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Increasing putative vector importance of Trichophoromyia phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Abstract

Despite some phlebotomines being well recognised as vectors of leishmaniasis agents, vector importance of those belonging to the genus Trichophoromyia has not been extensively studied. The present study provides evidence regarding the putative vector role played by some species of Trichophoromyia on leishmanine enzootics, based on literature reports and findings obtained from field experiments conducted in the ecotopes of Pará State, Brazil. The species Th. ubiquitalis, Th. velascoi, Th. auraensis, Th. ininii and Th. brachipyga possess minimal criteria to be included in the list of suspected leishmanine vectors. However, knowledge on man-biting behavior, substantiation of vector competence and determination of epidemiological implications are limited for all of the above mentioned species. Published studies together with present data draw attention to prioritize these phlebotomine species in entomological surveillance programs and studies on experimental susceptibility to Leishmania spp. infection.

Key words:
leishmaniasis; psychodidae; attention; vector


Phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are a group of insects of medical importance. Their blood-feeding females are proven vectors of protozoan leishmanine species, mainly from the Leishmania genus (Euglenozoa: Trypanosomatidae: Leishmaniinae), the causative agents of a group of neglected zoonotic diseases, known as the leishmaniases.11. Ready PD. Biology of phlebotomine sandflies as vectors of disease agents. Annu Rev Entomol. 2013; 58: 227-50.,22. Espinosa OA, Serrano MG, Camargo EP, Teixeira MMG, Shaw JJ. An appraisal of the taxonomy and nomenclature of trypanosomatids presently classified as Leishmania and Endotrypanum. Parasitology. 2018; 145(4): 430-42.

In the New World, life cycle of leishmanine parasites is maintained by a complex mosaic of vector/reservoir interactions, resulting in a variety of ecological arrangements with worrisome consequences in clinical manifestations, namely - American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) and American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL).33. Brazil RP, Rodrigues AAF, Andrade Filho JD. Sand fly vectors of Leishmania in the Americas - A mini Review. Entomol Ornithol Herpetol. 2015; 4(2): 144.,44. Rangel EF, Lainson R, Costa SM, Shaw JJ, Carvalho BM. Sand fly vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. In: EF Rangel, JJ Shaw, editors. Brazilian sand flies: biology, taxonomy, medical importance and control. Rio de Janeiro: Springer; 2018. p. 341-80. In the Americas, a total of 541 species - 524 current and 17 fossil species - have been described, and they are grouped into supra-specific categories (genera, subgenera, groups, and series of species).55. Galati EAB. Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae): classification, morphology, and terminology of adults and identification of American taxa. In: EF Rangel, JJ Shaw, editors. Brazilian sand flies: biology, taxonomy, medical importance and control. Rio de Janeiro: Springer; 2018. p. 9-212.,66. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Santos Neto NF, Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Galardo AKR. Trichophoromyia iorlandobaratai (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new phlebotomine species from the Brazilian Amazonia. J Med Entomol. 2019; 56(2): 416-20. Among these, almost more than 20 species are considered vectors of leishmaniasis in the New World. This relatively small number of vectors is the function of a number of ecological, physiological and biochemical factors inherent to both insects and parasites. These factors influence the close contact between insect/parasite binomial, survival of the parasites in the digestive tract of the insect, and their multiplication and transformations that result in the development of infective forms, influencing their transmission to the vertebrate host.33. Brazil RP, Rodrigues AAF, Andrade Filho JD. Sand fly vectors of Leishmania in the Americas - A mini Review. Entomol Ornithol Herpetol. 2015; 4(2): 144.

