PMID- 26593735 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20161027 LR - 20220410 IS - 1432-1955 (Electronic) IS - 0932-0113 (Linking) VI - 115 IP - 3 DP - 2016 Mar TI - Ecological and epidemiological status of species of the Phlebotomus perniciosus complex (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Morocco. PG - 1045-51 LID - 10.1007/s00436-015-4833-0 [doi] AB - Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) infection is transmitted by an infected female sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) of the subgenus Larroussius: Phlebotomus ariasi, Phlebotomus perniciosus, and Phlebotomus longicuspis in the Mediterranean basin. In Morocco, the vectorial role of P. ariasi was demonstrated, while that of P. longicuspis and P. perniciosus is not elucidated. In addition, Moroccan P. longicuspis and P. perniciosus populations present a higher morphologic and genetic variability. It was classified as P. perniciosus complex, including typical (PN) and atypical (PNA) morphs of P. perniciosus, P. longicuspis sensu stricto (LCss), and a sibling species of P. longicuspis (LCx). With the aim to study the ecological and epidemiological status of P. perniciosus complex species in Morocco, entomological surveys were carried out during three entomological seasons (2012, 2013, and 2014). We collected a total of 6298 specimens from 81 localities of northern, central, and southern Morocco. After describing the geographical distribution of P. perniciosus complex trough Morocco according to many variables (altitude, latitude, and longitude), we discuss the resulting epidemiological implications of its species. Our results highlight the geographical distribution of the two morphs of P. perniciosus through Morocco: PN is limited to the north, while PNA is widespread in northern, central, and southern Morocco. In terms of vectorial role, we hypothesize the potential involvement of PN, LCss, and LCx, at least, with P. ariasi, in the epidemiological cycle of L. infantum in Morocco. FAU - Zarrouk, Asmae AU - Zarrouk A AD - Laboratory Ecology, Biodiversity and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco. FAU - Kahime, Kholoud AU - Kahime K AD - Laboratory Ecology and Environment L2E, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. FAU - Boussaa, Samia AU - Boussaa S AD - Laboratory Ecology and Environment L2E, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. samiaboussaa@gmail.com. AD - Ministry of Health, Institut Superieur des Professions Infirmieres et des Techniques de Sante (ISPITS), Marrakech, 40000, Morocco. samiaboussaa@gmail.com. FAU - Belqat, Boutaina AU - Belqat B AD - Laboratory Ecology, Biodiversity and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco. LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20151123 PL - Germany TA - Parasitol Res JT - Parasitology research JID - 8703571 SB - IM MH - Altitude MH - Animals MH - Ecology MH - Female MH - Insect Vectors/anatomy & histology/*classification/parasitology MH - Leishmania infantum/*physiology MH - Leishmaniasis, Visceral/*epidemiology/transmission MH - Male MH - Morocco/epidemiology MH - Phlebotomus/anatomy & histology/*classification/parasitology MH - Seasons OTO - NOTNLM OT - Ecology OT - Human visceral leishmaniasis OT - Morocco OT - Phlebotomus perniciosus complex EDAT- 2015/11/26 06:00 MHDA- 2016/11/01 06:00 CRDT- 2015/11/24 06:00 PHST- 2015/09/01 00:00 [received] PHST- 2015/11/12 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2015/11/24 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2015/11/26 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2016/11/01 06:00 [medline] AID - 10.1007/s00436-015-4833-0 [pii] AID - 10.1007/s00436-015-4833-0 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Parasitol Res. 2016 Mar;115(3):1045-51. doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4833-0. Epub 2015 Nov 23.