Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta
Abstract Background We evaluated various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species from different genera and subgenera. Most of these species are vectors of human-pathogenic Leishmania, whereas Sergentomyia minuta is a herpetophilic sand fly species and a proven vector of Leishmania (Saur...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06729-8 |
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| author | Anna Hošková Barbora Vojtková Markéta Stejskalová Nikola Polanská Magdalena Jančářová Lidiane Medeiros da Costa Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant´Anna Petr Volf Jovana Sádlová |
| author_facet | Anna Hošková Barbora Vojtková Markéta Stejskalová Nikola Polanská Magdalena Jančářová Lidiane Medeiros da Costa Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant´Anna Petr Volf Jovana Sádlová |
| author_sort | Anna Hošková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background We evaluated various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species from different genera and subgenera. Most of these species are vectors of human-pathogenic Leishmania, whereas Sergentomyia minuta is a herpetophilic sand fly species and a proven vector of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae. Methods Female sand flies were offered blood through a range of membranes (chicken, reptilian, and frog skin; synthetic collagen; pig intestine; and duck foot webbing). Two feeding systems (glass feeder, Hemotek) and different blood sources (human, ovine, avian, and reptilian) were used. Feeding trials were conducted under varying thermal and light conditions to determine the optimal parameters. Results Among the 4950 female S. minuta tested, only a negligible fraction took a blood meal: 2% of the females fed on avian blood, and 0.2% of the females fed on human blood. In eight other species, the chicken membrane was generally more effective than synthetic membranes or pig intestines. For example, Phlebotomus duboscqi refused synthetic membranes, while Lutzomyia longipalpis and P. perniciosus avoided both synthetic membranes and pig intestines. The most effective membrane was duck foot webbing, with four species feeding more readily through it than through the chicken membrane. Additionally, applying coagulated blood plasma to the outer surface of chicken or synthetic membranes significantly increased feeding rates. Conclusions Female S. minuta did not reliably feed on blood through the tested membranes, preventing laboratory infection experiments from confirming their vector competence for human-pathogenic Leishmania. However, for future experimental infections of other sand fly species, duck foot webbing has emerged as an effective membrane, and the application of blood plasma to the exterior of membranes may increase the feeding rates. Graphical abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ce9efd33d924994a5c7744e03031e12 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ce9efd33d924994a5c7744e03031e122025-08-20T02:10:20ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052025-03-011811910.1186/s13071-025-06729-8Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minutaAnna Hošková0Barbora Vojtková1Markéta Stejskalová2Nikola Polanská3Magdalena Jančářová4Lidiane Medeiros da Costa5Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant´Anna6Petr Volf7Jovana Sádlová8Charles UniversityCharles UniversityCharles UniversityCharles UniversityCharles UniversityUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisUniversidade Federal de Minas GeraisCharles UniversityCharles UniversityAbstract Background We evaluated various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species from different genera and subgenera. Most of these species are vectors of human-pathogenic Leishmania, whereas Sergentomyia minuta is a herpetophilic sand fly species and a proven vector of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae. Methods Female sand flies were offered blood through a range of membranes (chicken, reptilian, and frog skin; synthetic collagen; pig intestine; and duck foot webbing). Two feeding systems (glass feeder, Hemotek) and different blood sources (human, ovine, avian, and reptilian) were used. Feeding trials were conducted under varying thermal and light conditions to determine the optimal parameters. Results Among the 4950 female S. minuta tested, only a negligible fraction took a blood meal: 2% of the females fed on avian blood, and 0.2% of the females fed on human blood. In eight other species, the chicken membrane was generally more effective than synthetic membranes or pig intestines. For example, Phlebotomus duboscqi refused synthetic membranes, while Lutzomyia longipalpis and P. perniciosus avoided both synthetic membranes and pig intestines. The most effective membrane was duck foot webbing, with four species feeding more readily through it than through the chicken membrane. Additionally, applying coagulated blood plasma to the outer surface of chicken or synthetic membranes significantly increased feeding rates. Conclusions Female S. minuta did not reliably feed on blood through the tested membranes, preventing laboratory infection experiments from confirming their vector competence for human-pathogenic Leishmania. However, for future experimental infections of other sand fly species, duck foot webbing has emerged as an effective membrane, and the application of blood plasma to the exterior of membranes may increase the feeding rates. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06729-8Sergentomyia minutaPhlebotomusLutzomyiaVector competenceArtificial feedingLeishmania |
| spellingShingle | Anna Hošková Barbora Vojtková Markéta Stejskalová Nikola Polanská Magdalena Jančářová Lidiane Medeiros da Costa Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant´Anna Petr Volf Jovana Sádlová Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta Parasites & Vectors Sergentomyia minuta Phlebotomus Lutzomyia Vector competence Artificial feeding Leishmania |
| title | Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta |
| title_full | Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta |
| title_short | Evaluation of various membranes for blood-feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in Sergentomyia minuta |
| title_sort | evaluation of various membranes for blood feeding in nine sand fly species and artificial feeding challenges in sergentomyia minuta |
| topic | Sergentomyia minuta Phlebotomus Lutzomyia Vector competence Artificial feeding Leishmania |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06729-8 |
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