Publications

clinical and immunopathological findings during long term follow-up in leishmania infantum experimentally infected dogs.	canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is caused by leishmania infantum, which in the new world is transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis. while prospective clinical and immunological assessments of dogs experimentally challenged with l. infantum have been previously reported over a relatively short follow-up period, the long-term characterization of infected animals has not been performed to date. we evaluated dogs in a subclinical state for six years following experimental infection with l. infantu ...	2017	29162847
occurrence of lutzomyia longipalpis (phlebotominae) and canine visceral leishmaniasis in a rural area of ilha solteira, sp, brazil.	this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of lutzomyia longipalpis and also the canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) in a rural area of ilha solteira, state of são paulo. blood samples were collected from 32 dogs from different rural properties (small farms) and were analyzed by elisa and the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (ifat) in order to diagnose cvl. from these serological tests, 31.25% of the dogs were positive for cvl and these were distributed in 66.7% (8/12) of the rural ...	2017	25517523
ph control in the midgut of aedesaegypti under different nutritional conditions.	aedes aegypti is one of the most important disease vectors in the world. because their gut is the first site of interaction with pathogens, it is important to understand a. aegypti gut physiology. in this study, we investigated the mechanisms of ph control in the midgut of a. aegypti females under different nutritional conditions. we found that unfed females have an acidic midgut (ph ∼6). the midgut of unfed insects is actively maintained at ph 6 regardless of the ingestion of either alkaline or ...	2017	28931720
the role of gallery forests in maintaining phlebotominae populations: potential leishmania spp. vectors in the brazilian savanna.	knowledge on synanthropic phlebotomines and their natural infection by leishmania is necessary for the identification of potential areas for leishmaniasis occurrence.	2017	28953996
spatial population dynamics and temporal analysis of the distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis (lutz & neiva, 1912) (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) in the city of clorinda, formosa, argentina.	lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector for the causal agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl), has extended its distribution in the southern cone in the americas. the first urban record of lu. longipalpis in argentina was from the city of clorinda in 2004. the aim of this study was to analyse the monthly distribution and abundance of lu. longipalpis and to evaluate its association with environmental and climatic variables in clorinda city, province of formosa.	2017	28743283
visceral leishmaniasis in an environmentally protected area in southeastern brazil: epidemiological and laboratory cross-sectional investigation of phlebotomine fauna, wild hosts and canine cases.	leishmaniasis is a rapidly expanding zoonosis that shows increasing urbanization. concern exists regarding the role of wildlife in visceral leishmaniasis (vl) transmission, due to frequent natural or anthropogenic environmental changes that facilitate contact between wildlife, humans and their pets. the municipality of campinas, in southeastern brazil, initially recorded vl in 2009, when the first autochthonous case was confirmed in a dog living in an upscale residential condominium, located ins ...	2017	28704391
the role of wing geometric morphometrics in the identification of sandflies within the subgenus lutzomyia.	the lutzomyia subgenus (diptera: psychodidae) includes sibling species with morphologically indistinguishable females. the aims of this study were to analyse variations in the size and shape of wings of species within the lutzomyia subgenus and to assess whether these analyses might be useful in their identification. wings (n = 733) of 18 species deposited in brazilian collections were analysed by geometric morphometrics, using other genera and subgenera as outgroups. shape variation was summari ...	2017	28707301
canine antibody response to lutzomyia longipalpis saliva in endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis.	canine exposure to lutzomyia longipalpis bites and the potential of leishmania infantum transmissibility for the vector were evaluated.	2017	27384835
increased transmissibility of leishmania donovani from the mammalian host to vector sand flies after multiple exposures to sand fly bites.	patients with active visceral leishmaniasis are important reservoirs in the anthroponotic transmission cycle of leishmania donovani. the role of the blood or skin as a source of infection to sand flies remains unclear, and the possible effect of multiple exposures to fly bites on transmissibility has not been addressed.	2017	28329329
