Afrotropical sand fly-host plant relationships in a leishmaniasis endemic area, Kenya

The bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies is intimately linked to the utilization of environmental resources including plant feeding. However, plant feeding behavior of sand flies remains largely understudied for Afrotropical species. Here, using a combination of biochemical, molecular, and chemical approaches, we decipher specific plant-feeding associations in field-collected sand flies from a dry ecology endemic for leishmaniasis in Kenya. Cold-anthrone test indicative of recent plant feeding showed that fructose positivity rates were similar in both sand fly sexes and between those sampled indoors and outdoors. Analysis of derived sequences of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit gene (rbcL) from fructose-positive specimens implicated mainly Acacia plants in the family Fabaceae (73%) as those readily foraged on by both sexes of Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Chemical analysis by high performance liquid chromatography detected fructose as the most common sugar in sand flies and leaves of selected plant species in the Fabaceae family. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) of the headspace volatile profiles of selected Fabaceae plants identified benzyl alcohol, (Z)-linalool oxide, (E)-β-ocimene, p-cymene, p-cresol, and m-cresol, as discriminating compounds between the plant volatiles. These results indicate selective sand fly plant feeding and suggest that the discriminating volatile organic compounds could be exploited in attractive toxic sugar- and odor- bait technologies control strategies.German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) In-Region Postgraduate Scholarship; Combatting Arthropod Pests for better Health, Food and Climate Resilience funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad); UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Kenya.https://journals.plos.org/plosntdspm2022Zoology and Entomolog

Behavioural responses of Phlebotomus duboscqi to plant-derived volatile organic compounds

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites that cause leishmaniases. Both sexes of sand flies feed on plants primarily for sugars, although the chemical cues that mediate attraction to host plants remain largely unknown. Previously, using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the authors identified several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) common to preferred host plants for selected Afrotropical sand flies from the Fabaceae family. Of the identified volatiles, the significance of the monoterpenes linalool oxide, ocimene and p-cymene and the benzenoid m-cresol, p-cresol in sand fly behaviour is unknown. In olfactometer assays, the authors tested these compounds singly and in blends for their attractiveness to Phlebotomus duboscqi, cutaneous leishmaniasis vector in Kenya. In dose–response assays, single compounds increased the responses of males and females over controls, but their optimum attractive doses varied between the sexes. Two five-component blends, referred to as Blend-f and Blend-m for females and males respectively, were formulated and tested in dose–response assays against 1-octen-3-ol (positive control). The results of the present study showed that males and females were significantly attracted to varying levels of the two blends. In pairwise assays, the authors evaluated the most attractive of these blends to each sex (i.e., Blend Am for male against Blend Bf for female), revealing that males were attracted to both blends at varying levels, whereas females were indifferent. The study's results demonstrate that plant-derived VOCs can be exploited for sand fly management.Government of the Republic of Kenya; Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation; German Academic Exchange Service.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/136529152022-07-26hj2022Zoology and Entomolog

Exploring the influence of different habitats and their volatile chemistry in modulating sand fly population structure in a leishmaniasis endemic Foci, Kenya

Phlebotomine sand flies transmit many viral protozoan and bacterial pathogens of public health importance. Knowledge of the ecologic factors influencing their distribution at local scale can provide insights into disease epidemiology and avenues for targeted control. Animal sheds, termite mounds and houses are important peri-domestic and domestic habitats utilized by different sand flies as resting or breeding habitats. However, our knowledge for selection of these habitats by sand flies remains poor. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these habitat types harbor different composition of sand fly species and differ in their volatile chemistry that could influence sand fly selection. To achieve this, we employed CDC light traps following a cross-sectional survey to investigate the distribution of sand flies in the three habitats in an endemic site for leishmaniasis in Kenya. The study was carried out during the dry season, when sand flies are optimally abundant in 2018 and 2020. Sand fly abundance did not vary between the habitats, but species-specific differences in abundance was evident. Measures of sand fly community structure (Shannon diversity and richness) were highest in animal shed, followed by termite mound and lowest inside human dwelling (house). This finding indicates broader attraction of both sexes of sand flies and females of varying physiological states to animal sheds potentially used as breeding or resting sites, but also as a signal for host presence for a blood meal. Furthermore, gas chromatographymass spectrometric analysis of volatiles collected from represented substrates associated with these habitats viz: human foot odor on worn socks (houses indoors), cow dung (animal sheds) and termite mounds (enclosed vent), revealed a total of 47 volatile organic compounds. Of these, 26, 35 and 16 were detected in human socks, cow dung and enclosed termite vent, respectively. Of these volatiles, 1-octen-3-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, α-pinene, benzyl alcohol, m-cresol, p-cresol and decanal, previously known as attractants for sandflies and other blood-feeding insects, were common to the habitats. Our results suggest that habitat volatiles may contribute to the composition of sand flies and highlight their potential for use in monitoring sand fly populations.https://journals.plos.org/plosntdspm2022Zoology and Entomolog

