First Evidence of a Hybrid of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis/L. (V.) peruviana DNA Detected from the Phlebotomine Sand Fly Lutzomyia tejadai in Peru

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Jan 6;10(1):e0004336. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004336. eCollection 2016 Jan.

Abstract

The natural infection of sand flies by Leishmania was examined in the Department of Huanuco of Peru, where cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by a hybrid of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis/L. (V.) peruviana is endemic. A total of 2,997 female sand flies were captured by CDC light traps and Shannon traps, of which 2,931 and 66 flies were identified as Lutzomyia tejadai and Lu fischeri, respectively. Using crude DNA extracted from individual sand flies as a template, Leishmania DNA was detected from one Lu. tejadai. The parasite species was identified as a hybrid of L. (V.) braziliensis/L. (V.) peruviana on the basis of cytochrome b and mannose phosphate isomerase gene analyses. The result suggested that Lu. tejadai is responsible for the transmission of the hybrid Leishmania circulating in this area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Hybridization, Genetic*
  • Leishmania / classification
  • Leishmania / genetics*
  • Peru
  • Phylogeny
  • Psychodidae / parasitology*

Grant support

This study was financially supported by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru (Project No. 130118281), the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan (Grant Nos. 23256002 and 25257501), and the Prometeo Project of the Secretaria Nacional de Educacion Superior, Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion (SENESCYT), Ecuador. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.