First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand flies from mammalian reservoirs to humans. In recent years, a northward spread of L. infantum from highly endemic Mediterranean countries into previously non-endemic Central European areas has been suspected based on...

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Main Authors: Simone Haeberlein, Dominik Fischer, Stephanie Margarete Thomas, Ulrike Schleicher, Carl Beierkuhnlein, Christian Bogdan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24260539/pdf/?tool=EBI
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author Simone Haeberlein
Dominik Fischer
Stephanie Margarete Thomas
Ulrike Schleicher
Carl Beierkuhnlein
Christian Bogdan
author_facet Simone Haeberlein
Dominik Fischer
Stephanie Margarete Thomas
Ulrike Schleicher
Carl Beierkuhnlein
Christian Bogdan
author_sort Simone Haeberlein
collection DOAJ
description Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand flies from mammalian reservoirs to humans. In recent years, a northward spread of L. infantum from highly endemic Mediterranean countries into previously non-endemic Central European areas has been suspected based on presumed sporadic cases of autochthonous leishmaniasis. Here, we investigated whether sand flies are prevalent in Bavaria in Southern Germany, a federal state in which autochthonous cases have previously been reported. Considering the present and future climatic conditions, we determined whether Bavaria is suitable for five sand fly species with assumed spreading tendencies towards Central Europe: Phlebotomus ariasi, P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi and P. perniciosus that are known vectors for Leishmania in Europe, and P. mascittii, a suspected but not proven vector. Within Bavaria we defined sampling regions based on their climatic suitability and their spatial distance to the sites of the autochthonous cases and/or to areas of reported sand fly detection in states adjacent to Bavaria. At 155 locations in 7 sampling regions, CDC light traps were placed during 38 nights in the summers of 2009 and 2010, resulting in 202 trap-nights. All traps were negative for sand flies. The results suggest that Bavaria is not yet endemic for sand flies, but do not exclude the possibility of sporadic cases of autochthonous human or zoonotic Leishmania infections. This study, which combined methodological approaches from different disciplines, serves as reference for future surveys and risk analyses of sand flies and leishmaniasis in so far non-endemic areas of Europe.
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spelling doaj.art-a7a0e5fb574a4d3baa436e368130f37f2022-12-21T21:43:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01811e8108810.1371/journal.pone.0081088First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.Simone HaeberleinDominik FischerStephanie Margarete ThomasUlrike SchleicherCarl BeierkuhnleinChristian BogdanLeishmaniasis is caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand flies from mammalian reservoirs to humans. In recent years, a northward spread of L. infantum from highly endemic Mediterranean countries into previously non-endemic Central European areas has been suspected based on presumed sporadic cases of autochthonous leishmaniasis. Here, we investigated whether sand flies are prevalent in Bavaria in Southern Germany, a federal state in which autochthonous cases have previously been reported. Considering the present and future climatic conditions, we determined whether Bavaria is suitable for five sand fly species with assumed spreading tendencies towards Central Europe: Phlebotomus ariasi, P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi and P. perniciosus that are known vectors for Leishmania in Europe, and P. mascittii, a suspected but not proven vector. Within Bavaria we defined sampling regions based on their climatic suitability and their spatial distance to the sites of the autochthonous cases and/or to areas of reported sand fly detection in states adjacent to Bavaria. At 155 locations in 7 sampling regions, CDC light traps were placed during 38 nights in the summers of 2009 and 2010, resulting in 202 trap-nights. All traps were negative for sand flies. The results suggest that Bavaria is not yet endemic for sand flies, but do not exclude the possibility of sporadic cases of autochthonous human or zoonotic Leishmania infections. This study, which combined methodological approaches from different disciplines, serves as reference for future surveys and risk analyses of sand flies and leishmaniasis in so far non-endemic areas of Europe.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24260539/pdf/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Simone Haeberlein
Dominik Fischer
Stephanie Margarete Thomas
Ulrike Schleicher
Carl Beierkuhnlein
Christian Bogdan
First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
PLoS ONE
title First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
title_full First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
title_fullStr First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
title_full_unstemmed First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
title_short First assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in Bavaria, Southern Germany, by combined distribution modeling and field surveys.
title_sort first assessment for the presence of phlebotomine vectors in bavaria southern germany by combined distribution modeling and field surveys
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24260539/pdf/?tool=EBI
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