Abstract
Two clinico-epidemiological forms of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum complex are endemic in Algeria: human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis. In the northern part of the country, the Kabylian region is the main endemic HVL focus with more than 200 cases recorded annually. During the summer of 2009, an entomological study was performed in Larbaa Nath Irathen with the aim to identify the vectors of Leishmania and of phleboviruses. In the present paper, we report the results of the Leishmania vectors. In the field, female sand flies, which were alive at collection time, were morphologically identified and examined for the presence of promastigotes. The remaining sandflies (males and dead females) were carried to the laboratory for morphological identification and molecular analysis. Total DNA was extracted from each female sandfly, and ITS2 Leishmania was amplified by PCR. A total of 883 sandfly specimens were collected. Ten distinct species were morphologically identified: one species belonged to the Sergentomyia genus and nine to the Phlebotomus genus. L. infantum DNA was amplified in 1/169 (0.6%) dissected dead females, one Phlebotomus longicuspis. Our data support the Parrot's hypothesis raised in 1941 concerning the role of P. longicuspis in the transmission of L. infantum.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abonnenc E (1972) Les phlébotomes de la région éthiopienne (Diptera, Psychodidae). Memoires O.R.S.T.O.M
Achour-Barchiche N, Madiou M (2009) Outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis: About 213 cases in the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou. Pathol Biol 57:65–70
Bailly-Choumara H, Abonnenc E, Pastre J (1971) Données faunistiques et écologiques Contribution à l’étude des Phlébotomes du Maroc (Diptem, Psycbodidaf). Ent Med Parasitol 4:431–460
Belazzoug S, Addadi K, Mokrani T, Hafirassou N, Hamrioui B, Belkaid B (1985a) La leishmaniose viscérale en Algérie: Etude des cas hospitalisés entre 1975 et 1984. Ann Soc belge Med Trop 65:329–335
Belazzoug S, Lanotte G, Maazoun R, Pratlong F, Rioux JA (1985b) Un nouveau variant enzymatique de Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908, Agent de la leishmaniose cutanée du nord de l'Algérie. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 60:1–3
Benikhlef R, Pratlong F, Harrat Z, Seridi N, Bendali-Braham S, Belkaid M, Dedet JP (2001) Infantile visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum zymodeme MON-24 in Algeria. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 94:14–16
Benikhlef R, Harrat Z, Toudjine M, Djerbouh A, Bendali-Braham S, Belkaid M (2004) Detection of Leishmania infantum MON-24 in the dog. Med Trop J 64:381–383
Berdjane-Brouk Z, Charrel RN, Bitam I, Hamrioui B, Izri A (2011) Record of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) mascittii Grassi, 1908 and Phlebotomus (Larroussius) chadlii Rioux, Juminer & Gibily, 1966 female in Algeria. Parasite 18:337–339
Dedet JP, Addadi K, Belazzoug S (1984) Les phlébotomes (Diptera, Psychodidae) d’Algérie. Ent Med Parasitol 22:99–127
Doury P (1957) Trois nouveaux cas autochtones de leishmaniose générale (kala-azar, Méditerranéen) observés au Hoggar (Sahara Central). Arch Inst Pasteur Alger 3:204–221
Harrat Z, Hamrioui B, Belkaid M, Tabet-Derraz O (1995) Current point of Leishmaniasis epidemiology in Algeria. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 88:180–184
Harrat Z, Pratlong F, Belazzoug S, Dereure J, Deniau M, Rioux JA, Belkaid M, Dedet JP (1996) Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major in Algeria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 90:625–629
Izri MA, Belazzoug S (1993) Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi naturally infected with dermotropic Leishmania infantum at Tenes, Algeria. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 87:399
Izri MA, Belazzoug S, Boudjebla Y, Dereure J, Pratlong F, Delalbre-Belmonte A, Rioux JA (1990) Leishmania infantum MON-1 isolé de Phlebotomus perniciosus, en Kabylie (Algérie). Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 65:151–152
Izri A, Temmam S, Moureau G, Hamrioui B, de Lamballerie X, Charrel RN (2008) Sandfly fever Sicilian virus. Algeria Emerg Infect Dis 14:795–797
Léger N, Pesson B, Madulo-Leblond G, Abonnenc E (1983) Sur la différentiation des femelles du sous-genre Larroussius Nitzulesc, 1931 (Diptera, Phlebotomidae) de la région méditerranéenne. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 58:611–623
Moureau G, Bichaud L, Salez N, Ninove L, Hamrioui B, Belazzoug S, de Lamballerie X, Izri A, Charrel RN (2010) Molecular and serological evidence for the presence of novel phleboviruses in sandflies from Northern Algeria. Open Virol J 22:15–21
Parrot L, Donatien A, Plantureux E (1941) Sur l’infection naturelle des phlébotomes par la leishmaniose générale de l’homme et du chien en Algérie. Arch Inst Pasteur Alger 19:209–218
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Doctor R. Benane, veterinarian in Larbaa Nath Irathen (LNI) region, for the help and availability to realize this study.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Berdjane-Brouk, Z., Charrel, R.N., Hamrioui, B. et al. First detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in Phlebotomus longicuspis Nitzulescu, 1930 from visceral leishmaniasis endemic focus in Algeria. Parasitol Res 111, 419–422 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2858-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2858-1