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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
[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
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
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
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
chemical analysis of the abdominal glands of two forms of lutzomyia longipalpis: site of a possible sex pheromone? 20144096569
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
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
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
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
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
current and future niche of north and central american sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in climate change scenarios.ecological niche models are useful tools to infer potential spatial and temporal distributions in vector species and to measure epidemiological risk for infectious diseases such as the leishmaniases. the ecological niche of 28 north and central american sand fly species, including those with epidemiological relevance, can be used to analyze the vector's ecology and its association with transmission risk, and plan integrated regional vector surveillance and control programs. in this study, we mod ...201324069478
sergentomyia schwetzi is not a competent vector for leishmania donovani and other leishmania species pathogenic to humans.sand fly species of the genus sergentomyia are proven vectors of reptilian leishmania that are non-pathogenic to humans. however, a consideration of the role of sergentomyia spp. in the circulation of mammalian leishmaniasis appears repeatedly in the literature and the possibility of leishmania transmission to humans remains unclear. here we studied the susceptibility of colonized sergentomyia schwetzi to leishmania donovani and two other leishmania species pathogenic to humans: l. infantum and ...201323786805
sand-fly saliva-leishmania-man: the trigger trio.leishmaniases are worldwide diseases transmitted to the vertebrate host by the bite of an infected sand-fly. sand-fly biting and parasite inoculation are accompanied by the injection of salivary molecules, whose immunomodulatory properties are actively being studied. this mini review focuses on how the interactions between sand-fly saliva and the immune system may shape the outcome of infection, given its immunomodulatory properties, in experimental models and in the endemic area. additionally, ...201324312093
insecticide-impregnated netting as a potential tool for long-lasting control of the leishmaniasis vector lutzomyia longipalpis in animal shelters.leishmaniasis remains a serious neglected disease, with more than 350 million people potentially at risk worldwide. control strategies often rely on spraying residual insecticides to target populations of the sand fly vectors that transmit leishmania parasites when blood-feeding. these programmes are often difficult to sustain effectively, as sand fly resting sites must be resprayed on a regular basis. here, we investigate whether application of insecticide-impregnated netting to a surface could ...201323642213
ecological aspects of phlebotomine sandflies (diptera: psychodidae) from a cave of the speleological province of bambuí, brazil.phlebotomines are invertebrate hosts of leishmania genus species which are etiological agents of leishmaniases in humans and other mammals. sandflies are often collected in entomological studies of caves both in the inner area and the adjacent environments. caves are ecotypes clearly different from the external environment. several caves have been opened to public visitation before any studies were performed and the places do not have scientific monitoring of the fauna, flora, geological and geo ...201324130847
the characterization of the phlebotomus papatasi transcriptome.as important vectors of human disease, phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance to human health, transmitting several emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. the most devastating of the sand fly transmitted infections are the leishmaniases, causing significant mortality and morbidity in both the old and new world. here we present the first global transcriptome analysis of the old world vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli) and compare this transcriptom ...201323398403
novel virus discovery and genome reconstruction from field rna samples reveals highly divergent viruses in dipteran hosts.we investigated whether small rna (srna) sequenced from field-collected mosquitoes and chironomids (diptera) can be used as a proxy signature of viral prevalence within a range of species and viral groups, using srnas sequenced from wild-caught specimens, to inform total rna deep sequencing of samples of particular interest. using this strategy, we sequenced from adult anopheles maculipennis s.l. mosquitoes the apparently nearly complete genome of one previously undescribed virus related to chro ...201324260463
the possible impact of persistent virus infection on the function of the rnai machinery in insects: a hypothesis.rnai experiments in insects are characterized by great variability in efficiency; for instance beetles and locusts are very amenable to dsrna-mediated gene silencing, while other insect groups, most notably lepidopterans, are more refractory to rnai. several factors can be forwarded that could affect the efficiency of rnai, such as the composition and function of the intracellular rnai machinery, the mechanism of dsrna uptake, the presence of dsrna- and sirna-degrading enzymes and non-specific a ...201324204347
