ae. aegypti females have been carried out under laboratory conditions, little is known about the effects of such physiological states on the locomotor activity of ae. albopictus a ...201424990394
traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of bixa orellana l.: a review.bixa orellana l., popularly known as "urucum," has been used by indigenous communities in brazil and other tropical countries for several biological applications, which indicates its potential use as an active ingredient in pharmaceutical products. the aim of this work was to report the main evidence found in the literature, concerning the ethnopharmacology, the biological activity, and the phytochemistry studies related to bixa orellana l. therefore, this work comprises a systematic review abou ...201425050404
isolation and molecular characterization of a major hemolymph serpin from the triatomine, panstrongylus megistus.chagas disease kills 2.5 thousand people per year of 15 million persons infected in latin america. the disease is caused by the protozoan, trypanosome cruzi, and vectored by triatomine insects, including panstrongylus megistus, an important vector in brazil. medicines treating chagas disease have unpleasant side effects and may be ineffective, therefore, alternative control techniques are required. knowledge of the t. cruzi interactions with the triatomine host needs extending and new targets/st ...201424423259
ecological aspects of the phlebotominae fauna (diptera: psychodidae) in the xakriabá indigenous reserve, brazil.sand fly collections were performed to study ecological aspects of the phlebotominae fauna of the xakriabá indigenous reserve, an area with endemic cutaneous leishmaniasis, located in the state of minas gerais, brazil.201424886717
catalogue of the type material of phlebotominae (diptera, psychodidae) deposited in the instituto evandro chagas, brazil.the available type material of phlebotominae (diptera, psychodidae) deposited in the "coleção de flebotomíneos" of the instituto evandro chagas (colfleb iec) is now presented in an annotated catalogue comprising a total of 121 type specimens belonging to 12 species as follow: nyssomyia richardwardi (2 female paratypes), nyssomyia shawi (9 male and 25 female paratypes), nyssomyia umbratilis (female holotype and 1 female paratype), nyssomyia yuilli yuilli (1 male and 1 female paratypes), pintomyia ...201424715786
phlebotomine fauna, natural infection rate and feeding habits of lutzomyia cruzi in jaciara, state of mato grosso, brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil is transmitted by the phlebotomine lutzomyia longipalpis and in some midwestern regions by lutzomyia cruzi. studies of the phlebotomine fauna, feeding habits and natural infection rate by leishmania contribute to increased understanding of the epidemiological chain of leishmaniases and their vectorial capacity. collections were performed in jaciara, state of mato grosso from 2010-2013, during which time 2,011 phlebotomines (23 species) were captured (68.70% ...201425410993
differential roles of an anopheline midgut gpi-anchored protein in mediating plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax ookinete invasion.novel strategies to directly thwart malaria transmission are needed to maintain the gains achieved by current control measures. transmission-blocking interventions (tbis), namely vaccines and drugs targeting parasite or mosquito molecules required for vector-stage parasite development, have been recognized as promising approaches for preventing malaria transmission. however, the number of tbi targets is limited and their degree of conservation among the major vector-parasite systems causing huma ...201424929123
sex and rhythms in sandflies and mosquitoes: an appreciation of the work of alexandre afranio peixoto (1963-2013).i will briefly discuss the work of alexandre a. peixoto on sandflies and mosquitoes, focusing initially on his contributions to the population biology and phylogenetics of brazilian populations of these important hematophagous insects. i shall also review some of his work on the underlying molecular clocks that mediate rhythmic behaviour and physiology in these species.201425046172
spatial distribution and environmental factors associated to phlebotomine fauna in a border area of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in mato grosso do sul, brazil.mato grosso do sul has been undergoing a process of urbanization which results in loss of native vegetation. this withdrawal makes vectors of man and domestic animals closer, causing changes in the epidemiology of diseases such as american visceral leishmaniasis. the aim of the study was to evaluate the phlebotomine fauna and environmental issues related to the transmission of avl in ponta porã, mato grosso do sul, between 2009 and 2010.201424898032
stingray: system for integrated genomic resources and analysis.the stingray system has been conceived to ease the tasks of integrating, analyzing, annotating and presenting genomic and expression data from sanger and next generation sequencing (ngs) platforms.201424606808
vectorbase: an updated bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vectors and other organisms related with human diseases.vectorbase is a national institute of allergy and infectious diseases supported bioinformatics resource center (brc) for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens. now in its 11th year, vectorbase currently hosts the genomes of 35 organisms including a number of non-vectors for comparative analysis. hosted data range from genome assemblies with annotated gene features, transcript and protein expression data to population genetics including variation and insecticide-resistance phenotypes. here we d ...201425510499
