Journal article
The Presence of Leishmania infantum DNA in Sand Flies Reflects Their Proximity to Human and Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, Vol.114(2), pp.312-318
02/04/2026
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.25-0109
PMCID: PMC12874958
PMID: 41662730
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum infections in Brazil, and Lutzomyia longipalpis is its main vector. It is not well understood how L. infantum circulates between three hosts of public health importance: dogs, humans, and sand flies. The focus of this study was to determine the detection rate of L. infantum DNA in sand flies and evaluate the relative contribution of the three hosts as sand fly blood sources. Insects were collected using light traps in households with recent history of human VL, close neighbors of VL cases, and households with no recent history of human VL. DNA was extracted from single sand fly guts and L. infantum DNA, and sources of blood were identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using specific cytochrome B. Among 248 female sand flies captured, qPCR detected L. infantum DNA in 56% of them. Sand flies captured in households with recent history of human VL or VL endemic neighbors were, respectively, 3.73 (95% CI: 1.64–8.48; P = 4.92e-04) or 6.38 (95% CI: 3.37–12.09; P = 4.62e-10) times more likely to carry L. infantum DNA compared with sand flies captured in houses with no history of VL. Dog blood was most common, but multiple blood sources were detected in individual flies. Our findings reaffirm the role of dogs as L. infantum reservoirs in northeast Brazil. These findings highlight the importance of topical insecticides as measures to prevent canine L. infantum infection and limit the risk of human infection.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The Presence of Leishmania infantum DNA in Sand Flies Reflects Their Proximity to Human and Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis
- Creators
- Angelis Maria Alves Falcão - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteJoanna Gardel Valverde - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do NortePaulo Ricardo Porfírio do Nascimento - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteJan Pierre Martins Araújo - Ministério da SaúdeJosé Flávio Vidal Coutinho - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteMary E. Wilson - University of IowaChristine A. Petersen - University of IowaDiego G. Teixeira - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do NorteSelma M. B. Jeronimo - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, Vol.114(2), pp.312-318
- DOI
- 10.4269/ajtmh.25-0109
- PMID
- 41662730
- PMCID
- PMC12874958
- NLM abbreviation
- Am J Trop Med Hyg
- ISSN
- 0002-9637
- eISSN
- 1476-1645
- Publisher
- AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE
- Grant note
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico: 406076/2021-9 National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases: 465229/2014-0 Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior
This work was supported from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (Universal grant no. 406076/2021-9 awarded to S. M. B. Jeronimo) and the National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases (Grant no. 465229/2014-0 awarded to Edgar Carvalho and S. M. B. Jeronimo) . A. M. A. Falcao received a fellowship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 11/20/2025
- Date published
- 02/04/2026
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Infectious Diseases; International Programs; Epidemiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985034950702771
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