Sauroleishmania: development in the vectors and hosts

Leishmania of subgenus Sauroleishmania are parasites of reptiles, most often lizards, and are not pathogenic for humans. Therefore, they are neglected group of pathogens and their life cycle is not well-known. They are transmitted probably by ingestion of infected vector which is usually considered as sand flies of genus Sergentomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae). Sauroleishmania are traditionally denominated in Hypopylaria and it is expected that their development is limited to sand fly hindgut. The main aim of this work is to summarize the present knowledge about Sauroleishmania life cycle and to elucidate some aspects of their development in the vector and host. In the first part of thesis we studied development of four Sauroleishmania species in various sand flies of genera Sergentomyia and Phlebotomus. Late-stage infections of Leishmania (S.) adleri and L. (S.) hoogstraali were found in six and two sand fly species, respectively. Hypopylarian infections of Leishmania (S.) adleri were found in Se. schwetzi, P. papatasi and P. sergenti, while in P. argentipes, P. orientalis and P. duboscqi this Sauroleishmania migrated anteriorly in the midgut (peripylarian development). Similar type of development was observed also in P. argentipes and P. orientalis infected by Leishmania (S.) hoogstraali. Both L...