Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Phlebotomine sandflies and factors associated with their abundance in the leishmaniasis endemic area of Attiki, Greece

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease of animals and humans caused by several Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. The aim of the present study was to identify the species of field collected phlebotomine sandflies in the endemic area of the Attiki during 4 consecutive years, to isolate the Leishmania parasites from the infected sandflies, and identify possible factors associated with sandfly abundance in the area. A total of 542 trappings were made in 46 collection sites, in purely urban areas, periurban areas, and purely rural areas in Attiki. Out of the 3254 sandflies trapped, 1448 (44.43%) were female and 241 (16.64%) of the females were blood fed while Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in the 0.41% of them. Regarding sandfly species, the most prevalent was Phlebotomus tobbi (41.52%) followed by Sergentomyia minuta (27.44%), P. neglectus (14.83%), P. simici (11.08%), P. papatasi (3.68%), P. similis (0.89%), and P. alexandri (0.56%). Periurban areas were found to have the highest density of sandfly populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler S (1947) The behaviour of a Sudan strain of Leishmania donovani in Phlebotomus papatasii; a comparison of strains of Leishmania. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 40:701–712

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Antoniou M, Gramiccia M, Molina R, Dvorak V, Volf P (2013) The role of indigenous phlebotomine sandflies and mammals in the spreading of leishmaniasis agents in the Mediterranean region. Euro Surveill 18:20540

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aransay AM, Scoulica E, Chaniotis B, Tselentis Y (1999) Typing of sandflies from Greece and Cyprus by DNA polymorphism of 18S rRNA gene. Insect Mol Biol 8:179–184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Aransay AM, Scoulica E, Tselentis Y (2000) Detection and identification of Leishmania DNA within naturally infected sand flies by seminested PCR on minicircle kinetoplastic DNA. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:1933–1938

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Athanasiou LV, Kontos VI, Saridomichelakis MN, Rallis TS, Diakou A (2012) A cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study of canine leishmaniasis in Greek mainland. Acta Trop 122:291–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Athanasiou LV, Saridomichelakis MN, Kontos VI, Spanakos G, Rallis TS (2013) Treatment of canine leishmaniosis with aminosidine at an optimized dosage regimen: a pilot open clinical trial. Vet Parasitol 192:91–97

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bosnic S, Gradoni L, Khoury C, Maroli M (2006) A review of leishmaniasis in Dalmatia (Croatia) and results from recent surveys on phlebotomine sandflies in three southern counties. Acta Trop 99:42–49

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boutsini S, Patakakis M, Burriel AR, Kontos B (2002) Serologic evidence of mixed infection involving the zoonoses leishmaniasis and leptospirosis in Greek dogs. New Microbiol 25:455–462

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaniotis B, Tselentis Y (1996) Water wells as a habitat of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in Greece. J Med Entomol 33:269–270

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaniotis B, Gozalo Garcia G, Tselentis Y (1994) Leishmaniasis in greater Athens, Greece. Entomological studies. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 88:659–663

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chaskopoulou A, Giantsis IA, Demir S, Bon MC (2016) Species composition, activity patterns and blood meal analysis of sand fly populations (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the metropolitan region of Thessaloniki, an endemic focus of canine leishmaniasis. Acta Trop 158:170–176

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dantas-Torres F (2007) The role of dogs as reservoirs of Leishmania parasites, with emphasis on Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Vet Parasitol 149:139–146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dereure J PF, Dedet JP (1999) Geographical distribution and the identification of parasites causing canine leishmaniasis in the Mediterranean Basin. Canine leishmaniasis an update. In: International Canine Leishmaniasis Forum, Barcelona, pp 18–25

  • Gkolfinopoulou K, Bitsolas N, Patrinos S, Veneti L, Marka A, Dougas G, Pervanidou D, Detsis M, Triantafillou E, Georgakopoulou T, Billinis C, Kremastinou J, Hadjichristodoulou C (2013) Epidemiology of human leishmaniasis in Greece, 1981-2011. Euro Surveill 18:20532

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hadjinicolaou J (1958) Present status of Phlebotomus in certain areas of Greece. Bull World Health Organ 19:967–979

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hertig M (1949) Phlebotomus and residual DDT in Greece and Italy. Am J Trop Med Hyg 29:773–809

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ivovic V, Patakakis M, Tselentis Y, Chaniotis B (2007) Faunistic study of sandflies in Greece. Med Vet Entomol 21:121–124

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karanis P, Frank C, Schmalle H, Naucke TJ, Jorden U, Metallinou C, Haralabidis S, Maier WA, Seitz HM, Himonas C (2000) Sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae) distribution in Nothern Greece. Entomol Hell 13:13–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Killick-Kendrick R (1999) The biology and control of phlebotomine sand flies. Clin Dermatol 17:279–289

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn KG (1999) Global warming and leishmaniasis in Italy. Bull Trop Med Int Health 7:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane RP, Boorman J, Wilkinson PJ (1984) Phlebotomus tobbi on the Greek island of Lesbos. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 78:413

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lanotte G, Rioux JA, Perieres J, Vollhardt Y (1979) Ecology of leishmaniasis in the south of France. 10. Developmental stages and clinical characterization of canine leishmaniasis in relation to epidemiology. (author’s transl). Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 54:277–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leger N, Pesson B, Madulo-Leblond G (1986) Phlebotomus in Greece. Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales 79:514–524

