Vector-host-parasite inter-relationships in leishmaniasis. II-Influence of blood meal from natural vertebrate hosts with and without leishmaniasis infantum and L. major on the proteolytic activity in the gut of phlebotomus langeroni [diptera: Psychodidae]

ABSTRACT

Proteolytic activity in the gut of Phlebotomus langeroni [Nitzulescu] was studied at 4 subsequent 24-hour intervals post feeding on human, dog [Canis familiaris], rat [Rattus rattus] and turkey [Melagris gallopava] blood with and without Leishmania infantum or L. Major promastigotes. The gut proteolytic activity increased gradually after feeding to reach a maximum at 48 hours post feeding on any of the 12 studied blood meals. In all cases, the activity declined after 48 hours and almost terminated by 96 hours. In case of normal blood, the proteolytic activity, at 48 hours post feeding, was the highest in case of the dog, followed by human, rat and turkey, respectively. Promastigotes were alive and active in fresh gut smears of P. langeroni fed on human, dog and rat blood mixed with either L. infantum or L. major, throughout the digestion period [1 - 4 days]