Enhanced attraction of sand fly vectors of leishmania infantum to dogs infected with zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis

Chelbi, I. and Maghraoui, K. and Zhioua, S. and Cherni, S. and Labidi, I. and Satoskar, A. and Hamilton, J.G.C. and Zhioua, E. (2021) Enhanced attraction of sand fly vectors of leishmania infantum to dogs infected with zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15 (7): e0009647. ISSN 1935-2727

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Abstract

Background: The sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, etiological agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the Western Mediterranean basin. Dogs are the main reservoir host of this disease. The main objective of this study was to determine, under both laboratory and field conditions, if dogs infected with L. infantum, were more attractive to female P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs. Methodology/Principal findings: We carried out a series of host choice experiments and found that infected dogs were significantly more attractive to P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs in the laboratory as well as in the field. Significantly more P. perniciosus fed on infected dogs than on uninfected dogs. However, the fecundity of P. perniciosus fed on infected dogs was adversely impacted compared to uninfected dogs by lowering the number of laid eggs. Phlebotomus perfiliewi, the second most abundant sand fly species in the field site and a competent vector of L. infantum had similar trends of attractivity as P. perniciosus toward infected dogs under field conditions. Conclusions: The results strongly suggest that L. infantum causes physiological changes in the reservoir host which lead to the host becoming more attractive to both male and female P. perniciosus. These changes are likely to improve the chance of successful transmission because of increased contact with infected hosts and therefore, infected dogs should be particularly targeted in the control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in North Africa.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2725
Subjects:
?? infectious diseasespublic health, environmental and occupational healthpharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutics(all) ??
ID Code:
158760
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
14 Sep 2021 10:42
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 21:53