Multiscale environmental determinants of Leishmania vectors in the urban-rural context

Background: In South America, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are emerging diseases, expanding in the border area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Outbreaks of CL were reported since the 1990s, with Nyssomyia whitmani as the main vector in this region. Regarding VL, urban reports started in 2010 with Lutzomyia longipalpis as the main vector. The aim of this study was to evaluate environmental determinants related to the main vectors of leishmaniasis, to contribute to the prevention and control response to the emergence of VL and CL in the Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay border region. Methods: The cross-sectional survey includes two cities and two close rural areas in the Argentinean Northeast Region, between November 2014 and January 2015, with a total of 95 sampling sites. REDILA-BL traps were set for three consecutive nights, and a total of 68 meso-and microscale environmental and landscape characteristics were surveyed. The association between vector abundance with different variables was evaluated using a generalized linear model with zero-inflated negative binomial distribution. We analyzed females for detection of Leishmania DNA. Results: The analysis for Lu. longipalpis indicates an excess of absences when the mean NDWI around the sites were higher. The abundance of Lu. longipalpis at mesoscale level was higher when more urban services were present, and when blood sources such as chickens or dogs at the microscale level were present. For Ny. whitmani, no variable was found to be associated with the absences, while its abundance increased in association with the following variables: percentage of tree cover, presence of garbage collection service, hosted people and, at microscale, the presence of poultry. Leshmania infantum DNA was detected in 2/49 (4%) Lu. longipalpis. Conclusions: The abundance of both species is influenced by variables at different scales, their influence probably has a hierarchy and they are acting on different aspects of the biology of these vectors. The urban spatial segregation of Lu. longipalpis and the peri-urban and rural segregation of N. whitmani increase the risk of VL and CL. The selection of the better variables for each scale will allow the design of appropriate control strategies depending on species.Fil: Quintana, María Gabriela. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Santini, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud. Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Endemo-epidémicas; ArgentinaFil: Cavia, Regino. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Mariela Florencia. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Pérez, Adriana Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Direni Mancini, José Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Moya, Sofía Lorián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentin

Twice upon a time: The progression of canine visceral leishmaniasis in an Argentinean city

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) prevalence, spatial distribution and associated factors were assessed in four locations in Iguazú department in 2014 and in Puerto Iguazú city again in 2018. The city areas were divided into a grid of 400x400m cells. All cells were sampled in 2014 and a random subsampling was developed in 2018. In each cell, five dogs clustered in a ?critical scenario? (prone to have vectors) were sampled. A rapid immunochromatographic dipstick was used to detect antibodies against Leishmania infantum, confirming by lymph node smears observation and PCR. For Puerto Iguazú, Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were constructed considering environmental, dog and clinical variables. Pearson's Chi square and Fisher's exact tests were employed to evaluate the association between CVL, dog clinical signs and infestation with other parasites. Cartographic outputs were made and Moran's I indices were calculated as spatial autocorrelation indicators. CVL prevalence rates were 26.18% in 2014 and 17.50% in 2018. No associations were established in environmental models, but dog age and repellent use were significant when running 2014 dog models. Clinical models showed significant associations between seropositive dogs and ophthalmological, dermal signs and onychogryphosis in 2014. In 2018, only adenomegaly was associated. The results of global Moran´s I were not significant but regarding local analysis, six sites in 2014 and one in 2018 presented autocorrelation with neighboring sites. The decrease in CVL prevalence may be associated to transmission stabilization, which could explain the lack of associations with dog-related variables. Further, spatial distribution of CVL is a poor evidence for design of transmission control measures but could be important in case of intensive parasite circulation or when the first autochthonous cases appear. For control success, sensitivity of diagnostic methods, political will and adequate material resources remain critical. Modeling of multiple variables will be required to identify factors that drive disease stabilization/destabilizationFil: Lamattina, Daniela. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Berrozpe, Pablo Eduardo. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Casas, Natalia. Ministerio de Salud y Desarrollo Social de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Epidemiología y Análisis de la Situación de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Moya, Sofía Lorian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Sebastián Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Sede Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Arrabal, Juan Pablo. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, Mariela Florencia. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; ArgentinaFil: Rivero, María Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Salas, Martín. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Humeres, Cristian Alejandro. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Meichtry, María Belén. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical. Departamento de Investigación; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentin

Primera detección de Rickettsia asembonensis en Ctenocephalides felis felis en Argentina : Un estudio epidemiológico en pulgas de animales de compañía y sinantrópicos en el trifinio del Noreste argentino

Las rickettsiosis son enfermedades zoonóticas causadas por bacterias del género Rickettsia y transmitidas a humanos por medio de artrópodos vectores. En este sentido, las pulgas son importantes en salud pública debido a su rol como parásitos y como vectores de bacterias patógenas.Trabajo publicado en Cagliada, Maria del Pilar Lilia y Galosi, Cecilia Mónica (comps.). I Congreso de Microbiología Veterinaria. Libro de resúmenes. La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 2021.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Leishmania infantum DNA detected in phlebotomine species from Puerto Iguazú City, Misiones province, Argentina

In Puerto Iguazú City, Argentina, human and canine Visceral Leishmaniasis cases have been recorded since theyear 2010, with Leishmania infantum as the etiological agent and Lutzomyia longipalpis as its main vector. In thepresent study, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were used to detect L. infantum DNA in 3.9% of thefemale sandflies captured in Puerto Iguazú City. This is the first report of L. infantum DNA detection inMicropygomyia quinquefer, and the second one in Lu. longipalpis and Nyssomyia whitmani for Argentina. Althoughthe detection of Leishmania DNA itself is not enough to determine a Phlebotomine species as a vector, theseresults are significant in setting the direction of further investigations of vectorial competence and capacity,necessary to define the roles of different sandflies species as specific or permissive vectors in the transmission VLcycle.Fil: Moya, Sofía Lorián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Santini, Maria Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud “Dr. C. G. Malbrán”; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentin

