Severity of old world cutaneous leishmaniasis is influenced by previous exposure to sandfly bites in Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The sandfly Phlebotomus papatasi is the vector of Leishmania major, the main causative agent of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Saudi Arabia. Sandflies inject saliva while feeding and the salivary protein PpSP32 was previously shown to be a biomarker for bite exposure. Here we used recombinant PpSP32 to evaluate human exposure to Ph. papatasi bites, and study the association between antibody response to saliva and CL in endemic areas in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology/principal findings

In this observational study, anti-PpSP32 antibodies, as indicators of exposure to sandfly bites, were measured in sera from healthy individuals and patients from endemic regions in Saudi Arabia with active and cured CL. Ph. papatasi was identified as the primary CL vector in th

SUBMITTER: Mondragon-Shem K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4315490 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature