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Sergentomyia khawi: a potential vector for Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites affecting humans and animals and insecticide resistance status in endemic areas of Songkhla, southern Thailand

Parasites & Vectors volume 17, Article number: 351 (2024) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Sand flies serve as crucial vectors in various medical and veterinary diseases. Sand fly-borne diseases pose a significant public health burden globally, as the causative agents can infect a diverse range of hosts, leading to severe consequences such as leishmaniasis and sand fly fever. Additionally, the widespread use of insecticides for agricultural purposes and mosquito control is not specifically targeted at sand flies, potentially leading to resistance development. We investigated sand fly species, their potential role as vectors of various parasitic agents, and insecticide resistance in the endemic regions of Natawi and Sadao districts in Songkhla, Thailand.

Methods

Sand flies were collected using CDC light traps. The collected sand flies were then identified to species level using molecular techniques. Subsequent analyses included the detection of pathogens and the identification of pyrethroid resistance mutations within the voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vgsc) domain IIS6 gene, followed by sequence analysis.

Results

The study identified nine sand fly species belonging to the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. The DNA of Sergentomyia khawi was the only species found to test positive for one sample of Leishmania orientalis in Sadao district. This finding represents the first detection of L. orientalis in Thailand. Moreover, three samples of Leishmania martiniquensis and four samples of Trypanosoma sp. were found in the Natawi district. No I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, or F1020S mutations were detected in Vgsc gene.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide valuable information on sand fly species and the continuous circulation of Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp. in Songkhla, southern Thailand. Moreover, the development of geo-spatial information on vectors, parasites, and insecticide resistance in sand flies has the potential to provide well-informed risk assessments and evidence-based guidance for targeted vector control in Thailand. These results can serve as a foundation for integrating the One Health approach, which is crucial for disease control, considering the diverse ecological interactions among human and/or animal reservoir hosts, parasites, and sand fly vectors.

Graphic Abstract

Background

Sand flies are tiny blood-feeding (hematophagous) insects belonging to the order Diptera, family Psychodidae, and subfamily Phlebotominae [1]. These diminutive, hairy insects have slender bodies and up-held V-shaped wings when resting, distinguishing them from other small insects [2]. Approximately 800 species of sand flies have been identified worldwide. According to the widely accepted classification, there are three genera in the New World, Lutzomyia, Psychodopygus, and Nyssomyia, and eight genera in the Old World, Phlebotomus, Sergentomyia, Grassomyia, Spelaeomyia, Idiophlebotomus, Parvidens, Spelaophlebotomus, and Chinius [3,4,5]. Among them, Phlebotomus (Ph.) and Sergentomyia (Se.) are the most prevalent. At least 39 species of Phlebotomus are known to feed on humans [6]. The genus Sergentomyia is recognized for possessing the greatest known diversity among sand flies [7]. These sand flies play a crucial role as vectors for various established, emerging, and re-emerging infectious diseases, including leishmaniasis and sand fly-borne phleboviruses, impacting both human and animal health [8]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates an annual incidence of 700,000 to 1,000,000 patients and 20,000 to 30,000 deaths due to leishmaniasis [9]. This complexity in Leishmania (L.) parasite transmission underscores the necessity for the One Health approach, which becomes imperative for controlling leishmaniasis given the intricate ecological relationships among human and/or animal reservoir hosts, parasites, and sand fly vectors [10]. In Thailand, autochthonous leishmaniasis is caused by several species: Leishmania martiniquensis [11, 12], L. orientalis [13, 14], L. donovani [15], and L. infantum [16]. The reports have identified cases in the central, northern, and southern regions of the country. In 2015, WHO declared Thailand, previously considered free from the disease, as an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis [17]. Currently, the number of autochthonous leishmaniasis cases is significantly increasing. Furthermore, sand flies in Thailand have been found to harbor L. martiniquensis DNA, including species like Sergentomyia (Neophlebotomus) gammae, Se. khawi, and Se. (Parrotomyia) barraudi. Additionally, L. martiniquensis DNA was detected in rats (Rattus rattus) using ITS1-PCR in southern Thailand [18, 19]. Trypanosomiasis, a zoonotic disease with diverse symptoms, infects various animals in Asia, including cattle [20], rats [21, 22], deer [23], and humans [24]. The most common species found are Trypanosoma (T.) evansi and T. lewisi [21, 25]. While tsetse flies are well-known trypanosome vectors, these blood-sucking insects are not present in Asia. Here, transmission likely occurs through various hematophagous arthropods like mosquitoes, leeches, and kissing bugs [26]. Interestingly, sand flies are believed to potentially transmit trypanosomes to bats [27], snakes [28], and lizards [29]. Significantly, Phumee et al. (2017) detected the first presence of Trypanosoma sp. DNA (potentially indicative of a new Trypanosoma species) in a Phlebotomus stantoni sand fly from southern Thailand [30]. Presently, Thailand lacks comprehensive information regarding the diversity of sand flies and associated pathogens. Preventing sand fly-borne diseases relies significantly on vector control, which aims to reduce sand fly populations and interrupt disease transmission. However, no prior data exist on the insecticide susceptibility and resistance of sand flies in Thailand. Pyrethroids, the main insecticides used for controlling adult and immature mosquitoes, might indirectly combat sand flies [31]. The major mechanisms of pyrethroid resistance in insects involve knockdown resistance mutations (kdr) within the para voltage-gated sodium channel gene (Vgsc) in nerve cells [32]. The widespread use of insecticides for vector control can lead to increased resistance among sand flies. Understanding the patterns and distributions of kdr mutations in sand flies highlights the necessity for an effective vector control program. Therefore, our study aims to survey sand fly species composition, screen for sand fly-borne pathogens, and evaluate insecticide resistance at the Vgsc domain IIS6 region using molecular diagnostic tools in endemic areas of Songkhla, southern Thailand. These data are essential for implementing effective vector control strategies to prevent the transmission of sand fly-borne pathogens and safeguard public health.