a nod to disease vectors: mitigation of pathogen sensing by arthropod saliva.arthropod saliva possesses anti-hemostatic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate feeding and, inadvertently, dissemination of pathogens. vector-borne diseases caused by these pathogens affect millions of people each year. many studies address the impact of arthropod salivary proteins on various immunological components. however, whether and how arthropod saliva counters nod-like (nlr) sensing remains elusive. nlrs are innate immune pattern recognition molecules involved i ...201324155744
the 'ubiquitous' reality of vector immunology.ubiquitination (ubiquitylation) is a common protein modification that regulates a multitude of processes within the cell. this modification is typically accomplished through the covalent binding of ubiquitin to a lysine residue onto a target protein and is catalysed by the presence of three enzymes: an activating enzyme (e1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (e2) and ubiquitin-protein ligase (e3). in recent years, ubiquitination has risen as a major signalling regulator of immunity and microbial pat ...201323433059
transmission and epidemiology of zoonotic protozoal diseases of companion animals.over 77 million dogs and 93 million cats share our households in the united states. multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of pets in their owners' physical and mental health. given the large number of companion animals in the united states and the proximity and bond of these animals with their owners, understanding and preventing the diseases that these companions bring with them are of paramount importance. zoonotic protozoal parasites, including toxoplasmosis, chagas' disease, babe ...201323297259
seroconversion of sentinel chickens as a biomarker for monitoring exposure to visceral leishmaniasis.leishmania infantum chagasi causes visceral leishmaniasis (vl); it is transmitted by the sand fly lutzomyia longipalpis that injects saliva and parasites into the host's skin during a blood meal. chickens represent an important blood source for sand flies and their presence in the endemic area is often cited as a risk factor for vl transmission. however, the role of chickens in vl epidemiology has not been well defined. here, we tested if chicken antibodies against lu. longipalpis salivary gland ...201323912591
transmission of pathogens by stomoxys flies (diptera, muscidae): a review.stomoxys flies are mechanical vectors of pathogens present in the blood and skin of their animal hosts, especially livestock, but occasionally humans. in livestock, their direct effects are disturbance, skin lesions, reduction of food intake, stress, blood loss, and a global immunosuppressive effect. they also induce the gathering of animals for mutual protection; meanwhile they favor development of pathogens in the hosts and their transmission. their indirect effect is the mechanical transmissi ...201323985165
second international meeting of isev 2013: boston, usa, april 17(th)-20(th), 2013. 201326082317
aerobic microbial community of insectary population of phlebotomus papatasi.microbes particularly bacteria presenting in the gut of haematophagous insects may have an important role in the epidemiology of human infectious disease.201325629067
bacterial feeding, leishmania infection and distinct infection routes induce differential defensin expression in lutzomyia longipalpis.phlebotomine insects harbor bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens that can cause diseases of public health importance. lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the new world. insects can mount a powerful innate immune response to pathogens. defensin peptides take part in this response and are known to be active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and some parasites. we studied the expression of a defensin gene from lutzomyia longipalpis to understand ...201323311993
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
relative risk of visceral leishmaniasis in brazil: a spatial analysis in urban area.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a vector-borne disease whose factors involved in transmission are poorly understood, especially in more urban and densely populated counties. in brazil, the vl urbanization is a challenge for the control program. the goals were to identify the greater risk areas for human vl and the risk factors involved in transmission.201324244776
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
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
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
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
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
ecology of lutzomyia longipalpis in an area of visceral leishmaniasis transmission in north-eastern brazil.visceral leishmaniasis is a major public health issue in south america, where the disease is rapidly spreading. changes in ecology and distribution of the principal vector, lutzomyia longipalpis are among the factors accounting for the increasing incidence of the disease in this region. however, information about the ecology of l. longipalpis is still incipient, which may directly impair the implementation of effective control programs. herein, the ecology of l. longipalpis was studied in a focu ...201323369878
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
sandflies (diptera, psychodidae) from forest areas in botucatu municipality, central western são paulo state, brazil.the study of the distribution and ecology of sandfly species is essential for epidemiological surveillance and estimation of the transmission risk of leishmania spp. infection.201323849624
