Canine visceral leishmaniasis in the metropolitan area of São Paulo: Pintomyia fischeri as potential vector of Leishmania infantum

• Published in: Parasite (Paris) Vol. 24; p. 2
• Main Authors: Galvis-Ovallos, Fredy, da Silva, Mariana Dantas, Bispo, Giulia Baldaconi da Silva, de Oliveira, Alessandra Gutierrez, Neto, José Rodriguez Gonçalves, Malafronte, Rosely Dos Santos, Galati, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France EDP Sciences 2017
• Subjects: Animals; Attraction; Blood meals; Brazil - epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dog Diseases - transmission; Dogs; Feeding rates; Female; Flagellates; Infections; Insect Bites and Stings - complications; Insect Bites and Stings - veterinary; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Insect Vectors - physiology; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania infantum - physiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - transmission; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Life Expectancy; Lutzomyia longipalpis; Male; Metropolitan areas; Migonemyia migonei; Parameters; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Pintomyia fischeri; Psychodidae - parasitology; Psychodidae - physiology; Sandfly; Seasons; Special Issue - ISOPS 9 - International Symposium on Phlebotomine Sandflies; Urban Health - statistics & numerical data; Vector capacity; Vector-borne diseases; Vectors; Visceral leishmaniasis; Zoonoses; Brazil; Sao Paulo Brazil
• ISSN: 1776-1042; 1252-607X; 1776-1042
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017002

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 of Lu. longipalpis s.l. Among these parameters the blood feeding rate, the survival, and the susceptibility to the development of Le. infantum were evaluated for the three species, and the attractiveness of dogs to Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei was evaluated. The estimated interval between blood meals was shorter for Lu. longipalpis s.l, followed by Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei. The infection rate with Le. infantum flagellates in Lu. longipalpis was 9.8%, in Pi. fischeri 4.8%, and in Mg. migonei nil. The respective infective life expectancies (days) of Lu. longipalpis, Mg. migonei, and Pi. fischeri were 2.4, 1.94, and 1.68. Both Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei were captured in the kennel with a predominance (95%) of Pi. fischeri. Considering the great attractiveness of dogs to Pi. fischeri, its susceptibility to infection by Le. infantum, infective life expectancies, and predominance in Greater São Paulo, this study presents evidence of Pi. fischeri as a potential vector of this parasite in the region.