Exploring the influence of different habitats and their volatile chemistry in modulating sand fly population structure in a leishmaniasis endemic foci, Kenya.

Phlebotomine sand flies transmit many viral protozoan and bacterial pathogens of public health importance. Knowledge of the ecologic factors influencing their distribution at local scale can provide insights into disease epidemiology and avenues for targeted control. Animal sheds, termite mounds and houses are important peri-domestic and domestic habitats utilized by different sand flies as resting or breeding habitats. However, our knowledge for selection of these habitats by sand flies remains poor. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these habitat types harbor different composition of sand fly species and differ in their volatile chemistry that could influence sand fly selection. To achieve this, we employed CDC light traps following a cross-sectional survey to investigate the distribution of sand flies in the three habitats in an endemic site for leishmaniasis in Kenya. The study was carried out during the dry season, when sand flies are optimally abundant in 2018 and 2020. Sand fly abundance did not vary between the habitats, but species-specific differences in abundance was evident. Measures of sand fly community structure (Shannon diversity and richness) were highest in animal shed, followed by termite mound and lowest inside human dwelling (house). This finding indicates broader attraction of both sexes of sand flies and females of varying physiological states to animal sheds potentially used as breeding or resting sites, but also as a signal for host presence for a blood meal. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of volatiles collected from represented substrates associated with these habitats viz: human foot odor on worn socks (houses indoors), cow dung (animal sheds) and termite mounds (enclosed vent), revealed a total of 47 volatile organic compounds. Of these, 26, 35 and 16 were detected in human socks, cow dung and enclosed termite vent, respectively. Of these volatiles, 1-octen-3-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, α-pinene, benzyl alcohol, m-cresol, p-cresol and decanal, previously known as attractants for sandflies and other blood-feeding insects, were common to the habitats. Our results suggest that habitat volatiles may contribute to the composition of sand flies and highlight their potential for use in monitoring sand fly populations

Afrotropical sand fly-host plant relationships in a leishmaniasis endemic area, Kenya.

The bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies is intimately linked to the utilization of environmental resources including plant feeding. However, plant feeding behavior of sand flies remains largely understudied for Afrotropical species. Here, using a combination of biochemical, molecular, and chemical approaches, we decipher specific plant-feeding associations in field-collected sand flies from a dry ecology endemic for leishmaniasis in Kenya. Cold-anthrone test indicative of recent plant feeding showed that fructose positivity rates were similar in both sand fly sexes and between those sampled indoors and outdoors. Analysis of derived sequences of the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit gene (rbcL) from fructose-positive specimens implicated mainly Acacia plants in the family Fabaceae (73%) as those readily foraged on by both sexes of Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Chemical analysis by high performance liquid chromatography detected fructose as the most common sugar in sand flies and leaves of selected plant species in the Fabaceae family. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) of the headspace volatile profiles of selected Fabaceae plants identified benzyl alcohol, (Z)-linalool oxide, (E)-β-ocimene, p-cymene, p-cresol, and m-cresol, as discriminating compounds between the plant volatiles. These results indicate selective sand fly plant feeding and suggest that the discriminating volatile organic compounds could be exploited in attractive toxic sugar- and odor- bait technologies control strategies