molecular and immunogenic properties of apyrase sp01b and d7-related sp04 recombinant salivary proteins of phlebotomus perniciosus from madrid, spain.sand fly salivary proteins are on the spotlight to become vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis and to markers of exposure to sand fly bites due to the host immune responses they elicit. working with the whole salivary homogenate entails serious drawbacks such as the need for maintaining sand fly colonies and the laborious task of glands dissection. in order to overcome these difficulties, producing recombinant proteins of different vectors has become a major task. in this study, a cdna libra ...201324171166
functional transcriptomics of wild-caught lutzomyia intermedia salivary glands: identification of a protective salivary protein against leishmania braziliensis infection.leishmania parasites are transmitted in the presence of sand fly saliva. together with the parasite, the sand fly injects salivary components that change the environment at the feeding site. mice immunized with phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland (sg) homogenate are protected against leishmania major infection, while immunity to lutzomyia intermedia sg homogenate exacerbated experimental leishmania braziliensis infection. in humans, antibodies to lu. intermedia saliva are associated with risk of ...201323717705
rnai-mediated knockdown of catalase causes cell cycle arrest in sl-1 cells and results in low survival rate of spodoptera litura (fabricius).deregulated reactive oxygen species (ros) production can lead to the disruption of structural and functional integrity of cells as a consequence of reactive interaction between ros and various biological components. catalase (cat) is a common enzyme existing in nearly all organisms exposed to oxygen, which decomposes harmful hydrogen peroxide, into water and oxygen. in this study, the full length sequence that encodes cat-like protein from spodoptera litura named siltcat (genbank accession numbe ...201323555693
acetylcholinesterase of the sand fly, phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli): cdna sequence, baculovirus expression, and biochemical properties.millions of people and domestic animals around the world are affected by leishmaniasis, a disease caused by various species of flagellated protozoans in the genus leishmania that are transmitted by several sand fly species. insecticides are widely used for sand fly population control to try to reduce or interrupt leishmania transmission. zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by l. major is vectored mainly by phlebotomus papatasi (scopoli) in asia and africa. organophosphates comprise a class o ...201323379291
a new model of progressive visceral leishmaniasis in hamsters by natural transmission via bites of vector sand flies.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is transmitted by sand flies. protection of needle-challenged vaccinated mice was abrogated in vector-initiated cutaneous leishmaniasis, highlighting the importance of developing natural transmission models for vl.201323288926
leishmaniasis transmission in an ecotourism area: potential vectors in ilha grande, rio de janeiro state, brazil.the south coast of rio de janeiro state, in brazil, is endemic for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases and is frequently visited by tourists from different parts of the world. since the complex epidemiology of leishmaniases demands local studies, the goal of this study was to investigate the phlebotomine sand fly fauna and leishmaniases transmission in ilha grande, an ecotourism area of angra dos reis municipality.201324499568
epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in a reemerging focus of intense transmission in minas gerais state, brazil.this study was developed in the urban area of governador valadares, a reemerging focus of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in brazil, presenting 86 human cases of vl from 2008 to 2011. the disease prevailed in males (73.2%) with most patients between 0 and 9 years (44.1%) and a lethality rate of 16.2%. a canine survey was carried out on 16,529 domestic dogs in 35 districts in the area and it showed that 30.2% of them (4,992 dogs) were positive for vl by serum assays. prevalenc ...201324000322
expression of the mevalonate pathway enzymes in the lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) sex pheromone gland demonstrated by an integrated proteomic approach.in latin america, lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of the protozoan parasite leishmania infantum, which is the causal agent of american visceral leishmaniasis. this insect uses male-produced pheromones for mate recognition. elucidation of pheromone biogenesis or its regulation may enable molecular strategies for mating disruption and, consequently, the vector's population management. motivated by our recent results of the transcriptomic characterization of the l. longipalpis pheromone gl ...201324185139
sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of leishmania infantum infection in dogs by using peptides selected from hypothetical proteins identified by an immunoproteomic approach.in brazil, the percentage of infected dogs living in areas where canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is endemic ranges from 10 to 62%; however, the prevalence of infection in dogs is probably higher than figures reported from serological studies. in addition, problems with the occurrence of false-positive or false-negative results in the serodiagnosis of cvl have been reported. the present work analyzed the potential of synthetic peptides mapped from hypothetical proteins for improvement of the ...201323554466
