An epidemiological study on canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and sand flies in Northern Cyprus

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the investigation on the prevalence of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and sand fly species incriminated as potential vectors of leishmaniasis in the northern part of the Cyprus were aimed. METHODS: This research was conducted in two periods; 2004 and 2012. Serological (IFAT and rK39) and molecular (PCR) tests were performed on 83 dog blood samples during the 2004 survey. PCR was performed using primers 13A/13B targeting kinetoplastid minicircle constant region. Genomic Nested-PCR was applied using R221/R332 and R323/333 primers for 5 clinically suspected dog samples in 2012. Sand flies were collected from the Lapithos town and Kyreniae province using CDC light traps and midgut dissection was done for the presence of Leishmania parasites during the 2012 survey. RESULTS: Three (3.61%) out of 83 dogs were found to be positive for CanL in 2004, while 3 out of 5 clinically suspected dogs were positive in 2012. In total 296 female sand flies were dissected and 9 species belonging to Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia genera were determined. No promastigote was found in the dissected females. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in two different periods showed that the importance and risk of canine disease are increasing in the northern Cyprus and further studies should be performed in northern Cyprus for determining the incidence of canine and human leishmaniasis.