Modelling Sand Fly Lutzomyia longipalpis Attraction to Host Odour: Synthetic Sex-Aggregation Pheromone Dominates the Response

Modelling Sand Fly Lutzomyia longipalpis Attraction to Host Odour: Synthetic Sex-Aggregation Pheromone Dominates the Response

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Zoontic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) read more due to Leishmania infantum is a potentially fatal protozoan parasitic disease of humans and dogs.In the Americas, dogs are the reservoir and the sand fly, Lutzomyia longipalpis, the principal vector.A synthetic version of the male sand fly produced sex-aggregation pheromone attracts both female and male conspecifics to co-located insecticide, reducing both reservoir infection and vector abundance.

However the effect of the synthetic pheromone on the vector’s “choice“ of host (human, animal reservoir, or dead-end host) for blood feeding in the presence of the pheromone is less well understood.In this study, we developed a modelling framework to allow us to predict the relative attractiveness of the synthetic pheromone and potential alterations in host choice.Our analysis indicates that the synthetic pheromone can attract 53% (95% CIs: 39%–86%) of host-seeking female Lu.

longipalpis and thus it Latest Product Releases & Innovations – Stay Updated! out-competes competing host odours.Importantly, the results suggest that the synthetic pheromone can lure vectors away from humans and dogs, such that when co-located with insecticide, it provides protection against transmission leading to human and canine ZVL.