what's behind a sand fly bite? the profound effect of sand fly saliva on host hemostasis, inflammation and immunity.sand flies are blood-feeding insects and vectors of the leishmania parasite. for many years, saliva of these insects has represented a gold mine for the discovery of molecules with anti-hemostatic and immuno-modulatory activities. furthermore, proteins in sand fly saliva have been shown to be a potential vaccine against leishmaniasis and also markers of vector exposure. a bottleneck to progress in these areas of research has been the identification of molecules responsible for the observed activ ...201425117872
characterization of the early inflammatory infiltrate at the feeding site of infected sand flies in mice protected from vector-transmitted leishmania major by exposure to uninfected bites.mice exposed to sand fly saliva are protected against vector-transmitted leishmania major. although protection has been related to ifn-γ producing t cells, the early inflammatory response orchestrating this outcome has not been defined.201424762408
an investigation into the protein composition of the teneral glossina morsitans morsitans peritrophic matrix.tsetse flies serve as biological vectors for several species of african trypanosomes. in order to survive, proliferate and establish a midgut infection, trypanosomes must cross the tsetse fly peritrophic matrix (pm), which is an acellular gut lining surrounding the blood meal. crossing of this multi-layered structure occurs at least twice during parasite migration and development, but the mechanism of how trypanosomes do so is not understood. in order to better comprehend the molecular events su ...201424763256
the contribution of the genomes of a termite and a locust to our understanding of insect neuropeptides and neurohormones.the genomes of the migratory locust locusta migratoria and the termite zootermopsis nevadensis were mined for the presence of genes encoding neuropeptides, neurohormones, and their g-protein coupled receptors (gpcrs). both species have retained a larger number of neuropeptide and neuropeptide gpcrs than the better known holometabolous insect species, while other genes that in holometabolous species appear to have a single transcript produce two different precursors in the locust, the termite or ...201425477824
ipathcons and ipathdb: an improved insect pathway construction tool and the database.insects are one of the most successful animal groups on earth. some insects, such as the silkworm and honeybee, are beneficial to humans, whereas others are notorious pests of crops. at present, the genomes of 38 insects have been sequenced and made publically available. in addition, the transcriptomes of dozens of insects have been sequenced. as gene data rapidly accumulate, constructing the pathway of molecular interactions becomes increasingly important for entomological research. here, we de ...201425388589
host modulation by a parasite: how leishmania infantum modifies the intestinal environment of lutzomyia longipalpis to favor its development.some reports have described the interference of leishmania on sand flies physiology, and such behavior most likely evolved to favor the development and transmission of the parasite. most of these studies showed that leishmania could modulate the level of proteases in the midgut after an infective blood meal, and decreased proteolytic activity is indeed beneficial for the development of promastigotes in the gut of sand flies. in the present study, we performed a detailed investigation of the inte ...201425365351
evidence for a lectin specific for sulfated glycans in the salivary gland of the malaria vector, anopheles gambiae.salivary gland homogenate (sgh) from the female mosquitoes anopheles gambiae, an. stephensi, an. freeborni, an. dirus and an. albimanus were found to exhibit hemagglutinating (lectin) activity. lectin activity was not found for male an. gambiae, or female ae aegypti, culex quinquefasciatus, phlebotomus duboscqi, and lutzomyia longipalpis. with respect to species-specificity, an. gambiae sgh agglutinates red blood cells (rbc) from humans, horse, sheep, goat, pig, and cow; it is less active for ra ...201425207644
first detection of leishmania tropica dna and trypanosoma species in sergentomyia sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) from an outbreak area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in ghana.leishmania major and an uncharacterized species have been reported from human patients in a cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) outbreak area in ghana. reports from the area indicate the presence of anthropophilic sergentomyia species that were found with leishmania dna.201424516676
mucocutaneous leishmaniasis/hiv coinfection presented as a diffuse desquamative rash.leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that is endemic in tropical areas and in the mediterranean. this condition spreads to 98 countries in four continents, surpassing 12 million infected individuals, with 350 million people at risk of infection. this disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes, caused by protozoa of the genus leishmania, with various animal reservoirs, such as rodents, dogs, wolves, foxes, and even humans. transmission occurs through a vector, a sandfly o ...201425548691
a laboratory evaluation of alcohols as attractants for the sandfly lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera:psychodidae).the potential attraction from 1-octen-3-ol for sandflies has been documented; however, studies using other primary alcohols are limited.201424502386
repeated exposure to lutzomyia intermedia sand fly saliva induces local expression of interferon-inducible genes both at the site of injection in mice and in human blood.during a blood meal, lutzomyia intermedia sand flies transmit leishmania braziliensis, a parasite causing tegumentary leishmaniasis. in experimental leishmaniasis, pre-exposure to saliva of most blood-feeding sand flies results in parasite establishment in absence of any skin damages in mice challenged with dermotropic leishmania species together with saliva. in contrast, pre-immunization with lu. intermedia salivary gland sonicate (sgs) results in enhanced skin inflammatory exacerbation upon co ...201424421912
morphological changes in the bone marrow of the dogs with visceral leishmaniasis.the aim of this study was to evaluate the most frequent lesions in the bone marrow of dogs naturally infected by leishmania (leishmania) chagasi. thirty-three dogs sacrificed at the zoonosis control center of araçatuba, a municipality endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (vl), were used. the animals were classified as asymptomatic, oligosymptomatic, and symptomatic groups. at the necropsy, bone marrow samples were collected from the femur, fixed, processed, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. ...201424744957
spatiotemporal analysis of sandfly fauna (diptera: psychodidae) in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis at pantanal, central south america.environmental changes caused by urbanization can cause alterations in the ecology and behavior of sandflies and in the epidemiology of leishmaniasis. geotechnological tools allow the analysis and recognition of spatiotemporal patterns by monitoring and mapping risk areas of this vector-borne disease. this study aims to describe the sandfly fauna in the municipality of corumbá and to compare it with the data described in a three-year period from 1984 to 1986 by galati. a further aim was to analyz ...201425128480
a comparison of molecular markers to detect lutzomyia longipalpis naturally infected with leishmania (leishmania) infantum.the aim of the present study was to detect natural infection by leishmania (leishmania) infantum in lutzomyia longipalpis captured in barcarena, state of pará, brazil, through the use of three primer sets. with this approach, it is unnecessary to previously dissect the sandfly specimens. dna of 280 lu. longipalpis female specimens were extracted from the whole insects. pcr primers for kinetoplast minicircle dna (kdna), the mini-exon gene and the small subunit ribosomal rna (ssu-rrna) gene of lei ...201425004147
dogs, cats, parasites, and humans in brazil: opening the black box.dogs and cats in brazil serve as primary hosts for a considerable number of parasites, which may affect their health and wellbeing. these may include endoparasites (e.g., protozoa, cestodes, trematodes, and nematodes) and ectoparasites (i.e., fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). while some dog and cat parasites are highly host-specific (e.g., aelurostrongylus abstrusus and felicola subrostratus for cats, and angiostrongylus vasorum and trichodectes canis for dogs), others may easily switch to other h ...201424423244
transcriptional activation of antioxidants may compensate for selenoprotein deficiencies in amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae) injected with selk- or selm-dsrna.the gulf-coast tick, amblyomma maculatum, possesses an elaborate set of selenoproteins, which prevent the deleterious effects from oxidative stress that would otherwise occur during feeding. in the current work, we examined the role of selenoprotein k (selk) and selenoprotein m (selm) in feeding a. maculatum by bioinformatics, transcriptional gene expression, rna interference and antioxidant assays. the transcriptional expression of selk did not vary significantly in salivary glands or midguts t ...201424698418
diagnostic metagenomics: potential applications to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections.the term 'shotgun metagenomics' is applied to the direct sequencing of dna extracted from a sample without culture or target-specific amplification or capture. in diagnostic metagenomics, this approach is applied to clinical samples in the hope of detecting and characterizing pathogens. here, i provide a conceptual overview, before reviewing several recent promising proof-of-principle applications of metagenomics in virus discovery, analysis of outbreaks and detection of pathogens in contemporar ...201424576467
chemical analysis of the abdominal glands of two forms of lutzomyia longipalpis: site of a possible sex pheromone? 20144096569
rapid and sensitive detection of bartonella bacilliformis in experimentally infected sand flies by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (lamp) of the pap31 gene.carrion' disease, caused by bartonella bacilliformis, remains truly neglected due to its focal geographical nature. a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, including asymptomatic bacteremia, and lack of a sensitive diagnostic test can potentially lead to a spread of the disease into non-endemic regions where competent sand fly vectors may be present. a reliable test capable of detecting b. bacilliformis is urgently needed. our objective is to develop a loop-mediated isothermal amplification ...201425522230
multiorganismal insects: diversity and function of resident microorganisms.all insects are colonized by microorganisms on the insect exoskeleton, in the gut and hemocoel, and within insect cells. the insect microbiota is generally different from microorganisms in the external environment, including ingested food. specifically, certain microbial taxa are favored by the conditions and resources in the insect habitat, by their tolerance of insect immunity, and by specific mechanisms for their transmission. the resident microorganisms can promote insect fitness by contribu ...201425341109
discovery and evolution of bunyavirids in arctic phantom midges and ancient bunyavirid-like sequences in insect genomes.bunyaviridae is a large family of rna viruses chiefly comprised of vertebrate and plant pathogens. we discovered novel bunyavirids that are approximately equally divergent from each of the five known genera. we characterized novel genome sequences for two bunyavirids, namely, kigluaik phantom virus (kigv), from tundra-native phantom midges (chaoborus), and nome phantom virus (nomv), from tundra-invading phantom midges, and demonstrated that these bunyavirid-like sequences belong to an infectious ...201424850747
