- Euroleish

Epidemiologic survey of phlebotomine vectors in a canine leishmaniasis
endemic area in Spain
Velez, R.1,2, Ballart, C.1,2, Domenech, E.3, Cairó, J.3, Portús, M.2, Gállego, M.1,2
1ISGlobal,
Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
2Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
3Canis Veterinary Hospital, Girona, Spain
Corresponding author: rita.velez@isglobal.org
Introduction
Results
Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic vector-borne zoonosis in the
A total of 133 phlebotomine specimens were recovered, from which 60 were females (45%). A
Mediterranean region. Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) has a great impact in domestic dog populations,
positive result was observed in 13 sampling stations and the identified species in order of decreasing
and it represents an important source of the parasite for human infection (WHO, 2010). In this
abundance were P. perniciosus (53%), P. ariasi (32%) and Sergentomyia minuta (15%). P. perniciosus
region, control of both human and canine leishmaniasis greatly depends on an effort to reduce
was present in 50% of the sampling locations (frequency), ranging from altitudes of 84 m to 343 m
infection burdens in the animal host and phlebotomine vector surveillance.
a.s.l. The frequency of P. ariasi was 30% and it was found at altitude ranges of 139 m to 259 m a.s.l.
Recently, a vaccine to prevent CanL has been released in Europe (France, Italy, Portugal and Spain)
S. minuta was found between 73 m and 285 m a.s.l. and presented a frequency of 45%.
(Moreno et al., 2012) and a project to evaluate its effectiveness in an endemic area of northern Spain
is being held since mid-2015. Though it is known that Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. ariasi are the
implicated vectors in L. infantum transmission in Spain (Portús et al, 2007; Guilvard et al., 1996), little
is known about their current distribution or the presence of other sand fly species in the area
considered. Therefore, a preliminary phlebotomine epidemiologic survey was conducted
simultaneously with a CanL seroprevalence study in order to characterize the area where the vaccine
field study would take place.
Materials & Methods
A total of 20 dog kennels located in Girona province (Catalonia, northern Spain) were sampled during
September 2015. Dog densities in these kennels ranged from 4 to 30 animals, with an average of 15
dogs per sampling site. These were mainly located in rural areas and at altitudes varying from 73 m
to 396 m above sea level. One to two CDC light traps were placed for one night in each sampling
station, from which 33 traps were recovered. All sand flies were preserved in 70% ethanol until
mounting in Hoyer’s medium for morphological identification under optical microscopy, following
the keys of Gállego Berenguer et al. (1992).
Fig. 3 – Sand fly abundance observed in each sampling station.
Discussion & Conclusions
Climatic conditions observed during the previous days to the placement of traps, with heavy rains in
the study area, as well as a low number of sampling nights, may explain the reduced number of sand
flies recovered during this pilot study.
Fig. 1 and 2 – CDC light traps placed in two of the dog kennels.
Nevertheless, these preliminary results allow an insight into the phlebotomine vectors present in an
endemic CanL region and support the selection of this location for carrying out a CanL vaccine trial. A
further characterization of these arthropod populations combined with results from currently
Table 1 – Location and general characterization of dog kennels sampled during the survey.
Sampling stations
ID
Nearest
village
1
Ordis
2
Madremanya
Maçanet de
la Selva
Massanes
Massanes
Hostalnou de
Bianya
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Hostalnou de
Bianya
Hostalnou de
Bianya
Montagut
Montagut
Sant Esteve
de Llémena
Sant Esteve
de Llémena
Canet d'Adri
Canet d'Adri
Aiguaviva
Geographical coordinates
Altitude
(m a.s.l.)
Relative position
to nearest
settlement
No. of
dogs
N 42° 13' 37.7''; E 2° 54' 24.1''
104
Between
30
N 41° 58' 47.0''; E 2° 58' 7.2''
139
Between
18
Goats
2
Selva
N 41° 47' 27.4''; E 2° 45' 0.4''
73
Between
17
Pigs
1
Selva
Selva
N 41° 45' 15.3''; E 2° 38' 44.0''
N 41° 45' 53.8''; E 2° 39' 0.1''
88
117
Edge
Between
11
14
2
2
Garrotxa
N 42° 13' 26.0''; E 2° 26' 9.7''
396
Edge
5
2
Garrotxa
N 42° 12' 39.2''; E 2° 28'35.0''
355
Edge
5
County
Alt
Empordà
Gironès
Garrotxa
N 42° 12' 43.1''; E 2° 28'35.1''
343
Edge
8
Garrotxa
Garrotxa
N 42° 14' 7.7''; E 2° 35' 57.6''
N 42° 13' 41.8''; E 2° 35' 58.1''
254
258
Edge
Within
Garrotxa
N 42° 3' 35.1''; E 2° 37' 1.4''
283
Within
Other
animals
Chickens
1
1
30
21
Cattle
2
2
11
Cattle
2
Garrotxa
N 42° 3' 42''; E 2° 36' 53.4''
285
Within
9
1
Gironès
Gironès
Gironès
N 42° 1' 53.7''; E 2° 44' 15.3''
N 42° 2' 43,9''; E 2° 44' 59,2''
N 41° 54' 27.2''; 2° 46' 19.0''
231
248
148
Within
Edge
Edge
10
16
27
2
1
1
Sta. Coloma
de Farners
Selva
N 41° 50' 39.4''; E 2° 40' 48.4''
128
Edge
22
17
Sta. Coloma
de Farners
Selva
N 41° 51' 26.3''; E 2° 40' 36.1''
126
Edge
10
Baix
Empordà
Gironès
N 41° 47' 2.3''; E 2° 59' 58.7''
84
Between
19
19
Sant Feliu de
Guíxols
Canet d'Adri
N 42° 1' 57.0''; E 2° 44' 8.6''
234
Within
4
20
Canet d'Adri
Gironès
N 42° 2' 23.9''; E 2° 43' 46.0''
259
Edge
8
ongoing CanL seroprevalence studies will enable a better understanding of this zoonosis and the
identification of transmission risk factors in this geographic area.
1
Sheeps
16
18
No. CDC
recovered
per
night
Chickens
Horses
Horses,
sheeps, pigs,
chickens
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2
2
Goats
2
2
Goats,
chickens
2
This research is funded by the European Union’s H2020 Programme under the MSCA GA nº642609.
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