Trichophoromyia was originally established as a subgenus of Lutzomyia França, 1924 by Barretto77. Barretto MP. Novos subgêneros de Lutzomyia França, 1924 (Psychodidae, subfamília Phlebotominae). Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo. 1962; 4: 91-100. and later upgraded to genus level.88. Galati EAB. Morfologia, terminologia de adultos e identificação dos táxons da América. In: EF Rangel, R Lainson, orgs. Flebotomíneos do Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Fiocruz; 2003. p. 53-175. Its type-species is Th. ubiquitalis (Mangabeira, 1942) (formerly Phlebotomus ubiquitalis). To date, 44 species of Trichophoromyia have been reported in the New World.66. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Santos Neto NF, Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Galardo AKR. Trichophoromyia iorlandobaratai (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new phlebotomine species from the Brazilian Amazonia. J Med Entomol. 2019; 56(2): 416-20. Females of several Trichophoromyia species are markedly similar, and therefore, identification is usually based on male morphology. The geographical overlapping of the species usually complicates the diagnosis.55. Galati EAB. Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae): classification, morphology, and terminology of adults and identification of American taxa. In: EF Rangel, JJ Shaw, editors. Brazilian sand flies: biology, taxonomy, medical importance and control. Rio de Janeiro: Springer; 2018. p. 9-212.,99. Young DG, Duncan MA. Guide to the identification and geographic distribution of Lutzomyia sand flies in Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mem Am Entomol Inst. 1994; 54: 881 pp.

For many years, an apparently null medical importance of Trichophoromyia may have contributed to this phlebotomine genus to be understudied. Trichophoromyia was considered to have limited geographical distribution, predominantly in the Amazon basin, with unknown human biting behavior, and circumstantial history of natural infection by flagellates; obtained only when sharing same ecotope of Leishmania vector/reservoir systems, thus, not likely playing an important role as vectors of leishmaniases agents to humans, limiting them to the zoological interest.99. Young DG, Duncan MA. Guide to the identification and geographic distribution of Lutzomyia sand flies in Mexico, the West Indies, Central and South America (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mem Am Entomol Inst. 1994; 54: 881 pp. However, since the 1990s, some species have been found to be closely associated with ACL foci and have started garnering attention. Currently, five species of Trichophoromyia have been identified naturally infected using microscopic analysis and/or have been found to be Leishmania DNA positive based on the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses, which is the first essential criterion to be regarded as suspected vectors.11. Ready PD. Biology of phlebotomine sandflies as vectors of disease agents. Annu Rev Entomol. 2013; 58: 227-50. Data available on these species are summarised in Table and further discussed in the context of ACL epidemiology. In addition, the present study also includes our recent findings on entomological studies conducted in locations from the Brazilian State of Pará, as the mineral province of Carajás (municipality of Canaã dos Carajás), the Belo Monte hydroelectric system (municipality of Vitória do Xingu), the Bosque Rodrigues Alves - Jardim Botânico da Amazônia and the Mosqueiro Island (municipality of Belém).

TABLE
Trichophoromyia phlebotomine species associated with Leishmania spp.

Trichophoromyia species with putative vector importance

Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis - In 1983, during entomological investigations of the river Paranapanema region, in the foothills of the Serra dos Carajás (Pará State, Brazil), Lainson, Shaw and Ready found a specimen of Th. ubiquitalis naturally infected, and the Leishmania isolate was designed, at that time, as an unnamed parasite of the subgenus Viannia.1010. Lainson R, Shaw JJ. Evolution, classification and geographical distribution. In: W Peters, R Killick-Kendrick, editors. The leishmaniases in biology and medicine. Vol. 1. Biology and Epidemiology. London: Academic Press; 1987. p. 1-120. Years later, after re-examination, the isolate was recognized as L. (Viannia) lainsoni Silveira, Shaw, Braga & Ishikawa, 1987.

Silveira et al.1111. Silveira FT, Souza AAA, Lainson R, Shaw JJ, Braga RR, Ishikawa EEA. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazon Region: natural infection of the sandfly Lutzomyia ubiquitalis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) by Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni in Pará State, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1991; 86(1): 127-30. performed entomological studies in the forested outskirts of Belém in Pará State, Brazil (recognised as the type locality of L. (V.) lainsoni, and the presumed infection site of ACL patients) and in the ecologically related forest of Utinga in Belém metropolitan region. Out of the 375 Th. ubiquitalis specimens captured, they found nine females to be highly infected with flagellates, and eight of these parasites were identified to be L. (V.) lainsoni. Under laboratory conditions, 71/83 specimens successfully bit humans, 48 h after capture. However, under field conditions, they did not find Th. ubiquitalis to be anthropophilic. Lainson et al.1212. Lainson R, Shaw JJ, Souza AAA, Silveira FT, Falqueto A. Further observations on Lutzomyia ubiquitalis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), the sandfly vector of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1992; 87(3): 437-9. provided further observations on the laboratory and field behaviors of Th. ubiquitalis captured from the mineral province of Carajás, Pará State, Brazil. In their study, only one specimen attempted to bite a professional during field capture. In order to establish a colony, 64/80 flies previously confined in a nylon cage were fed on a volunteer at a time varying from 24-48 h after capture; strengthening the hypothesis that Th. ubiquitalis can be triggered to actively attack humans under unusual conditions. In an agricultural settlement of Mosqueiro Island in the outskirts of Belém, we recently investigated an ACL presumed infection site where L. (V.) lainsoni has been isolated from the cutaneous lesion of a dweller. Light traps installed in the intradomiciliary environment captured several Th. ubiquitalis, providing evidence for the potential indoor behavior of this species.