Methods

Study areas and sample collection

Sand fly surveillance was conducted in January 2023 within two districts of Songkhla province, Natawi (6°39′28″N, 100°42′49″E) and Sadao (6°38′19″N, 100°25′26″E). Detailed GPS coordinates and brief descriptions of each location are provided. The surveillance team employed CDC miniature light trap, designed by the US Centers for Disease Control and equipped with 25W bulb and ultraviolet (UV) light, to capture sand flies. Six traps were strategically positioned at various indoor and outdoor locations at each site, including areas under a Thai house, animal shed, and chicken coop; around termite mounds; under coconut trees; and within shrubbery. The traps were set approximately 0.5 to 1.5 m above the ground and operated from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following morning. Collections at each site spanned an average of 3 nights before being transported to the laboratory for further processing. Insects collected from the light traps were anesthetized at − 20 °C for 30 min. All sand flies were morphologically differentiated according to their gender under a stereomicroscope (Olympus, Japan).

DNA extraction

Each individual sand fly was lysed in 200 µl lysis buffer supplemented with 20 µl proteinase K. The samples were then homogenized using a sterile plastic pestle. Genomic DNA extraction was performed utilizing commercially available Invisorb Spin Tissue Mini Kit (STRATEC molecular GmbH, Germany) following the manufacturer’s protocols. Subsequently, the DNA was eluted in 50 µl elution buffer. For long-term storage, the extracted DNA was maintained at − 80 °C.

Molecular identification of sand fly species

For sand fly DNA species identification, we employed primers CB3-PDR (5’ CAY-ATT-CAACCW-GAA-TGA-TA 3’) and N1N-PDR (5’ GGT-AYW-TTG-CCTCGA-WTT-CGW-TAT-GA 3’) to amplify the cytochrome B (CytB) gene, resulting in a 500-bp amplicon, adhering to a methodology previously described by Ready et al. (1997) [33]. In brief, the PCR reaction mixture, with a total volume of 25 µl, included 12.5 µl 2X green PCR master mix direct-load (Biotechrabbit, Germany), 0.4 µl of each primer (10 pmol/μl), 8.7 µl deionized distilled water (ddH2O), and 3 µl DNA template. The ddH2O was used as a negative control. The PCR reaction program protocol was executed according to the following steps: initial denaturation at 94 °C for 3 min; followed by five cycles consisting of denaturation at 94 °C for 1 min, annealing at 40 °C for 1 min, and extension at 68 °C for 1 min; subsequently, 35 cycles of denaturation at 94 °C for 1 min, annealing at 44 °C for 1 min, and extension at 68 °C for 1 min; finally, a concluding extension step at 68 °C for 10 min.