larval breeding sites of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) in visceral leishmaniasis endemic urban areas in southeastern brazil.the scarcity of information on the immature stages of sand flies and their preferred breeding sites has resulted in the focus of vectorial control on the adult stage using residual insecticide house-spraying. this strategy, along with the treatment of human cases and the euthanasia of infected dogs, has proven inefficient and visceral leishmaniasis continues to expand in brazil. identifying the breeding sites of sand flies is essential to the understanding of the vector's population dynamic and ...201324069494
lights, camera, and action: vertebrate skin sets the stage for immune cell interaction with arthropod-vectored pathogens.despite increasing studies targeted at host-pathogen interactions, vector-borne diseases remain one of the largest economic health burdens worldwide. such diseases are vectored by hematophagous arthropods that deposit pathogens into the vertebrate host's skin during a blood meal. these pathogens spend a substantial amount of time in the skin that allows for interaction with cutaneous immune cells, suggesting a window of opportunity for development of vaccine strategies. in particular, the recent ...201324062751
dual effect of lutzomyia longipalpis saliva on leishmania braziliensis infection is mediated by distinct saliva-induced cellular recruitment into balb/c mice ear.leishmania parasites are transmitted to their vertebrate hosts by infected phlebotomine sand flies during the blood meal of the flies. sand fly saliva is known to enhance leishmania spp. infection, while pre-exposure to saliva protects mice against parasitic infections. in this study, we investigated the initial inflammatory leucocyte composition induced by one or three inocula of salivary gland extract (sge) from lutzomyia longipalpis in the presence or absence of leishmania braziliensis.201323656976
characterization of phlebotomus papatasi peritrophins, and the role of ppper1 in leishmania major survival in its natural vector.the peritrophic matrix (pm) plays a key role in compartmentalization of the blood meal and as barrier to pathogens in many disease vectors. to establish an infection in sand flies, leishmania must escape from the endoperitrophic space to prevent excretion with remnants of the blood meal digestion. in spite of the role played regarding leishmania survival, little is known about sand fly pm molecular components and structural organization. we characterized three peritrophins (ppper1, ppper2, and p ...201323516661
transcriptome exploration of the sex pheromone gland of lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).molecules involved in pheromone biosynthesis may represent alternative targets for insect population control. this may be particularly useful in managing the reproduction of lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of the protozoan parasite leishmania infantum in latin america. besides the chemical identity of the major components of the l. longipalpis sex pheromone, there is no information regarding the molecular biology behind its production. to understand this process, obtaining information on ...201323497448
experimental models in vaccine research: malaria and leishmaniasis.animal models have a long history of being useful tools, not only to test and select vaccines, but also to help understand the elaborate details of the immune response that follows infection. different models have been extensively used to investigate putative immunological correlates of protection against parasitic diseases that are important to reach a successful vaccine. the greatest challenge has been the improvement and adaptation of these models to reflect the reality of human disease and t ...201323369975
field evaluation of alphacypermethrin in indoor residual spraying for leishmaniasis control in an endemic area, northern morocco.in morocco, the main strategies of leishmaniasis vector control are based on environmental modifications. use of local residual indoor spraying with synthetic pyrethroids is often envisaged. the need to evaluate this control method is essential. the current study was conducted to determine the efficacy of an alphacypermethrin irs program against leishmaniasis vectors in an endemic area in the north of morocco.201324330760
mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites.numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. leishmaniasis, chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world's population. such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specif ...201324221133
fine structure of the male reproductive system and reproductive behavior of lutzomyia longipalpis sandflies (diptera: psychodidae: phlebotominae).the male reproductive system of insects can have several tissues responsible for the secretion of seminal fluid proteins (sfps), such as testes, accessory glands, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct and ejaculatory bulb. the sfps are transferred during mating and can induce several physiological and behavioral changes in females, such as increase in oviposition and decrease in sexual receptivity after copulation. the phlebotomine lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis. ...201324058637
the effect of avian blood on leishmania development in phlebotomus duboscqi.the development of pathogens transmitted by haematophagous invertebrate vectors is closely connected with the digestion of bloodmeals and is thus affected by midgut enzymatic activity. some studies have demonstrated that avian blood inhibits leishmania major infection in the old world vector phlebotomus papatasi; however, this effect has never been observed in the new world vectors of the genus lutzomyia infected by other leishmania species. therefore, our study was focused on the effect of chic ...201324059328
