Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in naturally infected

Background & objectives: In Portugal, Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. ariasi, (SubgenusLarroussius; Diptera: Psychodidae) are the proven vectors of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmaniainfantum. The Algarve Region in southern Portugal has been considered an endemic focus ofleishmaniasis since 1980s. The main objective of the present study was to validate a molecularapproach to detect Leishmania infection in phlebotomines based on DNA extraction from thefemale sandfly whole body, minus genitalia, followed by PCR for application on epidemiologicalsurveys.Methods: In Algarve Region, from early May until early November 2006, sandflies were capturedby CDC miniature light-traps. kDNA-PCR and ITS1-PCR were used to screen the presence ofLeishmania DNA in female sandflies after species identification by entomological keys.Results: A total of 474 sandflies were collected in 108 biotopes. One female of P. perniciosus, thepredominant species, was found infected with L. infantum reflecting an overall infection rate of0.47%.Interpretation & conclusion: PCR associated with morphological characterization of the sandflieswill be a powerful epidemiological tool for the determination of the number of phlebotominesinfected with Leishmania spp in nature. In addition, the simultaneous occurrence of dogs and P.perniciosus infected with L. infantum shows that Algarve continues to be an endemic focus ofcanine leishmaniasis. Furthermore, as P. sergenti and P. papatasi which transmit L. tropica and L.major, respectively were present, the future introduction of these two Leishmania species in southernregion of Portugal should not be neglected.