dna barcoding for the identification of sand fly species (diptera, psychodidae, phlebotominae) in colombia.sand flies include a group of insects that are of medical importance and that vary in geographic distribution, ecology, and pathogen transmission. approximately 163 species of sand flies have been reported in colombia. surveillance of the presence of sand fly species and the actualization of species distribution are important for predicting risks for and monitoring the expansion of diseases which sand flies can transmit. currently, the identification of phlebotomine sand flies is based on morpho ...201424454877
meta-analysis of the effects of insect vector saliva on host immune responses and infection of vector-transmitted pathogens: a focus on leishmaniasis.a meta-analysis of the effects of vector saliva on the immune response and progression of vector-transmitted disease, specifically with regard to pathology, infection level, and host cytokine levels was conducted. infection in the absence or presence of saliva in naïve mice was compared. in addition, infection in mice pre-exposed to uninfected vector saliva was compared to infection in unexposed mice. to control for differences in vector and pathogen species, mouse strain, and experimental desig ...201425275509
the salivary secretome of the biting midge, culicoides sonorensis.culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous insects with over 1400 species distributed throughout the world. many of these species are of particular agricultural importance as primary vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses, yet little is known about culicoides genomics and proteomics. detailed studies of members from other blood-feeding dipteran families, including those of mosquito (culicidae) and black fly (simuliidae), have shown that protein components with ...201424949243
multi-modal analysis of courtship behaviour in the old world leishmaniasis vector phlebotomus argentipes.the sand fly phlebotomus argentipes is arguably the most important vector of leishmaniasis worldwide. as there is no vaccine against the parasites that cause leishmaniasis, disease prevention focuses on control of the insect vector. understanding reproductive behaviour will be essential to controlling populations of p. argentipes, and developing new strategies for reducing leishmaniasis transmission. through statistical analysis of male-female interactions, this study provides a detailed descrip ...201425474027
expression pattern of glycoside hydrolase genes in lutzomyia longipalpis reveals key enzymes involved in larval digestion.the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of american visceral leishmaniasis. adults are phytophagous (males and females) or blood feeders (females only), and larvae feed on solid detritus. digestion in sand fly larvae has scarcely been studied, but some glycosidase activities putatively involved in microorganism digestion were already described. nevertheless, the molecular nature of these enzymes, as the corresponding genes and transcripts, were not explored yet. catabolis ...201425140153
stage-specific differential gene expression in leishmania infantum: from the foregut of phlebotomus perniciosus to the human phagocyte.leishmania infantum is the etiological agent of zoonotical visceral leishmaniasis in the mediterranean basin. a recent outbreak in humans has been recently reported in central spain. leishmania spp. parasites are transmitted to the mammalian host by the bite of sand flies. the primary vector of l. infantum in spain is phlebotomus perniciosus. for decades, research on these parasites has involved the axenic culture model of the promastigote stage including gene expression profiling studies perfor ...201425281593
transmission potential of antimony-resistant leishmania field isolates.we studied the development of antimony-resistant leishmania infantum in natural vectors lutzomyia longipalpis and phlebotomus perniciosus to ascertain the risk of parasite transmission by sand flies. all three resistant strains produced fully mature late-stage infections in sand flies; moreover, the resistant phenotype was maintained after the passage through the vector. these results highlight the risk of circulation of resistant leishmania strains and question the use of human drugs for treatm ...201425049256
first evidence of intraclonal genetic exchange in trypanosomatids using two leishmania infantum fluorescent transgenic clones.the mode of reproduction in leishmania spp has been argued to be essentially clonal. however, recent data (genetic analysis of populations and co-infections in sand flies) have proposed the existence of a non-obligate sexual cycle in the extracellular stage of the parasite within the sand fly vector. in this article we propose the existence of intraclonal genetic exchange in the natural vector of leishmania infantum.201425188587
effects of temperature and photoperiod on daily activity rhythms of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae).insect vectors have been established as models in chronobiology for many decades, and recent studies have demonstrated a close relationship between the circadian clock machinery, daily rhythms of activity and vectorial capacity. lutzomyia longipalpis, the primary vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum in the new world, is reported to have crepuscular/nocturnal activity in the wild. however, most of these studies applied hourly cdc trap captures, which is a good indicative of l. longipalpis b ...201424947114
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