engleski

Phlebotomine sand fly species distribution in Croatia and their implication in Leishmania transmission

Since early 2000s human and canine leishmaniasis foci were documented in Croatia from coastal and insular territories of central and southern Dalmatia. We report on a 2005–2011 phlebotomine survey performed to confirm the species composition and seasonality in three central-southern counties of Dalmatia previously inquired (Šibenik-Knin, Split-Dalmatia and Dubrovnik–Neretva) (Bosnic et al, Acta Trop 2006 ; 99:42-9) ; to investigate on the current species distribution in the westernmost Istria county, including the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula, for which available data date back 60 years (Simic and Zivkovic Arch Inst Pasteur Alger 1956 ; 383-5) ; and to search for natural Leishmania infections. Sand flies collection, carried out in the frame of bluetongue disease surveillance, used blacklight suction traps employed for Culicoides monitoring. Fifteen localities in four Croatian counties were investigated. Specimens were preserved in ethanol pending morphological identification and DNA extraction. Sand flies were trapped from late May through early December. One thousand specimens were collected and seven species identified. Among Phlebotomus sand flies, P. perfiliewi was the most abundant species (54.6%), followed by P. neglectus (28.2%), P. tobbi (8.9%), P. perniciosus (5.4%), P. papatasi (0.6%) and P. mascittii (0, 1%). Sergentomyia minuta accounted for 2.2%. A difference in prevalence distribution was detected, being P. perniciosus most prevalent in Istrian peninsula (87.5%) ; P. perfiliewi in central counties (65.3%) and P. neglectus in the southernmost county (69.3%). A subset of 369 Larroussious females (P. perfilewi 76.2%), organized in pools (1-27 specimens/pool) according to species, site and date of collection, was analysed for Leishmania DNA presence ; all pools were found negative. The long lasting sand flies season (May-December) and the high P. perniciosus prevalence, the main L. infantum vector, in the westernmost Istria county may represent a warning signal in re-emerging leishmaniasis. This study was partially funded by the FP7-UE EDENext collaborative project, Contract Number: 261504.

phlebotomine survey, Phlebotomus species, Leishmania infantum, Croatia

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