Molecular detection ofLeishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolaein human blood andLeishmania (Leishmania) infantuminSergentomyia minuta: unexpected host-parasite contacts

The detection of atypical Kinetoplastida in vertebrate hosts and vectors might suggest unexpected host-parasite contacts. Aside to major vectors ofLeishmania (Leishmania) infantumin Italy (e.g.Phlebotomus perniciosusandPhlebotomus perfiliewi), the sand fly fauna also includesSergentomyia minuta, herpetophilic and proven vector ofLeishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae, in which records of blood meal on mammals and detection ofL. infantumDNA are increasing. This study was conducted in Central Italy aiming to molecularly detect potential atypicalLeishmaniahost-vector contacts. Detection ofLeishmaniaspp. DNA was performed by polymerase chain reaction (SSU rRNA, ITS1 targets) on field-collected sand fly females (N = 344), blood samples from humans (N = 185) and dogs (N = 125). Blood meal identification was also performed on engorged sand flies.Leishmaniaspp. DNA was found in 13.1% sand flies, 3.7% humans and 14.4% dogs. Sequence analysis identifiedL. infantuminS. minuta(4.4%),P. perniciosus(9.1%), humans (2.2%) and dogs (14.4%).Leishmania tarentolaewas detected inS. minuta(12.6%),P. perfiliewi(6.6%) and human (1.6%) samples. Of 28S. minutaexamined for blood meal, 3.6 and 21.4% scored positive for human and lizard DNA, respectively. These results indicate the importance of one-health approach to explore new potential routes of transmission of leishmaniasis involvingS. minuta.