Other ecotopes distinct from those of the State of Pará, have also been recorded with L. (V.) lainsoni/Th. ubiquitalis association. During an entomological survey in Tefé municipality of Amazonas State, Brazil, Pereira Junior et al.1313. Pereira Júnior AM, Teles CB, dos Santos APA, Rodrigues MS, Marialva EF, Pessoa FA, Medeiros JF. Ecological aspects and molecular detection of Leishmania DNA Ross (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in terra firme and várzea environments in the Middle Solimões Region, Amazonas State, Brazil. Parasit Vectors. 2015; 8: 180. found 7/60 pooled Th. ubiquitalis, captured in dry land forest environment, to be DNA positive for the 70 kilodalton heat shock protein (hsp 70) target, with sequences of L. (V.) lainsoni. In contrast, Silva et al.1414. Silva TRR, Assis MDG, Freire MP, Rego FD, Gontijo CMF, Shimabukuro PHF. Molecular detection of Leishmania in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) collected in the Caititu Indigenous Reserve of the municipality of Lábrea, State of Amazonas, Brazil. J Med Entomol. 2014; 51(6): 1276-82. found Th. ubiquitalis DNA positive for L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (Viannia) sp. Quiroga et al.1515. Quiroga C, Cevallos V, Morales D, Baldeón ME, Cárdenas P, Rojas-Silva P, et al. Molecular identification of Leishmania spp. in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from Ecuador. J Med Entomol. 2017; 54(6): 1704-11. found L. (V.) lainsoni DNA in two peridomiciliary pooled samples of nine specimens of Th. ubiquitalis from Macas, Morona Santiago province, Ecuador, during the rainy season. In Porto Velho, Rondônia State, Brazil, two pools of Th. ubiquitalis tested positive for Leishmania sp. DNA, suggesting the putative vector role of this species in that municipality.1616. Resadore F, Pereira Júnior AM, de Paulo PFM, Gil LHS, Rodrigues MMS, Araújo MDS, et al. Composition and vertical stratification of phlebotomine sand fly fauna and the molecular detection of Leishmania in forested areas in Rondônia State municipalities, western Amazon, Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2019; 19(5): 347-57.

Currently, there are strong evidences on the putative vector role of Th. ubiquitalis with respect to L. (V.) lainsoni transmission from distinct ecoregions of Brazil and Ecuador. In addition, spatiotemporal congruence of this phlebotomine species and ACL cases due to this parasite in other regions/countries, even with no findings of natural infection during entomological surveys, consubstantiate its vector candidacy. Intriguing findings about the southward expansion of L. (V.) lainsoni were recently reported in Paraguay;1717. Benítez IR, Andrade-Zampieri R, Silveira-Elkhoury AN, FLoeter-Winter LM, Lauletta-Lindoso JA, Pereira J, et al. Detección molecular de Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni Silveira, Shaw, Braga & Ishikawa, 1987 (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) en humanos de Paraguay. Rev Inst Med Trop. 2019; 14(1): 21-8. however, raise concerns on the existence of alternative vectors for this parasite, distinct from Th. ubiquitalis or other Trichophoromyia species. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that Pintomyia nuneztovari (Ortiz, 1954) has already been found with L. (V.) lainsoni DNA in an ACL focus from the sub Andean region of Bolivia.1818. Bastrenta B, Buitrago R, Vargas F, Le Pont F, Torrez M, Flores M, et al. First evidence of transmission of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni in a Sub Andean region of Bolivia. Acta Trop. 2002; 83(3): 249-53.

Trichophoromyia velascoi (Le Pont & Desjeux, 1992) - During investigation on the first ACL case caused by L. (V.) lainsoni in Bolivia, several females of Th. velascoi were found to be infected naturally at the end of the rainy season (May) in Caranavi province; however, the parasites were not isolated at that time.1919. Martinez E, Le Pont F, Mollinedo S, Cupolillo E. A first case of cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni in Bolivia. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2001; 95(4): 375-7. Nonetheless, based on the spatiotemporal congruence of human/phlebotomine infections, the authors highlighted the need of further studies on putative vector importance of Th. velascoi in the context of ACL transmission in that region.

Trichophoromyia auraensis (Mangabeira, 1942) and/or Th. ruifreitasi Oliveira, Teles, Medeiros, Camargo & Pessoa, 2015 - Using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time polymerase chain reaction, Valdivia et al.2020. Valdivia HO, de los Santos MB, Fernandez R, Baldeviano GC, Zorrilla VO, Vera H, et l. Natural Leishmania infection of Lutzomyia (Trichophoromyia) auraensis in Madre de Dios, Peru, detected by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time polymerase chain reaction. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012; 87(3): 511-7. found four Trichophoromyia auraensis pools with DNA of L. (V.) lainsoni and Leishmania (V.) braziliensis in Madre de Dios, Peru, with a minimum detection rate estimated to be 0.6%. Moreover, based on the studies conducted in Puno, Peru, anthropophilic behavior has been observed in Th. auraensis,2121. Arístides H. La leishmaniasis tegumentaria en el Alto Tambopata, Departamento de Puno, Peru. Rev Med Exp. 1999; 15: 15-24. although early hypothesis on misidentification of the particular Trichophoromyia taxon have been raised for this Peruvian department and reported elsewhere.2222. Fernandez R, Galati EB, Carbajal F, Wooster MT, Watts DM. Notes on the phlebotomine sand flies from the Peruvian southeast-I. Description of Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) adamsi n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1998; 93(1): 41-4.

Ogawa et al.2323. Ogawa GM, Pereira Júnior AM, Resadore F, Ferreira RGM, Medeiros JF, Camargo LMA. Sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) from caves in the State of Rondônia, Brazil. Braz. J Vet Parasitol. 2016; 25(1): 61-8. detected Leishmania sp. DNA within three pools of Th. auraensis captured from caves in Rondônia State, Brazil, using kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCR. However, none of the samples were positive in the hsp70 region for sequencing. Furthermore, Teles et al.2424. Teles CBG, dos Santos APA, Freitas RA, de Oliveira AFJ, Ogawa GM, Rodrigues MS, et al. Phlebotomine sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae) diversity and their Leishmania DNA in a hot spot of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis human cases along the Brazilian border with Peru and Bolivia. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2016; 111(7): 423-32. published an epidemiological study conducted on approximately seven thousand phlebotomines collected from Assis Brasil in Acre State, Brazil. The female phlebotomines were grouped by pools and examined for the DNA tracks of Leishmania. Among the positive samples, specimens of Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi (ambiguously identified females) contained the DNA tracks of Leishmania from the L. (V.) braziliensis complex at high concentrations, with a minimal detection rate of 2.05%. It was regarded as the first report on the infection of Th. auraensis/Th. ruifreitasi by L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) braziliensis in Brazil. Interestingly, Araújo-Pereira et al.2525. Araujo-Pereira T, de Pita-Pereira D, Boité MC, Melo M, da Costa-Rego TA, Fuzari AA, et al. First description of Leishmania (Viannia) infection in Evandromyia saulensis, Pressatia sp. and Trichophoromyia auraensis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in a transmission area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Acre State, Amazon Basin, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017; 112(1): 75-8. found 9/96 individually processed and unambiguously identified Th. auraensis positive to Leishmania kDNA, with three of them revealed as L. (V.) braziliensis. Resadore et al.2626. Resadore F, Pereira Júnior AM, Carvalho LPC, dos Santos APA, Teles CBG, Medeiros JF. Phlebotomine sand fly composition (Diptera: Psychodidae) and putative vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Porto Velho municipality, western Amazon, Brazil. J Med Entomol. 2017; 54(3): 798-803. found Th. auraensis DNA positive for Leishmania sp. (minimal detection rate of 8.33%) in Rondônia State, Brazil. Consistent with the complementary roles described in these previous studies, there is no doubt to regard Th. auraensis as a putative vector.2727. Teles CBG, Pessoa FAC, Medeiros JF, Camargo LMA, Araujo-Pereira T, Pita-Pereira D, et al. Trichophoromyia auraensis is a putative vector. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017; 112(7): 517-9.

In an ACL endemic area of Rio Branco, Acre State, where Th. auraensis was the numerically dominant Trichophoromyia species, engorged females of this genus were found positive for Gallus gallus blood through cytochrome b PCR analysis. Although birds do not play a direct role in the ACL epidemiology, their presence may influence on the population dynamics of phlebotomines with increasing population density in the peridomestic environment, which could contribute to increase the risk of the transmission of Leishmania to humans.2828. Ávila MM, Brilhante AF, Souza CF, Bevilacqua PD, Galati EAB, Brazil RP. Ecology, feeding and natural infection by Leishmania spp. of phlebotomine sand flies in an area of high incidence of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Parasit Vectors. 2018; 11(1): 64.

Trichophoromyia ininii Floch & Abonnenc, 1943 - During a study conducted to identify changing patterns in ACL transmission in French Guiana, Fouque et al.2929. Fouque F, Gaborit P, Issaly J, Carinci R, Gantier J-C, Ravel C, et al. Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) associated with changing patterns in the transmission of the human cutaneous leishmaniasis in French Guiana. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2007; 102(1): 35-40. found Th. ininii as the most common species among the captured phlebotomines, where one specimen from Montsinery and one from Cacao were positive for flagellates under microscopic observation. Molecular typing indicated Leishmania genus, but the species was not identified. In order to broaden the knowledge on vectors involved in ACL transmission in Suriname, Kent et al.3030. Kent A, Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Gandadin A, Samjhawan A, Mans DRA, Schallig HDFH. Studies on the sand fly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in high-transmission areas of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Republic of Suriname. Parasit Vectors. 2013; 6: 318. isolated a pooled sample of Th. ininii from Sabajo hills as Leishmania DNA positive. They were unable to identify the parasites due to insufficient amount of DNA. Studying an environmentally impacted area of Oiapoque outskirts, Amapá State, Brazil, we recently detected, within the phlebotomine composition of the forest border of an anthropized environment, two pooled samples of ten Th. ininii specimens were found to be DNA positive for Leishmania (Viannia) sp.; one sample allowed characterisation at species level, with sequence compatible with L. (V.) braziliensis.3131. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, de Pita-Pereira D, Araujo-Pereira T, Britto C, Silveira FT, Povoa MM, et al. Leishmania DNA detection and species characterization within phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a peridomicile-forest gradient in an Amazonian/Guianan bordering area. PLoS One. 2019; 14(7): e0219626.

Trichophoromyia brachipyga Mangabeira, 1942 and/or Th. adelsonsouzai Vasconcelos dos Santos, Silva, Barata, Andrade & Galati, 2013 - In the Belo Monte hydroelectric system affected area in Pará State, Brazil, a program monitoring ACL transmission has been implemented since 2012, providing substantial knowledge on ecology and taxonomy of phlebotomines. In addition to the findings, it rendered description of Th. adelsonsouzai based on males and females captured in Vitória do Xingu municipality.3232. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, da Silva FMM, Barata IR, de Andrade AJ, Galati EAB. A new species of phlebotomine, Trichophoromyia adelsonsouzai (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Brazilian Amazonia. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2014; 109(2): 140-7. Interestingly, two females of Trichophoromyia were found infected with suprapylarian Leishmania-like promastigotes. Although Th. adelsonsouzai has been the dominant species in the infection site, representing more than 60% of phlebotomines captured on light traps, the coexistence of few males of Th. brachipyga has also been noted. Due the ambiguous taxonomic determination of closely related females of Th. adelsonsouzai/Th. brachipyga, and failure of Leishmania species characterisation, this putative ACL life cycle remains unclear.