structure of salo, a leishmaniasis vaccine candidate from the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis.	immunity to the sand fly salivary protein salo (salivary anticomplement of lutzomyia longipalpis) protected hamsters against leishmania infantum and l. braziliensis infection and, more recently, a vaccine combination of a genetically modified leishmania with salo conferred strong protection against l. donovani infection. because of the importance of salo as a potential component of a leishmaniasis vaccine, a plan to produce this recombinant protein for future scale manufacturing as well as knowl ...	2017	28278244
autochthonous outbreak and expansion of canine visceral leishmaniasis, uruguay.	we report an outbreak of canine visceral leishmaniasis in uruguay. blood specimens from 11/45 dogs tested positive for leishmania spp. specimens of lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies were captured; typing revealed leishmania infantum. our findings document an expansion of visceral leishmaniasis to southern south america and risk for vectorborne transmission to humans.	2017	28221113
canine visceral leishmaniasis in the metropolitan area of são paulo: pintomyia fischeri as potential vector of leishmania infantum.	american visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis caused by leishmania infantum and transmitted mainly by lutzomyia longipalpis. however, canine cases have been reported in the absence of this species in the greater são paulo region, where pintomyia fischeri and migonemyia migonei are the predominant species. this raises the suspicion that they could be acting as vectors. therefore, this study sought to investigate specific vector capacity parameters of these species and to compare them with those o ...	2017	28134092
sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) in an urban area of northeastern brazil.	the sandfly fauna is well studied globally. in brazil, sandfly fauna is very diverse in the northeast region, especially in states such as maranhão, ceará, and bahia. however, in the state of pernambuco, the distribution of these insects is still not well known. therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the different species that constitute the sandfly fauna in an urban area in the northeast region of brazil, where an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) was recently reported.	2017	28001216
risk analysis and prediction of visceral leishmaniasis dispersion in são paulo state, brazil.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is an important neglected disease caused by a protozoan parasite, and represents a serious public health problem in many parts of the world. it is zoonotic in europe and latin america, where infected dogs constitute the main domestic reservoir for the parasite and play a key role in vl transmission to humans. in brazil this disease is caused by the protozoan leishmania infantum chagasi, and is transmitted by the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis. despite programs aimed a ...	2017	28166251
seasonality of sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) and leishmania dna detection in vector species in an area with endemic visceral leishmaniasis.	leishmaniases are a serious health problem in southeast brazil, including the city of belo horizonte (bh), minas gerais state (mg), where there are high rates of incidence and mortality due to visceral leishmaniases. bh is divided into nine sanitary districts (sd) of which one, the venda nova sd, was selected for this study because it has high rates of positivity for canine leishmaniasis and high incidence of human leishmaniasis.	2017	28327794
nycthemeral rhythm of phlebotominae (diptera: psychodidae) in a craggy region, transitioning between the wetland and the plateau, brazil.	recording the nycthemeral rhythm of sand flies allows the evaluation of the daily activity in different ecotypes, the period of greatest activity, and their degree of anthropophily. we investigated the fauna and the rhythm of sand fly activity in an ecotourism region in mato grosso do sul (ms) state, brazil. sand flies were captured monthly, using a shannon trap for 24 h periods between july 2012 and june 2014. we collected 1,815 sand flies, in which lutzomyia whitmani (=nyssomyia whitmani, sens ...	2017	28082638
immunization against full-length protein and peptides from the lutzomyia longipalpis sand fly salivary component maxadilan protects against leishmania major infection in a murine model.	leishmaniasis is an arthropod vectored disease causing considerable human morbidity and mortality. vaccination remains the most realistic and practical means to interrupt the growing number and diversity of sand fly vectors and reservoirs of leishmania. since transmission of leishmania is achieved exclusively by sand fly vectors via immune-modulating salivary substances, conventional vaccination requiring an unmodified host immune response for success are potentially destined to fail unless immu ...	2017	29079105
serological tests fail to discriminate dogs with visceral leishmaniasis that transmit leishmania infantum to the vector lutzomyia longipalpis.	the control of reservoirs for leishmania infantum -induced zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis requires the identification of dogs posing a population risk. here, we assessed the performance of several assays to identify lutzomyia longipalpis infectious dogs.	2017	28954069