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leger N, Gramiccia M, Gradoni L, Madulo-Leblond G, Pesson B, Ferte H, Boulanger N, Killick-Kendrick R, Killick-Kendrick M (1988) Isolation and typing of Leishmania infantum from Phlebotomus neglectus on the island of Corfu, Greece. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 82:419–420

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leger N, Depaquit J, Ferte H, Rioux JA, Gantier JC, Gramiccia M, Ludovisi A, Michaelides A, Christophi N, Economides P (2000) Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera-Psychodidae) of the isle of Cyprus. II—Isolation and typing of Leishmania (Leishmania infantum) Nicolle, 1908 (zymodeme MON 1) from Phlebotomus (Larroussius) tobbi Adler and Theodor, 1930. Parasite 7:143–146

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis DJ (1969) The distribution of Phlebotomus langeroni orientalis. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 63:20

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis DJ (1987) Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Oriental Region. Syst Entomol 12:163–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maia C, Depaquit J (2016) Can Sergentomyia (Diptera, Psychodidae) play a role in the transmission of mammal-infecting Leishmania? Parasite 23:55

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva BR, Secundino NF, Nascimento JC, Pimenta PF, Galati EA, Junior HF, Malafronte RS (2006) Detection and identification of Leishmania species in field-captured phlebotomine sandflies based on mini-exon gene PCR. Acta Trop 99:252–259

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulos B, Tselentis Y (1994) Sandflies in the Greater Athens region, Greece. Parasite 1:131–140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pesson B, Leger N, Madulo-Leblond G (1984) Leishmaniasis in Greece: the sandflies of the Ionian islands and Aegean Sea. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 59:277–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rioux JA, Lanotte G, Croset H, Dedet JP (1972) Ecology of leishmaniasis in the south of France. 5. Comparative infectious ability of the different forms of canine leishmaniasis as related to Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir 1921. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 47:413–419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rioux JA, Lanotte G, Perieres J, Croset H (1973) Ecology of leishmaniasis in the South of France. 6. First report of a spontaneous infestation of Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir, 1921 (author’s transl). Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 48:519–522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rioux JA, Aboulker JP, Lanotte G, Killick-Kendrick R, Martini-Dumas A (1985) Ecology of leishmaniasis in the south of France. 21. Influence of temperature on the development of Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908 in Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir, 1921. Experimental study. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp 60:221–229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rose K, Curtis J, Baldwin T, Mathis A, Kumar B, Sakthianandeswaren A, Spurck T, Low Choy J, Handman E (2004) Cutaneous leishmaniasis in red kangaroos: isolation and characterisation of the causative organisms. Int J Parasitol 34:655–664

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi E, Bongiorno G, Ciolli E, Di Muccio T, Scalone A, Gramiccia M, Gradoni L, Maroli M (2008) Seasonal phenology, host-blood feeding preferences and natural Leishmania infection of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera, Psychodidae) in a high-endemic focus of canine leishmaniasis in Rome province, Italy. Acta Trop 105:158–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek FM, Alten B, Caglar SS, Ozbel Y, Aytekin AM, Kaynas S, Belen A, Kasap OE, Yaman M, Rastgeldi S (2007) Distribution and altitudinal structuring of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in southern Anatolia, Turkey: their relation to human cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Vector Ecol 32:269–279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spanakos G, Piperaki ET, Menounos PG, Tegos N, Flemetakis A, Vakalis NC (2008) Detection and species identification of Old World Leishmania in clinical samples using a PCR-based method. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 102:46–53

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Theodorides J (1997) Historical note on the discovery of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission by Phlebotomus. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 90:177–178

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tselentis Y, Gikas A, Chaniotis B (1994) Kala-azar in Athens basin. Lancet 343:1635

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Venter GJ, Meiswinkel R (1994) The virtual absence of Culicoides imicola (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in a light-trap survey of the colder, high-lying area of the eastern Orange Free State, South Africa, and implications for the transmission of arboviruses. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 61:327–340

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xanthopoulou K, Anagnostou V, Ivovic V, Djurkovic-Djakovic O, Rogozi E, Sotiraki S, Papa A (2011) Distribution of sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in two Ionian Islands and northern Greece. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 11:1591–1594

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Reference Laboratory for Parasites, Directory of Veterinary Centre of Athens, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece

    Sofia Boutsini & Dimitra Ntousi

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100, Karditsa, Greece

    Labrini V. Athanasiou & Marina Bisia

  3. National School of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Ave, 11521, Athens, Greece

    Gregory Spanakos

  4. Laboratory of Cellular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece

    Eleni Dotsika

  5. Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Elias Papadopoulos

Authors
  1. Sofia Boutsini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Labrini V. Athanasiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gregory Spanakos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dimitra Ntousi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eleni Dotsika
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marina Bisia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Elias Papadopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Labrini V. Athanasiou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Boutsini, S., Athanasiou, L.V., Spanakos, G. et al. Phlebotomine sandflies and factors associated with their abundance in the leishmaniasis endemic area of Attiki, Greece. Parasitol Res 117, 107–113 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5675-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5675-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation