Multiplex-PCR for detection of natural Leishmania infection in Lutzomyia spp. captured in an endemic region for cutaneous leishmaniasis in state of Sucre, Venezuela

• Main Authors: Alicia Jorquera, Ricardo González, Edgar Marchán-Marcano, Milagros Oviedo, Mercedes Matos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2005-02-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: cutaneous leishmaniasis; sand flies vectors; natural infections; polymerase chain reaction; Lutzomyia spp; Venezuela
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762005000100008

We studied the natural infection of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) sp. with Leishmania in endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Paria peninsula, state of Sucre, Venezuela. Sand flies were collected between March 2001 and June 2003, using Shannon light-traps and human bait. Of the 1291 insects captured, only two species of phlebotomines were identified: L. ovallesi (82.75%) and L. gomezi (17.42%). A sample of the collected sand flies (51 pools of 2-12 individuals) were analyzed by using a multiplex-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of New Word Leishmaniaand Viannia subgenera. The results showed a total of 8 pools (15.68%) infected; of these, 7 were L. ovallesi naturally infected with L. braziliensis (2 pools) and L. mexicana (5 pools) and 1 pool of L. gomezi infected by L. braziliensis.