info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Detection of amastigote-like forms in the valve of phlebotomus papatasi Infected with Leishmania major
Autor
Añez Reverol, Nestor Oswaldo
Tang, Yinshan
Rojas E., Agustina del V.
Crisante R., Gladys E.
Killick Kendrick, Mireille
Killick Kendrick, Robert
Institución
Resumen
A massive and homogeneous amount of amastigote-like forms was detected in the stomodeal valve (SV) and the
thoracic mid-gut (TMG) of Leishmania major-infected Phlebotomus papatasi, which received a second blood meal
13 to 21 days post-infection on healthy anaesthetized hamsters. After re-feeding, the infected sand flies were
dissected out to examine the morphology of the parasite in SV, TMG and the abdominal mid-gut (AMG). Different
promastigote forms were seen in the infected flies. Among these included typical promastigotes (nectomonads and
haptomonads), paramastigotes, metacyclic promastigotes and, in some samples, the here-reported amastigote-like
forms. The Leishmania amastigote-like forms were detected in the SV of sand flies with 14, 18 and 21 days of infection
as well as in the TMG at 13 and 18 days post-infection. However, the amastigote-like forms were not detected in the
AMG. Factors such as the acidic pH predominating the TMG and the SV, as well as the temperature of the ingested
blood, among others, are suggested as contributing to the transformation of the typical promastigotes into the
amastigote-like forms. The significance of this finding is discussed and the possible biological advantage for transmission
of Leishmania is considered. 495-498 nanes@ula.ve agustinarojas@yahoo.com gecr68@hotmail.com