The Role of the Infected Dogs as a Potential Reservoir Host for Toscana Virus in a Zoonotic Visceral Leishmaniasis Focus of Northern Tunisia.

The role of dogs as reservoir hosts for Toscana virus (TOSV) remains undetermined. This study investigated TOSV and infections in one healthy and three infected dogs with (A, B, C) following natural exposition to sandfly bites in a focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) located in Northern Tunisia from June to October 2020. At the end of the exposition period, infected and healthy dogs were examined for TOSV and infections by xenodiagnosis using a colony of .

Effects of multiple feedings on sensitized rabbits on the fitness of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae).

In the present study, we evaluated the effects of antibodies anti-sandfly saliva on the fecundity of Phlebotomus papatasi, vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. Rabbits were repeatedly exposed to sandfly bites. Immune sera showed increased levels of anti-sandfly saliva antibody compared to the pre-exposition period.

Correction: Enhanced attraction of sand fly vectors of Leishmania infantum to dogs infected with zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.

Enhanced attraction of sand fly vectors of Leishmania infantum to dogs infected with zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: The sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, etiological agent of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the Western Mediterranean basin. Dogs are the main reservoir host of this disease. The main objective of this study was to determine, under both laboratory and field conditions, if dogs infected with L.