Transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in a previously non-endemic region of Tunisia: detection of Leishmania DNA in Phlebotomus perniciosus. 2013

Najla Chargui, and Najoua Haouas, and Darine Slama, and Mohamed Gorcii, and Kaouther Jaouadi, and Nawel Essabbah-Aguir, and Habib Mezhoud, and Hamouda Babba
Laboratory of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Clinical Biology Department, 99-UR/08-05 Monastir, Tunisia. najla.chargui@laposte.net

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been endemic in northern Tunisia and has occurred sporadically in the center of Tunisia. Recently, there have been several cases from areas known to be free of VL. We report in this work all human and canine cases of VL recorded between 2003 and 2011 and an entomological study of phlebotomine fauna in a previously non-endemic region. Sixty-three cases of VL were diagnosed and identified as L. infantum using several different methods. Eight species of 179 sand flies were caught and identified by both morphological and molecular methods. Two genera were present, Phlebotomus and Sergentomya, with an abundance of the subgenus Phlebotomus (Larrousius) spp., a classic vector of VL in Tunisia. Moreover, Leishmania DNA was detected in seven unfed Phlebotomus pernicousus and L. infantum was identified in three of them. This result confirms the establishment of a transmission cycle of VL in the studied region by the coexistence of infected vectors with infected hosts.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007891 Leishmania A genus of flagellate protozoa comprising several species that are pathogenic for humans. Organisms of this genus have an amastigote and a promastigote stage in their life cycles. As a result of enzymatic studies this single genus has been divided into two subgenera: Leishmania leishmania and Leishmania viannia. Species within the Leishmania leishmania subgenus include: L. aethiopica, L. arabica, L. donovani, L. enrietti, L. gerbilli, L. hertigi, L. infantum, L. major, L. mexicana, and L. tropica. The following species are those that compose the Leishmania viannia subgenus: L. braziliensis, L. guyanensis, L. lainsoni, L. naiffi, and L. shawi. Leishmania (Leishmania),Leishmania (Viannia),Leishmania leishmania,Leishmania viannia,Leishmania leishmanias,Leishmania viannias,Leishmanias,Leishmanias (Leishmania),Leishmanias (Viannia),leishmanias, Leishmania,viannias, Leishmania
D007898 Leishmaniasis, Visceral A chronic disease caused by LEISHMANIA DONOVANI and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. It is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, emaciation, and an earth-gray color of the skin. The disease is classified into three main types according to geographic distribution: Indian, Mediterranean (or infantile), and African. Black Fever,Kala-Azar,Fever, Black,Kala Azar,Visceral Leishmaniasis
D008297 Male Males
D010691 Phlebotomus A genus of PSYCHODIDAE which functions as the vector of a number of pathogenic organisms, including LEISHMANIA DONOVANI; LEISHMANIA TROPICA; Bartonella bacilliformis, and the Pappataci fever virus (SANDFLY FEVER NAPLES VIRUS).
D011576 Psychodidae Small, hairy, moth-like flies which are of considerable public health importance as vectors of certain pathogenic organisms. Important disease-related genera are PHLEBOTOMUS, Lutzomyia, and Sergentomyia. Lutzomyia,Moth Flies,Phlebotominae,Psychodinae,Sandflies,Sergentomyia,Sand Flies,Flies, Moth,Flies, Sand,Fly, Moth,Fly, Sand,Lutzomyias,Moth Fly,Sand Fly,Sandfly,Sergentomyias
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014416 Tunisia A country in northern Africa between ALGERIA and LIBYA. Its capital is Tunis.

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