Effect of Lutzomyia whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae) Salivary Gland Lysates on Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Infection in BALB/c Mice

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2001-04, Vol.96 (3), p.349-351
• Main Authors: Bezerra, H S, Teixeira, M J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; BALB/c mice; Brazil; Leishmania braziliensis; Leishmania braziliensis - pathogenicity; Leishmania braziliensis, saliva, Lutzomyia whitmani, BALB/c mice; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Lutzomyia whitmani; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; PARASITOLOGY; Psychodidae; Psychodidae - drug effects; saliva; Salivary Glands - chemistry; Tissue Extracts - pharmacology; TROPICAL MEDICINE
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 0074-0276; 1678-8060
• DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762001000300011

Previous reports showed that Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva exacerbate Leishmania braziliensis infection in mice. The sand fly Lu. whitmani is one of the vectors of L. (Viannia) braziliensis (LVb), a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Cear, Brazil. To determine whether saliva of Lu. whitmani could increase the infectivity of LVb in mice, we inoculated groups of BALB/c mice with LVb promastigotes in the presence or absence of the salivary glands lysate from Lu. whitmani. We found that coinjection with Lu. whitmani saliva increased size but not longevity of cutaneous LVb lesions in BALB/c mice, since the formed lesions gradually resolved. The mechanism(s) by which Lu. whitmani saliva might exacerbate LVb infection in BALB/c mice is speculated.