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Background <p>Among pathogenic <i>Leishmania</i> species, <i>L. major</i> and <i>L. tropica</i>, occur mainly in North African and Middle Eastern countries, primarily transmitted by <i>Phlebotomus papatasi</i> and <i>P. sergenti</i> respectively. In Italy, <i>P. perfiliewi</i> is the second most abundant sand fly species involved in <i>L. infantum</i> transmission exhibiting opportunistic behaviour in rural and semi-urban settings. Experimental infections were conducted to assess the susceptibility of a wild Italian <i>P. perfiliewi</i> population to the development of <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. major</i>.</p> Methods <p>Experiments were performed with a wild <i>P. perfiliewi</i> population, collected in Magliano in Toscana (Tuscany, Italy). In separate experiments, females were artificially infected with a suspension of <i>L. tropica</i> or <i>L. major</i> (10<sup>6</sup> promastigotes/ml). Infection progression was monitored through microscopic midgut dissection and supported by molecular analyses.</p> Results <p>Experimental infections with <i>L. tropica</i> yielded 5923 engorged females, with an average feeding rate of 25.7% and a survival rate of 70%. The infection positivity rate was 25.2%, significantly lower than that observed in the control species. Nonetheless, parasite migration to the stomodeal valve suggests that <i>P. perfiliewi</i> may support the full developmental cycle of <i>L. tropica</i>, although less efficiently than the control species. Infections with <i>L. major</i> showed a significantly lower mean feeding rate (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and a positivity rate of 46.6%, compared to 70.5% in <i>P. perniciosus</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Still, <i>P. perfiliewi</i> appeared capable of supporting <i>L. major</i> metacyclogenesis, even under light to moderate parasite loads (<i>p</i> = 0.007).</p> Conclusions <p>These findings suggest that <i>P. perfiliewi</i> can support the development of both <i>L. tropica</i> and <i>L. major</i> under experimental conditions, with greater susceptibility observed for <i>L. tropica</i>. However, without in vivo confirmation or xenodiagnosis, its capacity for natural transmission remains unestablished. Nonetheless, implementing integrated One Health surveillance strategies would be advisable to monitor potential changes in the epidemiology of both exotic and endemic <i>Leishmania</i> species.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Evaluation of an Italian Phlebotomus perfiliewi (Larroussius) wild population as a permissive vector species for Leishmania tropica and L. major transmission

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月5日

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  • Ilaria Bernardini,
  • Claudia Mangiapelo,
  • Eleonora Fiorentino,
  • Stefania Orsini,
  • Riccardo Bianchi,
  • Anna Rosa Sannella,
  • Aldo Scalone,
  • Trentina Di Muccio,
  • Gioia Bongiorno

摘要

Background

Among pathogenic Leishmania species, L. major and L. tropica, occur mainly in North African and Middle Eastern countries, primarily transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi and P. sergenti respectively. In Italy, P. perfiliewi is the second most abundant sand fly species involved in L. infantum transmission exhibiting opportunistic behaviour in rural and semi-urban settings. Experimental infections were conducted to assess the susceptibility of a wild Italian P. perfiliewi population to the development of L. tropica and L. major.

Methods

Experiments were performed with a wild P. perfiliewi population, collected in Magliano in Toscana (Tuscany, Italy). In separate experiments, females were artificially infected with a suspension of L. tropica or L. major (106 promastigotes/ml). Infection progression was monitored through microscopic midgut dissection and supported by molecular analyses.

Results

Experimental infections with L. tropica yielded 5923 engorged females, with an average feeding rate of 25.7% and a survival rate of 70%. The infection positivity rate was 25.2%, significantly lower than that observed in the control species. Nonetheless, parasite migration to the stomodeal valve suggests that P. perfiliewi may support the full developmental cycle of L. tropica, although less efficiently than the control species. Infections with L. major showed a significantly lower mean feeding rate (p = 0.05) and a positivity rate of 46.6%, compared to 70.5% in P. perniciosus (p = 0.03). Still, P. perfiliewi appeared capable of supporting L. major metacyclogenesis, even under light to moderate parasite loads (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that P. perfiliewi can support the development of both L. tropica and L. major under experimental conditions, with greater susceptibility observed for L. tropica. However, without in vivo confirmation or xenodiagnosis, its capacity for natural transmission remains unestablished. Nonetheless, implementing integrated One Health surveillance strategies would be advisable to monitor potential changes in the epidemiology of both exotic and endemic Leishmania species.

Graphical Abstract