chemical composition and insecticidal activity of plant essential oils from benin against anopheles gambiae (giles).insecticide resistance in sub-saharan africa and especially in benin is a major public health issue hindering the control of the malaria vectors. each anopheles species has developed a resistance to one or several classes of the insecticides currently in use in the field. therefore, it is urgent to find alternative compounds to conquer the vector. in this study, the efficacies of essential oils of nine plant species, which are traditionally used to avoid mosquito bites in benin, were investigate ...201324298981
positive selection drives accelerated evolution of mosquito salivary genes associated with blood-feeding.the saliva of bloodsucking animals contains dozens to hundreds of proteins that counteract their hosts' haemostasis, inflammation and immunity. it was previously observed that salivary proteins involved in haematophagy are much more divergent in their primary sequence than those of housekeeping function, when comparisons were made between closely related organisms. while this pattern of evolution could result from relaxed selection or drift, it could alternatively be the result of positive selec ...201324237399
the mating competence of geographically diverse leishmania major strains in their natural and unnatural sand fly vectors.invertebrate stages of leishmania are capable of genetic exchange during their extracellular growth and development in the sand fly vector. here we explore two variables: the ability of diverse l. major strains from across its natural range to undergo mating in pairwise tests; and the timing of the appearance of hybrids and their developmental stage associations within both natural (phlebotomus duboscqi) and unnatural (lutzomyia longipalpis) sand fly vectors. following co-infection of flies with ...201323935521
salivary antigen-5/cap family members are cu2+-dependent antioxidant enzymes that scavenge o₂₋. and inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation and neutrophil oxidative burst.the function of the antigen-5/cap family of proteins found in the salivary gland of bloodsucking animals has remained elusive for decades. antigen-5 members from the hematophagous insects dipetalogaster maxima (dmav) and triatoma infestans (tiav) were expressed and discovered to attenuate platelet aggregation, atp secretion, and thromboxane a2 generation by low doses of collagen (<1 μg/ml) but no other agonists. dmav did not interact with collagen, glycoprotein vi, or integrin α2β1. this inhibit ...201323564450
purification of a serine protease and evidence for a protein c activator from the saliva of the tick, ixodes scapularis.the saliva of ticks is critical to their survival as parasites and hematophagous animals. in this study, we have purified an enzyme with trypsin-like activity from the saliva of the tick vector of lyme disease, ixodes scapularis. this enzyme, named as ixosp (i. scapularis salivary serine protease), is a 29.9 kda molecule with n-terminus fpxmvxlrikxr. a blast search identified ixosp as a secreted serine protease (aay66740) with a conserved catalytic triad his, asp, and ser. in vitro studies demon ...201324184517
different host complement systems and their interactions with saliva from lutzomyia longipalpis (diptera, psychodidae) and leishmania infantum promastigotes.lutzomyia longipalpis is the vector of leishmania infantum in the new world, and its saliva inhibits classical and alternative human complement system pathways. this inhibition is important in protecting the insect´s midgut from damage by the complement. l. longipalpis is a promiscuous blood feeder and must be protected against its host's complement. the objective of this study was to investigate the action of salivary complement inhibitors on the sera of different host species, such as dogs, gu ...201324255715
effects of aedes aegypti salivary components on dendritic cell and lymphocyte biology.saliva is a key element of interaction between hematophagous mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts. in addition to allowing a successful blood meal by neutralizing or delaying hemostatic responses, the salivary cocktail is also able to modulate the effector mechanisms of host immune responses facilitating, in turn, the transmission of several types of microorganisms. understanding how the mosquito uses its salivary components to circumvent host immunity might help to clarify the mechanisms of tr ...201324238038
a deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the mosquito, psorophora albipes.psorophora mosquitoes are exclusively found in the americas and have been associated with transmission of encephalitis and west nile fever viruses, among other arboviruses. mosquito salivary glands represent the final route of differentiation and transmission of many parasites. they also secrete molecules with powerful pharmacologic actions that modulate host hemostasis, inflammation, and immune response. here, we employed next generation sequencing and proteome approaches to investigate for the ...201324330624
age-dependent female responses to a male ejaculate signal alter demographic opportunities for selection.a central tenet of evolutionary explanations for ageing is that the strength of selection wanes with age. however, data on age-specific expression and benefits of sexually selected traits are lacking-particularly for traits subject to sexual conflict. we addressed this by using as a model the responses of drosophila melanogaster females of different ages to receipt of sex peptide (sp), a seminal fluid protein transferred with sperm during mating. sp can mediate sexual conflict, benefitting males ...201323843383