Detection of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasite DNA

PCR amplification was annealed specifically to the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of Leishmania parasites and the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene of Trypanosoma parasites. For Leishmania spp., the reactions were performed using primers LeR: 5′ CCA-AGT-CAT-CCA-TCG-CGA-CAC-G 3′ and LeF: 5′ TCC-GCCCGA-AAG-TTC-ACC-GAT-A 3′, targeting a fragment of approximately 370 bp [34]. For Trypanosoma spp., a set of primers TRY927-F: 5′ AGA-AAC-ACG-GGA-G 3′ and TRY927-R: 5′ CTA-CTG-GGC-AGC-TTG-GA 3′ was applied to amplify approximately 900 bp as described by Noyes et al. (1999) [35]. PCR reactions were prepared in a total volume of 25 µl using green hot start PCR master mix direct load (Biotechrabbit, Germany) in a PCR mastercycler (Eppendorf, Germany). The reaction conditions included an initial denaturation step at 94 °C for 4 min, followed by 40 cycles of denaturation at 94 °C for 1 min, annealing at 65 °C for 1 min for the ITS1 gene or 51.7 °C for the SSU rDNA gene, and extension at 72 °C for 1 min. Subsequently, a final extension step was conducted at 72 °C for 7 min. The resulting PCR products underwent analysis by electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel for 40 min at 100 V and were then visualized using Quantity One Quantification Analysis Software Version 4.5.2 (Bio-Rad, USA).

Identification of mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (Vgsc) region

The conserved primers Vssc8F (5′ AAT-GTG-GGA-TTG-CAT-GCT-GG 3′) and Vssc1bR (5′ CGT-ATC-ATT-GTC-TGC-AGT-TGG-T 3′) [36] were designed to amplify a genomic DNA fragment from the Vgsc domain II, segment 6. These primers were used to monitor the presence and frequency of the kdr mutations at codon 1011, 1014, 1016, and 1020, specifically targeting mutations I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, and F1020S in sand flies. Each amplification was conducted in a 25 μl PCR reaction mixture, which comprised 2X green PCR master mix direct load (Biotechrabbit, Germany), specific primers, ddH2O, and the DNA template. The thermocycling conditions were set as follows: an initial denaturation at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 35 cycles of 96 °C for 30 s, 56 °C for 30 s, and 72 °C for 30 s, concluding with a final extension at 72 °C for 5 min. The complete Vgsc sequence of Musca domestica (house fly) (accession no. X96668) and partial sequences of Phlebotomus argentipes (accession nos. KY114616-KY114619) were obtained from GenBank.

Gel purification and sequencing

The corresponding bands from the gels, which exhibited clear, single bands, were purified using ExoSAP-IT (Biotechrabbit, Germany), following the manufacturer’s instructions. In cases where positive bands displayed multiple bands on gel electrophoresis, they were excised from the gels and purified using the agarose gel DNA purification kit Invisorb Fragment CleanUp (STRATEC molecular GmbH, Germany), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Subsequently, the purified DNA samples were sent for direct DNA sequencing to Macrogen, Inc. (Macrogen Inc., South Korea).

DNA cloning and sequencing

For faint or multiple bands on gel electrophoresis, PCR amplicons were ligated into pGEM-T Easy Vector (Promega, USA). The ligation reaction mixture consisted of 5 µl of 2X Rapid ligation buffer, 3 µl of PCR products, 1 µl of pGEM-T Easy Vector, and 1 µl of ddH2O. Subsequently, the ligated vector was transformed into DH5α competent cells, and chimeric plasmids were screened using the blue-white colony selection system. Suspected positive colonies were cultured and utilized for further plasmid DNA extraction, employing the Invisorb Spin Plasmid Mini kit (STRATEC Molecular GmbH, Germany), following the manufacturer’s instructions. Purified plasmids were then forwarded to Macrogen, Inc. (South Korea) for Sanger sequencing service using the universal forward T7 primer.