Sánchez Uzcátegui et al.3333. Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Silveira FT, Ramos PKS, dos Santos EJM, Póvoa MM. Phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a urban park of Belém, Pará State, northern Brazil and potential implications in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Med Entomol. 2019. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjz153. [Epub ahead of print]. investigated phebotomines from an urban park of Belém, the Bosque Rodrigues Alves - Jardim Botânico da Amazônia, where one specimen of Th. brachipyga was found to be moderately/weakly (++) parasitised with a peripylarian flagelate. After successful in vitro isolation, the restriction fragment length polymorphism - PCR (RFLP - PCR) characterisation showed a profile identical to that of L. (V.) lainsoni reference strain. Although in that site, Th. ubiquitalis was also present and expected to be infected by L. (V.) lainsoni, been recorded as the second most frequent species (14%), followed by Th. brachipyga (10.4%), no infection was diagnosed in this phlebotomine through microscopic examination. This was the first report of Th. brachipyga naturally infected by L. (V.) lainsoni.

We continued conducting studies in the mineral province of Carajás in Pará State, Brazil, and captured phlebotomines using light traps in a forest environment of Canaã dos Carajás municipality. In the field campaign of April 2019, we identified four Th. ubiquitalis and two Th. brachipyga naturally infected with moderate to luxuriant-growing promastigotes. The gut contents were inoculated into culture media and hind-feet of golden hamsters (ethical approval under protocol CEUA/IEC/SVS/MS n.10/2014). All strains were successfully isolated from one of these two described methods and thereafter characterised by PCR-RFLP technique. Digestion profiles of Leishmania strains from both phlebotomine species were found to be similar and compatible with L. (V.) lainsoni. By including observations made by Lainson et al.1212. Lainson R, Shaw JJ, Souza AAA, Silveira FT, Falqueto A. Further observations on Lutzomyia ubiquitalis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), the sandfly vector of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 1992; 87(3): 437-9. for Carajás, the vector role of Th. ubiquitalis with respect to L. (V.) lainsoni is thus, well established. These novel findings for Th. brachipyga corroborate with the results reported by Sánchez Uzcátegui et al.3333. Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Silveira FT, Ramos PKS, dos Santos EJM, Póvoa MM. Phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a urban park of Belém, Pará State, northern Brazil and potential implications in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Med Entomol. 2019. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjz153. [Epub ahead of print]. It is speculated that this Trichophoromyia species may act as an alternative vector, probably sharing its role with Th. ubiquitalis in some ecotopes.

Concluding remarks - The present study assembled data suggesting the possibility of occurrence of leishmanine emerging transmission patterns, where some species of Trichohoromyia may act as putative vectors of ACL agents, and probably also share roles with each other, while co-habiting the same ecotope. In nature, Leishmania species may have enzootic and zoonotic cycles as well, that may geographically overlap, maintained by different, but closely related phlebotomine species. As stated by Ready,3434. Ready PD. Sand fly evolution and its relationship to Leishmania transmission. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2000; 95(4): 589-90. putative vectors in previously unexplored foci can be targeted simply by their close taxonomic relationship with known vectors, using presumed evolutionary relationships in which taxa of parasites and vectors are linked together by unique behavioral or molecular phenotypes of epidemiological importance. As Nyssomyia and Psychodopygus, the most medically important phlebotomine genera for the New World, concentrate several vector species of Leishmania, Trichophoromyia may also include species possessing common conditions suitable for parasite development. Circumstantial ingestion of parasites for some of these species, however, is also likely. In this regard, long-term surveys are required to strength evidences on the ability of Trichophoromyia to sustain a natural cycle in sites where these apparently occasional infections have been recorded.

The number of new Trichophoromyia species described has been increased in the last years.66. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, Santos Neto NF, Sánchez Uzcátegui YDV, Galardo AKR. Trichophoromyia iorlandobaratai (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new phlebotomine species from the Brazilian Amazonia. J Med Entomol. 2019; 56(2): 416-20. Most of these descriptions were provided from specimens collected in environmentally impacted ecotopes of the Amazon Basin, where ACL is considered a prioritised disease to be monitored in vector surveillance programs. Numerical dominance in light-trap captures, permissiveness for Leishmania infection and spatiotemporal congruence with ACL epidemiology are usually variables considered for drawing attention to the possible involvement of Trichophoromyia in ACL enzootics.

