Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis (Andean-CL, uta) in Peru and Ecuador: the vector Lutzomyia sand flies and reservoir mammals

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 178; pp. 264 - 275
• Main Authors: Hashiguchi, Yoshihisa, Gomez L., Eduardo A., Cáceres, Abraham G., Velez, Lenin N., Villegas, Nancy V., Hashiguchi, Kazue, Mimori, Tatsuyuki, Uezato, Hiroshi, Kato, Hirotomo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-02-2018
• Subjects: Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis (uta); Ecuador; Lutzomyia sand fly; Natural Leishmania infection; Peru; Reservoir mammals; Ecuador; Reservoir mammals; Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis (uta); Lutzomyia sand fly; Natural Leishmania infection; Peru
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.12.008

Showing, 1) landscape and human dwellings of the Andean-CL (uta) endemic areas, Huanchoc (2700m a.s.l.), Ancash Department, Peru; 2) geographical distribution of the Lutzomyia sand fly species, vectors of the Leishmania parasites, causing Andean-CL (uta) in Peru and Ecuador; 3) Monthly biting activities of three species of sand flies, Lu. verrucarum and Lu. peruensis in Peru, and Lu. ayacuchensis in Ecuador, showing higher activities during the rainy seasons; 4) landscape and human dwellings of the Andean-CL endemic areas, Chanchan (1500m a.s.l.), Chimborazo Province, Ecuador, along with the Chanchan river and railways (Alausi-Huigra).
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•Leishmania (V.) peruviana possessed three sand fly vector/species, Lu. peruensis, Lu. verrucarum and Lu. ayacuchensis, while L. (L.) mexicana possessed only the last one.•Lutzomyia ayacuchensis participated as vectors of two Leishmania species, L. (V.) peruviana and L. (L.) mexicana in Peru and Ecuador, respectively.•A markedly higher rate of natural Leishmania infection was observed in the Ecuadorian Lu. ayacuchensis than the Peruvian.•Lutzomyia tejadai participated as vector of a hybrid parasite of L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (V.) peruviana in the Peruvian Andes area (Huánuco).•Dogs were considered to be principal reservoir hosts of the Leishmania in both countries, though a few numbers of other sylvatic mammals were reported as suspected reservoirs.
The vector Lutzomyia sand flies and reservoir host mammals of the Leishmania parasites, causing the Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis (Andean-CL, uta) in Peru and Ecuador were thoroughly reviewed, performing a survey of literatures including our unpublished data. The Peruvian L. (V.) peruviana, a principal Leishmania species causing Andean-CL in Peru, possessed three Lutzomyia species, Lu. peruensis, Lu. verrucarum and Lu. ayacuchensis as vectors, while the Ecuadorian L. (L.) mexicana parasite possessed only one species Lu. ayacuchensis as the vector. Among these, the Ecuadorian showed a markedly higher rate of natural Leishmania infections. However, the monthly and diurnal biting activities were mostly similar among these vector species was in both countries, and the higher rates of infection (transmission) reported, corresponded to sand fly’s higher monthly-activity season (rainy season). The Lu. tejadai sand fly participated as a vector of a hybrid parasite of L. (V.) braziliensis/L. (V.) peruviana in the Peruvian Andes. Dogs were considered to be principal reservoir hosts of the L. (V.) peruviana and L. (L.) mexicana parasites in both countries, followed by other sylvatic mammals such as Phyllotis andium, Didelphis albiventris and Akodon sp. in Peru, and Rattus rattus in Ecuador, but information on the reservoir hosts/mammals was extremely poor in both countries. Thus, the Peruvian disease form demonstrated more complicated transmission dynamics than the Ecuadorian. A brief review was also given to the control of vector and reservoirs in the Andes areas. Such information is crucial for future development of the control strategies of the disease.