Effect of Leishmania spp infection on the survival,life
expectancy,fecundity and fertility of Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l.
and Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis
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Authors: | Irma Fatima Agrela Maria Dora Feliciangeli |
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Institution: | Universidad de Carabobo, Sede Aragua, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Centro Nacional de Referencia de Flebótomos y Otros vectores, Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela |
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Abstract: | We evaluated the effects of Leishmania spp infection on several
population parameters of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato
andLutzomyia pseudolongipalpis, vectors of visceral leishmaniasis
in Venezuela, under experimental conditions during the first post-feeding period.
Females of both species were allowed to feed and engorge on a suspension of fresh
washed human red blood cells in foetal calf serum. These blood cells were either
non-infected or infected with one of the fourLeishmania spp strains
and were offered through a chicken skin membrane. The longevity, life expectancy and
the fecundity of uninfected flies were similar in both species, but the fertility was
significantly lower in uninfected Lu. longipalpis females. In all
cases, the infection of Lu. longipalpis and Lu.
pseudolongipalpis by the Leishmania strains resulted in
significant detrimental effects, which exerted a fitness cost expressed by reduced
survival and life expectancy, as well as decreased fertility and fecundity compared
with the control groups. Nevertheless, differences in these parameters were observed
between these vector species depending on whether they were infected with the
autochthonous Venezuelan Leishmania infantum strain (NESA) or the
Brazilian reference strain (PP75). The experimental data obtained agree with field
data on the natural infection of these vector species and the significance of this
scenario is discussed. |
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Keywords: | survival life expectancy fertility fecundity Lutzomyia longipalpis s l Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis experimental sandfly infection Leishmania spp |
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