Ifhem Chelbi1, Khouloud Maghraoui1, Sami Zhioua2, Saifedine Cherni1, Imen Labidi1, Abhay Satoskar3, James G C Hamilton4, Elyes Zhioua1. 1. Unit of Vector Ecology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia. 2. Laboratory of Bio-informatic, Mathematics, Statistic, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia. 3. Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. 4. Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, etiological agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the Western Mediterranean basin. Dogs are the main reservoir host of this disease. The main objective of this study was to determine, under both laboratory and field conditions, if dogs infected with L. infantum, were more attractive to female P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We carried out a series of host choice experiments and found that infected dogs were significantly more attractive to P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs in the laboratory as well as in the field. Significantly more P. perniciosus fed on infected dogs than on uninfected dogs. However, the fecundity of P. perniciosus fed on infected dogs was adversely impacted compared to uninfected dogs by lowering the number of laid eggs. Phlebotomus perfiliewi, the second most abundant sand fly species in the field site and a competent vector of L. infantum had similar trends of attractivity as P. perniciosus toward infected dogs under field conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly suggest that L. infantum causes physiological changes in the reservoir host which lead to the host becoming more attractive to both male and female P. perniciosus. These changes are likely to improve the chance of successful transmission because of increased contact with infected hosts and therefore, infected dogs should be particularly targeted in the control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in North Africa.
BACKGROUND: The sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, etiological agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the Western Mediterranean basin. Dogs are the main reservoir host of this disease. The main objective of this study was to determine, under both laboratory and field conditions, if dogsinfected with L. infantum, were more attractive to female P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We carried out a series of host choice experiments and found that infecteddogs were significantly more attractive to P. perniciosus than uninfected dogs in the laboratory as well as in the field. Significantly more P. perniciosus fed on infecteddogs than on uninfected dogs. However, the fecundity of P. perniciosus fed on infecteddogs was adversely impacted compared to uninfected dogs by lowering the number of laid eggs. Phlebotomus perfiliewi, the second most abundant sand fly species in the field site and a competent vector of L. infantum had similar trends of attractivity as P. perniciosus toward infecteddogs under field conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results strongly suggest that L. infantum causes physiological changes in the reservoir host which lead to the host becoming more attractive to both male and female P. perniciosus. These changes are likely to improve the chance of successful transmission because of increased contact with infected hosts and therefore, infecteddogs should be particularly targeted in the control of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in North Africa.
Authors: R Molina; C Amela; J Nieto; M San-Andrés; F González; J A Castillo; J Lucientes; J Alvar Journal: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg Date: 1994 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.184
Authors: T Ben Slimane; E Chouihi; S Ben Hadj Ahmed; I Chelbi; W Barhoumi; S Cherni; Z Zoghlami; M Gharbi; E Zhioua Journal: Vet Parasitol Date: 2014-12-15 Impact factor: 2.738
Authors: K Aoun; M F Diouani; R Benikhlef; A Bouratbine; S Ben Haj Ali; Z Harrat; M Belkaïd; M Kilani; R Ben Ismaïl Journal: Bull Soc Pathol Exot Date: 2003-05
Authors: B Pesson; J S Ready; I Benabdennbi; J Martín-Sánchez; S Esseghir; M Cadi-Soussi; F Morillas-Marquez; P D Ready Journal: Med Vet Entomol Date: 2004-03 Impact factor: 2.739