culling dogs in scenarios of imperfect control: realistic impact on the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis.visceral leishmaniasis belongs to the list of neglected tropical diseases and is considered a public health problem worldwide. spatial correlation between the occurrence of the disease in humans and high rates of canine infection suggests that in the presence of the vector, canine visceral leishmaniasis is the key factor for triggering transmission to humans. despite the control strategies implemented, such as the sacrifice of infected dogs being put down, the incidence of american visceral leis ...201323951375
estimating the optimal control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis by the use of a mathematical model.we argue that the strategy of culling infected dogs is not the most efficient way to control zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (zvl) and that, in the presence of alternative control strategies with better potential results, official programs of compulsory culling adopted by some countries are inefficient and unethical. we base our arguments on a mathematical model for the study of control strategies against zvl, which allows the comparison of the efficacies of 5, alternative strategies. we demonst ...201323990761
validity and reliability of enzyme immunoassays using leishmania major or l. infantum antigens for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis in brazil.american visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan leishmania infantum. dogs are the main reservoirs in the domestic transmission cycle. the limited accuracy of diagnostic tests for canine leishmaniasis may contribute to the lack of impact of control measures recommended by the brazilian ministry of health. the objective of this study was to estimate the accuracy of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays employing l. major or l. infantum antigens and their reliability between three labor ...201323922884
expression of toll-like receptors 2 and 9 in cells of dog jejunum and colon naturally infected with leishmania infantum.infection with parasite protozoa is a long-term health issue in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world. the toll-like receptor (tlr) signaling pathway is one of the first-responding defense systems against leishmania. the aim of this study was to investigate the expression of tlr2 and tlr9 in jejunum and colon and its correlation with cd11c, cd11b, and cd14 receptors used as markers for dendritic cells and macrophages.201323668673
experimental infection of dogs with leishmania and saliva as a model to study canine visceral leishmaniasis.canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania infantum, transmitted by the bite of lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies. dogs are the main domestic reservoir of the parasite. the establishment of an experimental model that partially reproduces natural infection in dogs is very important to test vaccine candidates, mainly regarding those that use salivary proteins from the vector and new therapeutical approaches.201323577121
evaluation of pcr procedures for detecting and quantifying leishmania donovani dna in large numbers of dried human blood samples from a visceral leishmaniasis focus in northern ethiopia.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a disseminated protozoan infection caused by leishmania donovani parasites which affects almost half a million persons annually. most of these are from the indian sub-continent, east africa and brazil. our study was designed to elucidate the role of symptomatic and asymptomatic leishmania donovani infected persons in the epidemiology of vl in northern ethiopia.201323530965
first comparative transcriptomic analysis of wild adult male and female lutzomyia longipalpis, vector of visceral leishmaniasis.leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease with a complex epidemiology and ecology. visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is its most severe clinical form as it results in death if not treated. in latin america vl is caused by the protist parasite leishmania infantum (syn. chagasi) and transmitted by lutzomyia longipalpis. this phlebotomine sand fly is only found in the new world, from mexico to argentina. however, due to deforestation, migration and urbanisation, among others, vl in latin america is undergo ...201323554910
the efficacy of l. (l.) chagasi excreted-secreted antigens (esas) for visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis is due to low levels of cross-reactivity.the analysis of promastigote excreted-secreted antigen (esa) reactivity with 53 visceral leishmaniasis (vl) cases showed that each sample reacted regardless of the antigen or the leishmania species used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) displayed 100% positivity with the l. (l.) chagasi esa-blot recognizing bands of molecular weight ranging from 26.5 to 31.5 kda. the analysis of 160 non-visceral cases showed that 5% of the samples cross-reacted with the l. (l.) chagasi esa-elisa and 9 ...201323324219
canine visceral leishmaniasis as a systemic fibrotic disease.we propose that canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) is a systemic fibrotic disease, as evidenced by the wide distribution of fibrosis that we have found in the dogs suffering from chronic condition. the inflammatory cells apparently direct fibrosis formation. twenty-four cases (symptomatic dogs) were identified from a total of one hundred and five cases that had been naturally infected with leishmania chagasi and had been documented during an epidemiological survey of cvl carried out by the metr ...201323419132
