Investigation of natural infection of Phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) by Leishmania in Tunisian endemic regions

Leishmaniases are caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania transmitted by females blood-feeding phlebotomine insects (Diptera: Psychodidae). In Tunisia, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniases are of public health concern. In Tunisia, 17 species of phlebotomine sand flies are described. Here we investigate natural infection in Tunisian mixed foci regions of leishmaniases. We trap female sandflies during the Leishmania transmission season in the country's central-eastern and northern parts. We investigate Leishmania infection using PCR-RFLP targeting the ITS1 ribosomal DNA, followed by enzymatic digestion with HaeIII; then, we identify sand flies using molecular methodologies. We confirm the presence of Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus perniciosus infected by L. major and L. infantum parasites in Tunisia.