Svobodova M. and Volf P. (2002) Leishmania tropica: Field study in the endemic focus in Turkey and laboratory transmission from asymptomatic hosts and non-lesion sites. Abstract in The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 49 (2): 9 A ISSN 1066-5234, IF 1,739
ABSTRACT. Sandflies were studied in Urfa, Turkey - a focus of L.tropica. Light and rodent traps were placed in the endemic quarters. Phlebotomus sergenti caught was twice as many in number as P.papatasi. These 2 species constitute 99% of sandflies. The male:female ratio was 1.4 for P.sergenti and 0.9 for P.papatasi. Both species were most abundant in stables followed by cellars, and less so in rooms, yards and on roofs. P.papatasi was relatively more numerous in stables, while P.sergenti in rooms. Sources of bloodmeals were determined by ELISA using anti-IgG. The bloodmeals originate from several vertebrates including rodents. House mice (Mus domesticus) and black rats (Rattus rattus) were abundant and caught in sandfly-infested houses. Black rats were susceptible to infection with L.tropica. The parasites produced no skin lesion, but persisted at the inoculation sites of ear and footpad. P.sergenti fed on the rat ears acquired infection. BALB/c mice developed lesions after inoculation with L.tropica, and the infection eventually visceralized. Feeding on non-lesion sites resulted in 20% infected P.sergenti. Thus, P.sergenti can acquire infection on inoculation site of an asymptomatic host and on non-lesion site of a symptomatic host, which is important in the epidemiology of the disease