Sequences and phylogenetic analysis

Nucleotide sequences were analyzed using BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor, version 7.0.9.0; the consensus sequences were compared with available sequence data in the GenBank by BLAST search (available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.gov/BLAST). This tool searches nucleotide databases using % nucleotide queries and identity. Phylogenetic trees were generated using the maximum-likelihood method with IQ-TREE on the IQ-TREE web server (http://iqtree.cibiv.univie.ac.at/) with 1000 ultrafast bootstrap replicates. The best fit model of substitution was identified using the auto function on the IQ-TREE web server (http://iqtree.cibiv.univie.ac.at/). The phylogenetic tree is finally viewed and edited with FigTree version 1.4.4 (http://tree.bio.ed.ac.uk/software/figtree/).

Statistical analyses

Descriptive statistics were used to determine the estimated prevalence, expressed as a percentage. The prevalence calculation employed a formula established from a pilot study and a previous publication by our team. A 95% confidence interval was used. In simpler terms, the prevalence was calculated by dividing the number of sand flies collected during the survey by the total number of sand fly samples. All statistical analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019 (Microsoft Corp., USA).

Results

Molecular identification of sand fly species

A total of 121 female sand flies were collected for this study, with 62 (51.2%) samples obtained from Natawi district and 59 (48.8%) from Sadao district. Molecular identification revealed these sand flies belonged to two genera and nine species. In the Natawi, the identified species included Phlebotomus stantoni, Sergentomyia barraudi, Se. khawi, Se. hivernus, and Sergentomyia sp. Sadao district had Phlebotomus betisi, Sergentomyia barraudi, Se. khawi, Se. bailyi, Se. anodontis, and Se. slyertica. The composition of sand fly fauna exhibited distinctive characteristics in each district. Phlebotomus stantoni, Se. hivernus, and Sergentomyia sp. were exclusively found in the Natawi district, whereas Ph. betisi, Se. bailyi, Se. anodontis, and Se. slyertica were identified solely in the Sadoa district. Notably, Se. khawi was the most prevalent species in both districts, accounting for 40 out of 62 samples in Natawi and 35 out of 59 samples in Sadao (see Additional file 1). The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the CytB gene of sand fly species revealed a well-supported clade, providing clear insights into the relationships among various sand fly species, including Se. khawi, Se. anodontis, Se. hivernus, Se. barraudi, Se. slyertica, Sergentomyia sp., Se. bailyi, Ph. stantoni, and Ph. betisi. Interestingly, four specimens of Sergentomyia sp. from the Natawi clustered with sand flies previously recorded in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), specifically referenced as IP-Laos-IPH-20160335 (accession no. MK651804) and IP-Laos-IPH-20160336 (accession no. MK651805). The analysis of Se. khawi from both the Natawi and Sadao districts revealed significant genetic diversity (0.5–3%). Notably, a subset of Se. khawi from the Sadao formed a distinct sister clade separate from the major Se. khawi clade (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

The phylogenetic tree of CytB gene sequences among various sand fly species. The tree was constructed using IQ-TREE with maximum-likelihood bootstrap support (1000 replicates). The best-fit substitution model was determined using the auto function on the IQ-TREE web platform. Sequences from the Natawi and Sadao districts are differentiated by blue and red colors, respectively

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Molecular detection of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites in sand flies

All female sand flies were tested for Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma spp. infection using ITS1-PCR and SSU rRNA-PCR, respectively. In Natawi district, three samples of Se. khawi tested positive for L. martiniquensis, while four samples of Se. khawi were positive for Trypanosoma sp. In Sadao, only one Se. khawi sample was positive for L. orientalis, showing a 99.66% identity to L. orientalis (isolate PCM2, accession no. JX195640) and a 99.60% identity to L. orientalis (isolate MHOM/TH/2021/CULE5, accession no. ON303842). The ITS1 sequences of Leishmania spp. were analyzed using phylogenetic analysis alongside representative sequences of various strains and species. The findings distinctly revealed the classification of all samples into two distinct groups, L. martiniquensis and L. orientalis, within the same clade as reference sequences belonging to the Mundinia subgenus. These groups were notably separate from other species complexes within the subgenera Leishmania, Viannia, Sauroleishmania, and Paraleishmania (Fig. 2A). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of Trypanosoma species based on the SSU rRNA region demonstrated that all four sequences were distinctly classified within the Trypanosoma sp. isolated from sand flies in Thailand. Additionally, we observed two distinct groups of Trypanosoma sp. The first group was previously identified in Se. khawi collected from Chantaburi, Thailand (accession no. ON680850 and ON680863) and exhibited a close relationship with the amphibian trypanosome group. Meanwhile, the second group exhibited similarities to Trypanosoma sp. found in Se. khawi collected from Songkhla, Thailand (accession no. MH989552) (Fig. 2B). Interestingly, Trypanosoma parasites demonstrated host specificity, as evidenced by their distinct separation within the phylogenetic tree based on their respective hosts. The sequences generated in this study were deposited in the NCBI GenBank database with the following accession numbers: PP860607-PP860610 for Trypanosoma sp., PP862807 for L. orientalis, and PP862808-PP862810 for L. martiniquensis.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Phylogenetic trees representing the ITS1 gene of Leishmania spp. A and SSU rRNA gene of Trypanosoma spp. B. These trees were constructed using IQ-TREE with maximum-likelihood bootstrap support (1000 replicates). Sequences from the Natawi and Sadao districts are distinguished by blue and red colors, respectively

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Assessment of insecticide resistance mutations in sand flies

The sequences of the 75 Vgsc domain IIS6 from Se. khawi were processed by intron removal and exon splicing to generate the translated amino acid sequence (Fig. 3A). The results revealed that all 75 samples (100%) showed no kdr mutation at codon 1014 with the presence of the wild-type allele (leucine, TTA). There was no replacement of leucine with serine (L1014S, TCA) or with phenylalanine (L1014F), which can occur through two alleles (TTC and TTT), compared to references sequences. Moreover, only wild-type alleles were identified at codons 1011I/I (isoleucine, ATT), 1016 V/V (valine, GTT), and 1020F/F (phenylalanine, TTC) in all samples (Fig. 3B and C).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Chromatograms of homozygous genotypes demonstrating nucleotide sequencing (A), sequence alignment of the domain IIS6 fragment of Vgsc in Sergentomyia khawi for nucleotide sequences (B) and amino acid (C). The alignment includes the wild type of Musca domestica (accession number: X96668) and Phlebotomus argentipes (accession nos; KY114616–KY114619), highlighting amino acid positions 1011, 1014, 1016, and 1020 and nucleotide sequences indicated by a vertical column

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Discussion

Numerous cases of leishmaniasis have been reported in southern Thailand [37, 38], underlining the importance of comprehensive sand fly surveys in these areas. While previous surveys documented a variety of sand fly species, misidentification remains a significant challenge [39]. Furthermore, challenges arise from cryptic species complexes and subtle morphological differences, leading to misidentification as reported in numerous studies. Preativatanyou et al. (2023) highlighted the ambiguity between Sergentomyia gemmea and Se. khawi [40], while Phuphisut et al. (2021) provided evidence of misidentification of Se. gemmea as Se. iyengari and vice versa [41]. Additionally, Vu et al. (2021) proposed that the historical records of Se. iyengari in Southeast Asia may actually be relevant to Se. khawi [42]. The taxonomy of these species has been further confounded by the synonymization of Se. iyengari with Se. hivernus [30]. Utilizing molecular techniques that target both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA for sand fly species identification serves as a valuable and practical solution for resource conservation while confirming species identities [43, 44]. This approach enables additional molecular investigations, facilitating the generation of data on pathogen detection and identification of insecticide resistance mutations. In this study, the CytB gene identified sand fly species, revealing Se. khawi as the predominant species in both districts, with unique species distribution and dominant species in each area. Interestingly, Sergentomyia spp. grouped with sand flies reported in the Lao PDR [39], and specific Se. khawi specimens from the Sadao district formed a unique sister clade distinct from the primary Se. khawi clade. Rispail and Léger (1998) revealed the genus Sergentomyia as having the highest level of diversity among sand flies [7]. The diversity of sand fly fauna, with comparable species compositions across various environments within each area [45], suggests that the interaction between caves and their surroundings plays a significant role in sustaining sand fly communities.

In our molecular detection of pathogens in sand flies, we found Leishmania parasites (L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis) as well as Trypanosoma  parasites (Trypanosoma sp.) in Se. khawi. A previous report from Thailand detected L. martiniquensis DNA in various sand fly species, including Se. gammae [46], Se. (Parrotomyia) barraudi [18], Se. khawi [19], and Grassomyia indica [40], all collected from the southern region. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first report of L. orientalis DNA detected in Se. khawi in southern Thailand. This aligns with report of an autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis case involving the L. orientalis strain PCM2 (formerly named L. siamensis) isolated from Trang province, southern Thailand [47]. These results suggest that Se. khawi may serve as a potential vector for Leishmania parasites within the Mundinia subgenus. However, dissections were not performed in this study to confirm the presence of metacyclic promastigotes in the sand flies. In Se. khawi, our analysis of Trypanosoma  species using the SSU rRNA gene identified two distinct groups of Trypanosoma sp. Interestingly, two samples from one group clustered closely with the amphibian trypanosome group. The previous report demonstrated that Trypanosoma sp. isolated from Se. khawi in this same area in 2018 exhibited the highest genetic differentiation, primarily being isolated from various Amazonian amphibian species [40]. However, a detection of an unknown Trypanosoma sp., genetically related to rodent-infecting T. microti and T. kuseli, was reported in Ph. stantoni collected from Songkhla province [30]. Srisuton et al. (2019) investigated that Trypanosoma noyesi had been identified in Se. anodontis and Phlebotomus asperulus [19]. Furthermore, sand flies from several species, including Se. khawi, Gr. indica, Se. anodontis, Ph. asperulus, and Ph. betisi, harbored an unidentified Trypanosoma species across all study areas. Notably, a co-infection sample of L. martiniquensis and Trypanosoma was discovered in Se. khawi from Songkhla Province. As aforementioned, the results indicate the ongoing circulation of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites in sand flies, especially Se. khawi, which could potentially result in future disease transmission to humans and animals.

Preventing sand fly-borne diseases relies significantly on effective vector control measures. Disease control primarily involves interrupting disease transmission by reducing the sand fly population. In Thailand, insecticide spraying is a widely used method of vector control, while pyrethroids are commonly used to target adult and immature stages of mosquitoes [31]. However, no specific sand fly control program using insecticides exists in the country. Consequently, data on sand fly insecticide resistance are not available. This study encouragingly revealed that Se. khawi showed no presence of known pyrethroid resistance mutations (I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, and F1020S) in the Vgsc gene. Unfortunately, due to limitations in rearing sand flies in the laboratory, we were unable to conduct bioassays to determine pyrethroid resistance phenotype. Therefore, we strongly recommend that future studies perform phenotypic analysis followed by determining the molecular mechanisms of resistance. Interestingly, a previous study reported that Phlebotomus perfiliewi, the primary vector of L. infantum in Northern Italy, showed the absence of mutations in the Vgsc gene, including I1011M, L1014F/S, V1016G, or F1020S [48]. Conversely, Ph. argentipes collected from Bangladesh showed mutant alleles (L1014F/S), but no mutations were detected at codons 1011, 1016, and 1020 [49]. Historically, sand flies have been considered generally susceptible to insecticides. However, DDT resistance in Ph. argentipes and Ph. papatasi was reported in 1979 in Bihar, India [50]. Amelia-Yap et al. (2018) revealed that over 37 resistance-associated kdr-type mutations or combinations of mutations have been detected in pyrethroid and DDT-resistant insect populations [51]. Recently, two kdr mutations at codon 1014 (L1014F and L1014S) have been investigated in sand flies in India, located in the same codon regions as described in mosquitoes [36]. L1014F is the most common kdr mutation in insects, whereas L1014S has only been found in mosquitoes [52]. Pathirage et al. (2020) investigated the insecticide susceptibility status of Ph. argentipes in Sri Lanka for the first time, examining metabolic and genetic mechanisms that may confer insecticide resistance [53]. In 2024, the kdr mutation L1014F and L1014S was detected in Phlebotomus papatasi and Ph. tobbi, but no kdr mutations were found in the Ph. caucasicus, Ph. perfiliewi, and Ph. sergenti in Armenia [54]. Currently, the lack of knowledge regarding the status of pyrethroid resistance in Thai sand flies hinders effective vector control. Here, we propose the first investigation of molecular markers in sand fly populations from Thailand to determine their pyrethroid resistance status using molecular genotyping assays targeting known resistance markers.

