On 10th April 2023 , Dr. Suhier Ereqat and Dr. Abedelmajeed Nasereddin published a new study in Parasitology Research journal titled Genetic diversity and haplotype analysis of Leishmania tropica identified in sand fly vectors of the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia using next‑generation sequencing technology. The article aimed to determine the natural rate of infection of Leishmania spp. in sand fly vectors as well as identify the suspected sand fly species and investigate the genetic diversity of L. tropica strains in sand fly vectors compared to that in different hosts. All that was done using Next generation sequencing method directly on captured Sandflies. The results of this study revealed that L. tropica parasites detected in sand flies in Palestine are monophyletic that assembled in one main phylogroup and one haplotype using ITS1 region. Our study revealed one highly genetically diverse population (cluster II) and one relatively low genetically diverse population (cluster I), regardless of origin of samples, geographic, or isolation. Infection rate of L. tropica in Phlebotomus spp. is higher than expected. Epidemiological surveys of Leishmania infection in sand fly vectors are essential to assess control strategies and populations at risk.
For more information about the study, please contact the corresponding author at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the scientific research office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