Assessment of the role of small mammals in the transmission cycle of tegumentary leishmaniasis and first report of natural infection with Leishmania braziliensis in two sigmodontines in northeastern Argentina

To contribute to the knowledge of the role of small mammals in the transmission cycle of tegumentary leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania braziliensis, we studied the small mammal community and its temporal and spatial association with phlebotominae, as well as small mammal infection by Leishmania spp. by PCR-RFLP analyses in an endemic area of northeastern Argentina. Ten small mammal samplings were conducted (2007–2009, 7506 Sherman trap nights and 422 cage trap nights). In two of these samplings, 16 capture stations each one consisting of a CDC light trap to capture phlebotominae, two to four Sherman traps and two cage traps were placed. We found co-occurrence of phlebotominae and small mammal captures in four stations, which were all the stations with small mammal captures and yielded 97% (2295 specimens, including 21 gravid females) of the total phlebotominae captures, suggesting that small mammals may provide a potential source of blood for phlebotominae females. One Didelphis albiventris and two Rattus rattus were associated with high captures of Nyssomyia whitmani, vector of L. braziliensis in the study area. The PCR-RFLP analyses confirm the presence of L. braziliensis in two sigmodontine small mammals (Akodon sp. and Euryoryzomys russatus) for the first time in Argentina, to our knowledge.Fil: Fernández, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Fraschina, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Acardi, Soraya Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Lestani, Eduardo Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; ArgentinaFil: Busch, Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. La Red de Investigación de la Leishmaniasis en Argentina; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación; Argentin

First description of Migonemyia migonei (França) and Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) natural infected by Leishmania infantum in Argentina

Leishmania infantum is the etiological agent of the Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) disease in America, with Lutzomyia longipalpis phlebotomine sandflies as its proven vectors in Argentina, and infected dogs as its main urban reservoir. In Puerto Iguazú City (Misiones province, Argentina), human and canine cases of VL were recorded. Additionally, in the rural area known as “2000 Hectáreas”, less than 10 km away from the city, several human cases of Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (TL) were registered determining an endemic area with Leishmania braziliensis as the etiological agent. Because of this, several phlebotomine captures were done in this site showing that Nyssomyia whitmani is the most abundant sandfly followed by Migonemyia migonei. In this study, three of the sandflies captured were found infected whit L. infantum parasites, detected by PCR and sequencing. Two of them were N. whitmani and the other one was a M. migonei specimen, being this the first report of L. infantum natural infection for Argentina in these sandfly species. N. whitmani is the main vector of L. braziliensis in this area, and M. migonei has been suggested as a putative vector in other locations where human and canine cases of VL where reported with L. longipalpis apparently absent. In this context, we consider necessary further studies that could define the role of M. migonei and N. whitmani as specific or permissive vectors of L. infantum, their vectorial competence and capacity, and their actual role in the transmission of both Tegumentary and Visceral Leishmaniasis in the study areaFil: Moya, Sofía Lorián. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Manteca Acosta, Mariana. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Liotta, Domingo Javier. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Genetic diversity, phylogeography and molecular clock of the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Background: The Lutzomyia longipalpis complex has a wide but discontinuous distribution in Latin America, extending throughout the Neotropical realm between Mexico and northern Argentina and Uruguay. In the Americas, this sandfly is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, the parasite responsible for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). The Lu. longipalpis complex consists of at least four sibling species, however, there is no current consensus on the number of haplogroups, or on their divergence. Particularly in Argentina, there have been few genetic analyses of Lu. longipalpis, despite its southern expansion and recent colonization of urban environments. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity and structure of Lu. longipalpis from Argentina, and to integrate these data to re-evaluate the phylogeography of the Lu. longipalpis complex using mitochondrial markers at a Latin American scale. Methodology/Principal findings: Genetic diversity was estimated from six sites in Argentina, using a fragment of the ND4 and the 3´ extreme of the cyt b genes. Greatest genetic diversity was found in Tartagal, Santo Tomé and San Ignacio. There was high genetic differentiation of Lu. longipalpis in Argentina using both markers: ND4 (FST= 0.452, p < 0.0001), cyt b (FST= 0.201, p < 0.0001). Genetic and spatial Geneland analyses reveal the existence of two primary genetic clusters in Argentina, cluster 1: Tartagal, Santo Tomé, and San Ignacio; cluster 2: Puerto Iguazú, Clorinda, and Corrientes city. Phylogeographic analyses using ND4 and cyt b gene sequences available in GenBank from diverse geographic sites suggest greater divergence than previously reported. At least eight haplogroups (three of these identified in Argentina), each separated by multiple mutational steps using the ND4, are differentiated across the Neotropical realm. The divergence of the Lu. longipalpis complex from its most recent common ancestor (MRCA) was estimated to have occurred 0.70 MYA (95% HPD interval = 0.48–0.99 MYA). Conclusions/Significance: This study provides new evidence supporting two Lu. longipalpis genetic clusters and three of the total eight haplogroups circulating in Argentina. There was a high level of phylogeographic divergence among the eight haplogroups of the Lu. longipalpis complex across the Neotropical realm. These findings suggest the need to analyze vector competence, among other parameters intrinsic to a zoonosis, according to vector haplogroup, and to consider these in the design and surveillance of vector and transmission control strategies.Fil: Pech May, Angélica del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Ramsey, Janine. Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública; MéxicoFil: González Ittig, Raúl Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Giuliani, Magalí Gabriela. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Berrozpe, Pablo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Quintana, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; ArgentinaFil: Salomón, Oscar Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical; Argentin