The information from this study can provide valuable insights into the prevalence of parasites in the sand fly population, the potential role of specific sand fly species as a vector in endemic areas of leishmaniasis, and insecticide resistance status of sand flies in Thailand. Nevertheless, future studies should conduct extensive surveys and collect samples from various locations across Thailand for a more comprehensive analysis.

Conclusions

The current study indicated Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites circulating in sand flies at Songkhla, southern Thailand. Notably, L. orientalis was first identified in Se. khawi, highlighting a potential vector for this parasite in the region. However, kdr mutations in Vgsc region were not observed in the predominant Se. khawi. The establishment of geo-spatial information on vectors, Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites, and the insecticide resistance status in sand flies has the potential to significantly improve risk assessments and guide targeted vector control efforts in Thailand.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. The sequence data obtained from this study have been deposited in the NCBI GenBank database (accession nos. PP860607–PP860610 for Trypanosoma sp., PP862807 for Leishmania orientalis, and PP862808-PP862810 for L. martiniquensis).

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Acknowledgements

This work (grant no. RGNS 64-208) was financially supported by Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) (grant no. NRCT5-RSA63001-03), which provided additional support for reagents and chemicals.

Funding

This work (grant no. RGNS 64-208) was financially supported by Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) (grant no. NRCT5-RSA63001-03), which provided additional support for reagents and chemicals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

    Atchara Phumee

  2. Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health (EC for DACH), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

    Atchara Phumee

  3. Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Nataya Sutthanont

  4. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

    Suwalak Chitcharoen

  5. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Vorthon Sawaswong

  6. Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector Borne Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Rungfar Boonserm & Padet Siriyasatien

  7. Department of Parasitology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, Thailand

    Pattama Ayuyoe

  8. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-A, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, Murcia, Espinardo, Spain

    Ana Cantos-Barreda

  9. Animal Health Department, University of Murcia, Murcia, Espinardo, Spain

    Ana Cantos-Barreda

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  1. Atchara Phumee
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  2. Nataya Sutthanont
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Contributions

A.P. and P.S. managed the acquisition of funding, project administration, and supervision. A.P., N.S., S.C., V.S., R.B., P.A., A.C., and P.S. managed conceptualized and designed. Field activities and sand fly collection were coordinated by A.P., N.S., R.B., P.A., and P.S., who also performed sand fly identification. Molecular analysis and construction of phylogenetic trees were carried out by A.P., S.C., and V.S.. A.P. drafted the main manuscript text. Writing review and editing were conducted by A.P., N.S., S.C., V.S., R.B., P.A., A.C., and P.S. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Padet Siriyasatien.

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The study was approved by the approved by Animal Ethics Committee of Walailak University, based on the Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, National Committee for Research Animal Development, National Research Council of Thailand (protocol no. WU-ACUC-65008).

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Phumee, A., Sutthanont, N., Chitcharoen, S. et al. Sergentomyia khawi: a potential vector for Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites affecting humans and animals and insecticide resistance status in endemic areas of Songkhla, southern Thailand. Parasites Vectors 17, 351 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06440-0

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Parasites & Vectors

ISSN: 1756-3305

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