Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum DNA detection in Nyssomyia neivai in Vale do Ribeira, Paraná, Brazil

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2024, Vol.119, p.e230173-e230173
• Main Authors: Morelli, Letícia Cristina, Pita-Pereira, Daniela de, Britto, Constança, Araújo-Pereira, Thais de, de Souza, Lucas Alexandre Farias, Germano, Kelly de Oliveira, Andrade, Andrey José de, Costa-Ribeiro, Magda Clara Vieira da
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Brazil - epidemiology; DNA; Leishmania braziliensis - genetics; Leishmania infantum - genetics; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; PARASITOLOGY; Phlebotomus; Psychodidae - parasitology; TROPICAL MEDICINE
• ISSN: 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 1678-8060
• DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230173

The incidence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has increased in the Southern region of Brazil in recent years, especially in the State of Paraná. New species have been suggested with potential to act as vector in VL endemic areas. Identify the Leishmania species in sand fly specimens collected from 2016 to 2018 in the municipality of Itaperuçu, Vale do Ribeira, Paraná, Brazil. Light traps were used for collections and for the analysis of sand fly were used the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology and subsequent sequencing. Among the collected specimens, 88.62% were attributed to the species Nyssomyia neivai, which were grouped into 176 pools. Three positive pools were detected: two with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and one with L. (Leishmania) infantum. The positivity rate for the parasite was 0.25% based on the presence of at least one infected insect in the pool. The detection of L. infantum in Ny. neivai draws attention due to its abundance and anthropophily in the State of Paraná. Moreover, this finding is considered as an alert and suggests that the vector competence of Ny. neivai and the criteria for its incrimination should be carried out, given its wide distribution in southern of Brazil.