environmental suitability for lutzomyia longipalpis in a subtropical city with a recently established visceral leishmaniasis transmission cycle, argentina.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is an endemic disease in northeastern argentina including the corrientes province, where the presence of the vector and canine cases of vl were recently confirmed in december 2008.	2017	28953995
dog skin parasite load, tlr-2, il-10 and tnf-α expression and infectiousness.	visceral leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease that is transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies. dogs are the main peri-urban reservoir of the disease, and progression of canine leishmaniosis is dependent on the type of immune response elaborated against the parasite. type 1 immunity is characterized by effective cellular response, with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α). in contrast, type 2 immunity is predominantly humoral, associated with ...	2017	28929498
the sand fly salivary protein lufaxin inhibits the early steps of the alternative pathway of complement by direct binding to the proconvertase c3b-b.	saliva of the blood feeding sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis was previously shown to inhibit the alternative pathway (ap) of the complement system. here, we have identified lufaxin, a protein component in saliva, as the inhibitor of the ap. lufaxin inhibited the deposition of c3b, bb, properdin, c5b, and c9b on agarose-coated plates in a dose-dependent manner. it also inhibited the activation of factor b in normal serum, but had no effect on the components of the membrane attack complex. surface p ...	2017	28912782
sand fly (diptera, psychodidae, phlebotominae) abundance and diversity in areas affected by the são francisco river transposition project in ceará state, brazil.	entomological surveillance of sand fly vectors was carried out to support leishmaniasis prevention and control measures in areas affected by the são francisco river transposition project.	2017	28851424
evaluation of chemical spraying and environmental management efficacy in areas with minor previous application of integrated control actions for visceral leishmaniasis in brazil.	leishmaniases are vector-borne diseases that are transmitted to humans through the bite of leishmania-infected phlebotomine sand flies (diptera:psychodidae). the main proved vector of visceral leishmaniais (vl) in the new world - lutzomyia longipalpis - is well-adapted to urban areas and has extensive distribution within the five geographical regions of brazil. integrated public health actions directed for the vector, domestic reservoir and humans for the control of vl are preferentially applied ...	2017	28760482
influences of climate change on the potential distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (psychodidae: phlebotominae).	this study explores the present day distribution of lutzomyia longipalpis in relation to climate, and transfers the knowledge gained to likely future climatic conditions to predict changes in the species' potential distribution. we used ecological niche models calibrated based on occurrences of the species complex from across its known geographic range. anticipated distributional changes varied by region, from stability to expansion or decline. overall, models indicated no significant north-sout ...	2017	28668326
the current status of the lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae) species complex.	lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. is a complex of sibling species and is the principal vector of american visceral leishmaniasis. the present review summarises the diversity of efforts that have been undertaken to elucidate the number of unnamed species in this species complex and the phylogenetic relationships among them. a wide variety of evidence, including chemical, behavioral and molecular traits, suggests very recent speciation events and complex population structure in this group. although signi ...	2017	28225906
leg loss in lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) due to pyrethroid exposure: toxic effect or defense by autotomy?	phlebotomine sandflies lose their legs after exposure to pyrethroids. in some insects leg loss helps to defend them from intoxication and predation, a phenomenon known as autotomy. a field observation has shown that sandflies that have lost some legs are still able to blood-feed. the aims of the study were to determine whether leg loss in sandflies, after exposure to deltamethrin, is due to autotomy and to establish the effect of the leg loss on blood-feeding.	2017	28035108
immunization with ljm11 salivary protein protects against infection with leishmania braziliensis in the presence of lutzomyia longipalpis saliva.	leishmania is transmitted in the presence of sand fly saliva. protective immunity generated by saliva has encouraged identification of a vector salivary-based vaccine. previous studies have shown that immunization with ljm11, a salivary protein from lutzomyia longipalpis, is able to induce a th1 immune response and protect mice against bites of leishmania major-infected lutzomyia longipalpis. here, we further investigate if immunization with ljm11 recombinant protein is able to confer cross-prot ...	2018	29037520
new records of phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) from the state of alagoas, northeast of brazil.	phlebotomine sand flies are small insects of great medical importance. this study presents new records of phlebotomine sand flies, which augment the list of species, recorded in the state of alagoas, brazil. sand flies were collected using cdc miniature light traps. collections were made between november 2008 and april 2016, in 47 municipalities within the state of alagoas. twenty-seven thousand two-hundred forty-four sand flies were collected, representing 18 species in seven genera. lutzomyia ...	2018	29029319
human competence to transmit leishmania infantum to lutzomyia longipalpis and the influence of human immunodeficiency virus infection.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) caused by leishmania infantum is a lethal disease transmitted by sand flies. although, considered a zoonosis with dogs held as the main reservoirs, humans are also sources of infection. therefore, control policies currently focused on dog culling may need to consider that vl and human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)/vl patients may also be infectious, contributing to transmission. reservoir competence of patients with vl without and with hiv infection and of persons asym ...	2018	29141704
alternative splicing originates different domain structure organization of lutzomyia longipalpis chitinases.	background the insect chitinase gene family is composed by more than 10 paralogs, which can codify proteins with different domain structures. in lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil, a chitinase cdna from adult female insects was previously characterized. the predicted protein contains one catalytic domain and one chitin-binding domain (cbd). the expression of this gene coincided with the end of blood digestion indicating a putative role in peritrophic matri ...	2018	29236932
bionomic aspects of lutzomyia evansi and lutzomyia longipalpis, proven vectors of leishmania infantum in an endemic area of non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in honduras.	some lutzomyia species are the vectors of human leishmaniasis in the americas. visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are both endemic in the pacific region of honduras, but the non-ulcerative form is the more frequent clinical manifestation in this region, where lutzomyia longipalpis is the most abundant and the only incriminated vector. taxonomic identification and distribution studies of sand flies are important to understand the epidemiology and to control these neglected tropical diseases.	2018	29304878
molecular detection of leishmania (leishmania) infantum in phlebotomine sandflies from a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area in northwestern of são paulo state, brazil.	this study identified the natural infection rate of leishmania (leishmania) infantum in lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies collected in a neighborhood around a kennel, in dracena, northwestern of são paulo state. this region is highly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in brazil. insects were captured during 2 to 3 nights monthly for 11 months (january-november 2012) using 10 automatic light traps around a kennel in a transition between periurban and urban neighborhood. capture aimed the determinat ...	2018	29373820
identification of secreted proteins involved in nonspecific dsrna-mediated lutzomyia longipalpis ll5 cell antiviral response.	hematophagous insects transmit infectious diseases. sand flies are vectors of leishmaniasis, but can also transmit viruses. we have been studying immune responses of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the americas. we identified a non-specific antiviral response in l. longipalpis ll5 embryonic cells when treated with non-specific double-stranded rnas (dsrnas). this response is reminiscent of interferon response in mammals. we are investigating putative effectors ...	2018	29346269
masp-1 of the complement system enhances clot formation in a microvascular whole blood flow model.	the complement and coagulation systems closely interact with each other. these interactions are believed to contribute to the proinflammatory and prothrombotic environment involved in the development of thrombotic complications in many diseases. complement masp-1 (mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1) activates coagulation factors and promotes clot formation. however, this was mainly shown in purified or plasma-based static systems. here we describe the role of masp-1 and complemen ...	2018	29324883
antibody response to sand fly saliva is a marker of transmission intensity but not disease progression in dogs naturally infected with leishmania infantum.	antibody responses to sand fly saliva have been suggested to be a useful marker of exposure to sand fly bites and leishmania infection and a potential tool to monitor the effectiveness of entomological interventions. exposure to sand fly bites before infection has also been suggested to modulate the severity of the infection. here, we test these hypotheses by quantifying the anti-saliva igg response in a cohort study of dogs exposed to natural infection with leishmania infantum in brazil.	2018	29301571