A new study offers an innovative way to track the spread of leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that affects both animals and humans. Using high-resolution melting (HRM) PCR, the researchers developed a fast, reliable method to identify sand fly species, detect Leishmania parasites and determine the source of their blood meals from a single sample. The study mapped twelve sand fly species, four Leishmania species and twenty-five host animals across Israel, revealing complex patterns of transmission. This approach provides a powerful new tool for veterinarians and public health authorities to more effectively monitor and control zoonotic diseases.
Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease spread by sand flies, has long puzzled veterinarians and public health experts. The complex transmission cycle of the disease, found in humans and animals throughout Israel and many other parts of the world, involves many sand fly species and a wide range of wild and domestic reservoirs. A recent study led by Professor Gad Baneth of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Agriculture, Food and Environment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Entomology Laboratory at the Israel Ministry of Health presents a major breakthrough in how we monitor and understand this complexity.
Posted on PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseasesresearch introduces a PCR-based high-resolution melting (HRM) technique that can simultaneously identify sand fly species, detect Leishmania parasites, and identify the source of the insect’s blood meal, all from a single sample. This innovative molecular approach replaces time-consuming traditional methods with a rapid, cost-effective diagnostic system that offers near-perfect accuracy. “By bringing together veterinary medicine and public health surveillance, we can now trace the parasite’s journey from animal to insect to human with unprecedented precision,” says Professor Baneth. “This method is transforming the way we monitor zoonotic diseases in the field.”
The research team analyzed nearly 2,000 sand flies collected throughout Israel, identifying twelve different sand fly species, four species Leishmania (L. major, L. tropica, L. infantum, L. donovani), and twenty-five different blood meal sources, ranging from domestic cats and cows to rock raccoons and hares. Their findings reveal distinct ecological zones: L. major and L. donovani carriers dominated the arid southern regions, while L. tropica and L. infantum they were more common in the center and north. Interestingly, sand fly species were also found outside of their historically recognized habitats, suggesting environmental or climatic changes expanding transmission ranges. The HRM system achieved 96.7% success in identifying bloodmeal sources, a significant advance for One Health studies bridging veterinary and human epidemiology. Domestic cats, raccoons, hares and cows accounted for more than half of all identified blood meals, highlighting the critical role of animals in maintaining the disease’s life cycle.
Leishmaniasis is both a veterinary and human health concern, affecting dogs, cats, and wildlife reservoirs along with humans. The ability of HRM technology to distinguish between species and patterns of contamination traces enables early intervention and targeted control strategies. For veterinarians, it provides a diagnostic window into infection ecology, helping to identify animal hosts that serve as silent reservoirs and improving outbreak prediction. Professor Baneth notes that “rapid and accurate identification of infected vectors and reservoir hosts allows us to predict emerging outbreaks and protect both animal and human populations.” This pioneering molecular toolkit not only enhances Israel’s vector-borne disease surveillance, but also offers a model adaptable to other endemic regions. By merging molecular diagnostics with field ecology, the study marks an important step forward in the fight against neglected tropical diseases that cross the animal-human divide.
Source:
Journal Reference:
