Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges

The prevalence of autochthonous leishmaniasis in Thailand is increasing but the natural vectors that are responsible for transmission remain unknown. Experimental in vivo infections in Culicoides spp. with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis, the major causative...

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Main Authors: Saowalak Kaewmee, Chonlada Mano, Thanari Phanitchakun, Rinnara Ampol, Thippawan Yasanga, Urassaya Pattanawong, Anuluck Junkum, Padet Siriyasatien, Paul A. Bates, Narissara Jariyapan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1235254/full
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author Saowalak Kaewmee
Chonlada Mano
Thanari Phanitchakun
Rinnara Ampol
Thippawan Yasanga
Urassaya Pattanawong
Anuluck Junkum
Padet Siriyasatien
Paul A. Bates
Narissara Jariyapan
author_facet Saowalak Kaewmee
Chonlada Mano
Thanari Phanitchakun
Rinnara Ampol
Thippawan Yasanga
Urassaya Pattanawong
Anuluck Junkum
Padet Siriyasatien
Paul A. Bates
Narissara Jariyapan
author_sort Saowalak Kaewmee
collection DOAJ
description The prevalence of autochthonous leishmaniasis in Thailand is increasing but the natural vectors that are responsible for transmission remain unknown. Experimental in vivo infections in Culicoides spp. with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis, the major causative pathogens in Thailand, have demonstrated that biting midges can act as competent vectors. Therefore, the isolation and detection of Leishmania and other trypanosomatids were performed in biting midges collected at a field site in an endemic area of leishmaniasis in Tha Ruea and a mixed farm of chickens, goats, and cattle in Khuan Phang, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. Results showed that Culicoides peregrinus was the abundant species (>84%) found in both locations and only cow blood DNA was detected in engorged females. Microscopic examination revealed various forms of Leishmania promastigotes in the foregut of several C. peregrinus in the absence of bloodmeal remnants, indicating established infections. Molecular identification using ITS1 and 3’UTR HSP70 type I markers showed that the Leishmania parasites found in the midges were L. martiniquensis. The infection rate of L. martiniquensis in the collected flies was 2% in Tha Ruea and 6% in Khuan Phang, but no L. orientalis DNA or parasites were found. Additionally, organisms from two different clades of Crithidia, both possibly new species, were identified using SSU rRNA and gGAPDH genes. Choanomastigotes and promastigotes of both Crithidia spp. were observed in the hindgut of the dissected C. peregrinus. Interestingly, midges infected with both L. martiniquensis and Crithidia were found. Moreover, four strains of Crithidia from one of the clades were successfully isolated into culture. These parasites could grow at 37°C in the culture and infect BALB/c mice macrophages but no multiplication was observed, suggesting they are thermotolerant monoxenous trypanosomatids similar to Cr. thermophila. These findings provide the first evidence of natural infection of L. martiniquensis in C. peregrinus supporting it as a potential vector of L. martiniquensis.
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spelling doaj.art-9ae45763b2814c1a91568bb1d2d300dc2023-08-22T12:35:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-08-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.12352541235254Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midgesSaowalak Kaewmee0Chonlada Mano1Thanari Phanitchakun2Rinnara Ampol3Thippawan Yasanga4Urassaya Pattanawong5Anuluck Junkum6Padet Siriyasatien7Paul A. Bates8Narissara Jariyapan9Medical Parasitology Program, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandCenter of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandCenter of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandMedical Science Research Equipment Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandMolecular Biology of Malaria and Opportunistic Parasites Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandCenter of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandDivision of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United KingdomCenter of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandThe prevalence of autochthonous leishmaniasis in Thailand is increasing but the natural vectors that are responsible for transmission remain unknown. Experimental in vivo infections in Culicoides spp. with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis, the major causative pathogens in Thailand, have demonstrated that biting midges can act as competent vectors. Therefore, the isolation and detection of Leishmania and other trypanosomatids were performed in biting midges collected at a field site in an endemic area of leishmaniasis in Tha Ruea and a mixed farm of chickens, goats, and cattle in Khuan Phang, Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. Results showed that Culicoides peregrinus was the abundant species (>84%) found in both locations and only cow blood DNA was detected in engorged females. Microscopic examination revealed various forms of Leishmania promastigotes in the foregut of several C. peregrinus in the absence of bloodmeal remnants, indicating established infections. Molecular identification using ITS1 and 3’UTR HSP70 type I markers showed that the Leishmania parasites found in the midges were L. martiniquensis. The infection rate of L. martiniquensis in the collected flies was 2% in Tha Ruea and 6% in Khuan Phang, but no L. orientalis DNA or parasites were found. Additionally, organisms from two different clades of Crithidia, both possibly new species, were identified using SSU rRNA and gGAPDH genes. Choanomastigotes and promastigotes of both Crithidia spp. were observed in the hindgut of the dissected C. peregrinus. Interestingly, midges infected with both L. martiniquensis and Crithidia were found. Moreover, four strains of Crithidia from one of the clades were successfully isolated into culture. These parasites could grow at 37°C in the culture and infect BALB/c mice macrophages but no multiplication was observed, suggesting they are thermotolerant monoxenous trypanosomatids similar to Cr. thermophila. These findings provide the first evidence of natural infection of L. martiniquensis in C. peregrinus supporting it as a potential vector of L. martiniquensis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1235254/fullLeishmanialeishmaniasisCrithidiaTrypanosomatidsLeishmania martiniquensisCulicoides
spellingShingle Saowalak Kaewmee
Chonlada Mano
Thanari Phanitchakun
Rinnara Ampol
Thippawan Yasanga
Urassaya Pattanawong
Anuluck Junkum
Padet Siriyasatien
Paul A. Bates
Narissara Jariyapan
Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
Frontiers in Microbiology
Leishmania
leishmaniasis
Crithidia
Trypanosomatids
Leishmania martiniquensis
Culicoides
title Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
title_full Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
title_fullStr Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
title_full_unstemmed Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
title_short Natural infection with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis supports Culicoides peregrinus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a Crithidia sp. isolated from the midges
title_sort natural infection with leishmania mundinia martiniquensis supports culicoides peregrinus diptera ceratopogonidae as a potential vector of leishmaniasis and characterization of a crithidia sp isolated from the midges
topic Leishmania
leishmaniasis
Crithidia
Trypanosomatids
Leishmania martiniquensis
Culicoides
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1235254/full
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