The raising question on the putative vector importance of Trichophoromyia is also likely to be biased toward the marked increase in the general list of suspected vectors of leishmaniasis in the New World,11. Ready PD. Biology of phlebotomine sandflies as vectors of disease agents. Annu Rev Entomol. 2013; 58: 227-50.,33. Brazil RP, Rodrigues AAF, Andrade Filho JD. Sand fly vectors of Leishmania in the Americas - A mini Review. Entomol Ornithol Herpetol. 2015; 4(2): 144.,44. Rangel EF, Lainson R, Costa SM, Shaw JJ, Carvalho BM. Sand fly vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. In: EF Rangel, JJ Shaw, editors. Brazilian sand flies: biology, taxonomy, medical importance and control. Rio de Janeiro: Springer; 2018. p. 341-80. which has been supported in the last years, mainly due to the results of PCR-based techniques for diagnosing Leishmania DNA targets within pooled or individually processed phlebotomines. Integrative molecular methodological approaches let us to include suspected vector species from phlebotomine genera with little or even null association with Leishmania, such as Pintomyia,3535. Pita-Pereira D, Souza GD, Araujo-Pereira T, Zwetsch A, Britto C, Rangel EF. Lutzomyia (Pintomyia) fischeri (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), a probable vector of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: detection of natural infection by Leishmania (Viannia) DNA in specimens from the municipality of Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil, using multiplex PCR assay. Acta Trop. 2011; 120(3): 273-5.Pressatia, Evandromyia,2525. Araujo-Pereira T, de Pita-Pereira D, Boité MC, Melo M, da Costa-Rego TA, Fuzari AA, et al. First description of Leishmania (Viannia) infection in Evandromyia saulensis, Pressatia sp. and Trichophoromyia auraensis (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in a transmission area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Acre State, Amazon Basin, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2017; 112(1): 75-8.,3131. Vasconcelos dos Santos T, de Pita-Pereira D, Araujo-Pereira T, Britto C, Silveira FT, Povoa MM, et al. Leishmania DNA detection and species characterization within phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a peridomicile-forest gradient in an Amazonian/Guianan bordering area. PLoS One. 2019; 14(7): e0219626.Martinsmyia, and Micropygomyia;3636. Rêgo FD, Rugani JMN, Shimabukuro PHF, Tonelli GB, Quaresma PF, Gontijo CMF. Molecular detection of Leishmania in phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a cutaneous leishmaniasis focus at Xakriabá Indigenous Reserve, Brazil. PLoS One. 2015; 10(4): e0122038. in our view, care must be taken on interpreting these intriguing results. Even considering established natural infection, quantification of the parasitic load and/or demonstration of infective forms would certainly present a further step toward improving knowledge on putative Leishmania vectors inferred exclusively through DNA-based findings.

In fact, records of natural Leishmania spp. infections in Trichophoromyia phlebotomines are increasing but these facts, alone, do not necessarily correlates with an epidemiological or medical issue on leishmaniases. Low man-biting behavior of Trichophoromyia may contribute to the sporadically ACL due to their related Leishmania species, as occur with the epidemiology of L. (V.) lainsoni. Furthermore, studies on the knowledge of blood-feeding behavior, including attraction to bit man and Leishmania reservoir hosts, ecological association with ACL determinants, experimental susceptibility for Leishmania infection/ transmission, and mathematical modeling of vector/disease dynamics, must be improved to better comprehend vector-parasite interactions and their transmission cycles in ecotopes where these Trichophoromyia species are supposed to be transmitting Leishmania parasites.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the entomology team of the Ralph Lainson Leishmaniasis Lab of the Instituto Evandro Chagas (Edna de Freitas Leão, Fábio Márcio Medeiros da Silva Freire, Iorlando da Rocha Barata, Luciene Aranha da Silva Santos, Maria Sueli Barros Pinheiro and Roberto Carlos Feitosa Brandão), for their support given to the field work.

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  • Financial support: Instituto Evandro Chagas, Vale S.A., Norte Energia S.A.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    03 Feb 2020
  • Date of issue
    2020

History

  • Received
    01 Aug 2019
  • Accepted
    02 Jan 2020
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