evaluation of rk39 rapid diagnostic tests for canine visceral leishmaniasis: longitudinal study and meta-analysis.there is a need for sensitive and specific rapid diagnostic tests (rdt) for canine visceral leishmaniasis. the aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic performance of immunochromatographic dipstick rdts using rk39 antigen for canine visceral leishmaniasis by (i) investigating the sensitivity of rdts to detect infection, disease and infectiousness in a longitudinal cohort study of natural infection in brazil, and (ii) using meta-analysis to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of rd ...201323326615
determinants for the development of visceral leishmaniasis disease.leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. among the most important questions in leishmania research is why some species like l. donovani infect visceral organs, whereas other species like l. major remain in the skin. the determinants of visceral leishmaniasis are still poorly understood, although genomic, immunologic, and animal models are beginning to ...201323300451
transcriptional regulation of a chitinase gene by 20-hydroxyecdysone and starvation in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis.insect chitinases are hydrolytic enzymes that are required for the degradation of glycosidic bonds of chitin. in this study, we identified and characterized a full-length cdna of the chitinase gene (bdcht2) in the oriental fruit fly, bactrocera dorsalis. the cdna contains an open reading frame (orf) of 1449 bp that encodes 483 amino acid residues and 126- and 296-bp non-coding regions at the 5'- and 3'-ends, respectively. the bdcht2 genome has four exons and three introns. the predicted molecula ...201324113584
genetic structure of lutzomyia longipalpis populations in mato grosso do sul, brazil, based on microsatellite markers.lutzomyialongipalpis (diptera: psychodidae) is the major vector of leishmania (leishmania) infantum and thus plays a crucial role in the epidemiology of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl). this vector is the best studied species of sand fly in the neotropical region. many studies claim that this vector is in fact a species complex; however there is still no consensus regarding the number of species that belong into this complex or the geographical distribution of sibling species. the aim of t ...201324066129
risk factors for seroconversion by leishmania infantum in a cohort of dogs from an endemic area of brazil.visceral leishmaniasis (vl) has recently emerged in various urban and peri-urban areas of brazil and other countries. understanding the urbanization of vl requires identification of risk factors associated with human and canine infection. to determine the predictors of risk for canine vl, a survey was conducted of 1,443 dogs, from which a cohort was selected (n = 455) and evaluated for approximately 26 months. serology was conducted with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisa): one conduc ...201323990996
multilocus analysis of divergence and introgression in sympatric and allopatric sibling species of the lutzomyia longipalpis complex in brazil.lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in latin america, is a complex of sibling species. in brazil, a number of very closely related sibling species have been revealed by the analyses of copulation songs, sex pheromones and molecular markers. however, the level of divergence and gene flow between the sibling species remains unclear. brazilian populations of this vector can be divided in two main groups: one producing burst-type songs and the cembrene-1 pheromone and a ...201324147172
anaerobic respiration and antioxidant responses of corythucha ciliata (say) adults to heat-induced oxidative stress under laboratory and field conditions.high temperature often induces oxidative stress and antioxidant response in insects. this phenomenon has been well documented under controlled laboratory conditions, but whether it happens under fluctuating field conditions is largely unknown. in this study, we used an invasive lace bug (corythucha ciliata) as a model species to compare the effects of controlled thermal treatments (2 h at 33-43 °c with 2 °c intervals in the laboratory) and naturally fluctuating thermal conditions (08:00-14:00 at ...201323943359
advances in methods for colour marking of mosquitoes.different techniques are available for colour marking insects and each technique may be suitable for different insect species. mosquitoes can be marked to determine population size, distribution and flight distance or distinguish closely related species. in this study, two methods of colour marking mosquitoes were described in detail and the impact of both methods on the survival and host-seeking behaviour of the malaria mosquito anopheles gambiae sensu stricto was investigated.201323835091
tsetse salivary gland proteins 1 and 2 are high affinity nucleic acid binding proteins with residual nuclease activity.analysis of the tsetse fly salivary gland est database revealed the presence of a highly enriched cluster of putative endonuclease genes, including tsal1 and tsal2. tsal proteins are the major components of tsetse fly (g. morsitans morsitans) saliva where they are present as monomers as well as high molecular weight complexes with other saliva proteins. we demonstrate that the recombinant tsetse salivary gland proteins 1&2 (tsal1&2) display dna/rna non-specific, high affinity nucleic acid bindin ...201223110062
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