Co-Circulation of Leishmania Parasites and Phleboviruses in a Population of Sand Flies Collected in the South of Portugal.

ABSTRACT: In the Old World, phlebotomine sand flies from the genus Phlebotomus are implicated in the transmission of Leishmania spp. parasites (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) and viruses belonging to the genus Phlebovirus (Bunyavirales: Phenuiviridae). Two of the five sand fly species known to occur in Portugal, Phlebotomus perniciosus and Ph. ariasi, the former being the most ubiquitous, are recognized vectors of Leishmania infantum, which causes visceral leishmaniasis, the most prevalent form of leishmaniasis in the country. Phlebotomus perniciosus is also the vector of the neurotropic Toscana virus, which can cause aseptic meningitis. Entomological surveillance is essential to provide fundamental data about the presence of vectors and the pathog

SUBMITTER: Amaro F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10821132 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature