Risk Assessment of the Role of the Ecotones in the Transmission of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Tunisia.

ABSTRACT: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), endemic in Central and Southern Tunisia, is caused by Leishmania major (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), which is transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi. In Tunisia, the fat sand rat Psammomys obesus and the desert jird Meriones shawi are the principal reservoir hosts of L. major. The presence of the P. papatasi vector of the L. major etiologic agent of ZCL was assessed in the vicinity of villages in endemic areas of Central Tunisia. The study was performed from September through October 2019, a period corresponding to the main peak of activity of P. papatasi. Sand flies were collected from rodent burrows located at the ecotone level, which is the transition zone between the natural environment and human settlement. Sand flies were identi

SUBMITTER: Barhoumi W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8430620 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature