Detection of multiple circulating Leishmania species in Lutzomyia longipalpis in the city of Governador Valadares, southeastern Brazil

AbstractBackgroundLeishmaniasis encompasses a group of diverse clinical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. This disease is a major public health problem in the New World affecting people exposed in endemic regions. The city of Governador Valadares (Minas Gerais/Brazil) is a re-emerging area for visceral leishmaniasis, with 191 human cases reported from 2008 to 2017 and a lethality rate of 14.7%. The transmission of the parasite occurs intensely in this region with up to 22% of domestic dogs with positive serology for the visceral form. Lu. longipalpis is one of the most abundant sand fly species in this area. Despite this scenario, so far there is no information regarding the circulating Leishmania species in the insect vector Lutzomyia longipalpis in this focus.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe collected 616 female Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies between January and September 2015 in the Vila Parque Ibituruna neighborhood (Governador Valadares/MG), which is located on a transitional area between the sylvatic and urban environments with residences built near a preserved area. After DNA extraction of individual sand flies, the natural Leishmania infections in Lu. longipalpis were detected by end-point PCR, using primers derived from kDNA sequences, specific for L. (Leishmania) or L. (Viannia) subgenus. The sensitivity of these PCR reactions was 0.1 pg of DNA for each Leishmania subgenus and the total infection rate of 16.2% (100 positive specimens). Species-specific PCR detected the presence of multiple Leishmania species in infected Lu. longipalpis specimens in Governador Valadares, including L. amazonensis (n=3), L. infantum (n=28), L. (Viannia) spp. (n=20), coinfections with L. infantum and L. (Viannia) spp. (n=5), and L. (Leishmania) spp (n=44).ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that multiple Leishmania species circulate in Lu. longipalpis in Governador Valadares and reveal a potential increasing risk of transmission of the different circulating parasite species. This information is a key factor for planning surveillance and effective control strategies against leishmaniasis in this endemic focus.Author summaryLeishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease transmitted to mammals by the bite of sand flies infected with parasites of the Leishmania genus. This disease affects millions of people in various regions of the world, including Brazil. The municipality of Governador Valadares (Minas Gerais/Brazil) is a re-emergent focus of intense transmission of leishmaniasis, with a high number of human cases and a high prevalence of infected domestic dogs. To develop better leishmaniasis control strategies for the region, we performed a surveillance study of Lu. longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil, and identified circulating species of Leishmania in this insect vector. We estimate that the natural infection rate of Lu. longipalpis for these parasites was of 16.2% in the study area. We also detected the presence of multiple circulating Leishmania species (L. amazonensis, L. infantum and Viannia subgenus) in Lu. longipalpis in Governador Valadares city, including 5 sand flies coinfected with L. infantum and L. (Viannia). Thus, our results reinforce the need for a rigid and systematic control of the sand flies monitoring in this area, due to the potential risk of transmission of different species of the Leishmania parasites.