Insights into the transmission cycle of cutaneous leishmaniasis from an endemic community in rural Guatemala

• Published in: Current research in parasitology & vector-borne diseases 2025, Vol.7, p.100244, Article 100244
• Main Authors: Lopez, Yaimie, Casas-Sanchez, Aitor, Arana, Byron, Rizzo, Nidia, Duran, Erick, Padilla, Norma, de la Vega, Andrea, Bustamante, Esteban, Acosta-Serrano, Álvaro, Mendizabal-Cabrera, Renata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Epidemiology; Guatemala; Sand fly; Transmission
• ISSN: 2667-114X; 2667-114X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100244

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic vector-borne disease prevalent in 90 countries. Despite its endemicity in Guatemala, key transmission factors are still unknown. To address this, we characterized sand fly populations and Leishmania parasites in a Guatemalan community in 2022. We visited the households of 23 patients with lesions compatible with CL, sampled for sand flies and analysed Leishmania spp. presence in patients’ skin scrapings and in collected sand flies. We collected 93 sand flies, predominantly females including the vector species Nyssomyia ylephiletor, Bichromomyia olmeca and Lutzomyia cruciata. Nyssomyia ylephiletor was the most abundant species indoors. Four Leishmania spp. were identified including L. panamensis, L. guyanensis, L. braziliensis and L. infantum in CL lesions, L. guyanensis complex species (L. guyanensis or L. panamensis) and Leishmania sp. in sand flies. Sand fly species positive for Leishmania spp. were Ny. ylephiletor, Dampfomyia deleoni, Dampfomyia sp. and Brumptomyia sp. Blood-meal analysis revealed human and pig blood in engorged Ny. ylephiletor collected inside and in the proximity of the households. This is the first report of L. guyanensis in Guatemalan patients and provides insights into CL transmission dynamics, suggesting potential indoor transmission, pending more studies. [Display omitted] •First study exploring sand fly and Leishmania spp. diversity in a community in Guatemala.•Nyssomyia ylephiletor, Lutzomyia cruciata and Brumptomyia mesai were the most abundant sand fly species.•Ny. ylephiletor was captured mostly indoors, suggesting an indoor transmission risk for cutaneous leishmaniasis.•Leishmania guyanensis, L. infantum, L. panamensis, and L. braziliensis were detected in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions.•Leishmania guyanensis and L. infantum are reported for the first time in cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions.