Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
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First occurrence records and molecular identification of Sergentomyia spp. (Diptera: Psychodidae) sand flies in Praia, Santiago Island, Cabo Verde (2024)
Publication . Pires, Hélida; Amaro, Fátima; Sousa, Celivianne; de Sousa, Rita; Leal, Silvânia da Veiga
Phlebotomine sand flies are important vectors of pathogens affecting both humans and animals and are widely distributed geographically. In Cabo Verde, research on vector-borne diseases has focused primarily on mosquitoes, leaving other potential vectors understudied. As part of the ONESVEC surveillance project, we conducted a preliminary assessment to determine the presence of sand flies in Cabo Verde. From February to December 2024, entomological surveys using BioGents-Sentinel traps were carried out in five neighborhoods of Praia, Santiago Island: Achada Eugénio de Lima, Ponta de Água, Taiti, Vale do Palmarejo, and Vila Nova. Male specimens were slide-mounted for morphological identification, and randomly selected individuals underwent mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing. Haplotype diversity and species delimitation (DnaSP, ASAP) were also assessed. A total of 367 sand flies (184 males, 173 females) were collected, of which 168 males were successfully identified. Most specimens were Sergentomyia fallax, found in all neighborhoods, while S. squamipleuris was identified in Taiti and Vale do Palmarejo. Phylogenetic analysis showed Cabo Verde S. fallax forming a well-supported monophyletic group, distinct from North African and Cyprus-Saudi Arabian lineages. Haplotype analysis revealed high haplotype but low nucleotide diversity, suggesting a genetically diverse yet stable or expanding population. In contrast, S. squamipleuris sequences clustered with Kenyan isolates in separate subclades, consistent with higher nucleotide diversity. ASAP species delimitation supported the phylogenetic analysis. This study provides the first confirmed record of phlebotomine sand flies in Cabo Verde and highlights the need for expanded surveillance and pathogen screening across the archipelago.
Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) - Departamento de Genética Humana: Do Diagnóstico à Investigação
Publication . Rodrigues, M. Rosário
Comunicação sobre as funções e atividades do Departamento de Genética Humana do INSA, desde o Diagnóstico até à Investigação.
Leishmaniasis retrospective analysis of cases diagnosed in the National Institute of Health between 2020 and 2024
Publication . Reis, Tânia; Vilares, Anabela; Ferreira, Idalina; Martins, Susana; Gargaté, Maria João
Aim: To describe the demographic characteristics of leishmaniasis cases, in patients with clinical symptoms, whose laboratory diagnosis was confirmed between 2020 and 2024 at the National Reference Lab of Parasitic and Fungal Infections.
REVIVE - Leishmania infantum detected in Sergentomyia minuta in the Algarve region, Portugal
Publication . Vilares, Anabela; Amaro, Fátima; Reis, Tânia; Martins, Susana; Alves, Maria João; Gargaté, Maria João; REVIVE Team
Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani represents a major public health concern in Mediterranean countries, with phlebotomine sand flies serving as the primary vectors for the transmission of Leishmania parasites [1]. In Portugal, REVIVE is a national surveillance network operating under the Ministry of Health since 2008, initially targeting mosquitoes, with its scope expanded to include ticks in 2011 and sand flies in 2016.
The primary objectives of REVIVE are to identify the existing species in Portugal, establish which pathogens are circulating among them and provide alerts for prevention and control measures when necessary.
A New World disease: Dual diagnostic challenges in travelers returning from Costa Rica
Publication . Brazão, Cláudia; Borges-Costa, João; Antunes-Duarte, Sofia; Mancha, Dora; Sun, Lanyu; Marques, Tiago; Gargaté, Maria João; Vilares, Anabela; Reis, Tânia; de Vasconcelos, Pedro; Soares-de-Almeida, Luís; Filipe, Paulo
Cutaneous diseases in returning travelers encompass a wide spectrum of etiologies and often pose diagnostic challenges. We present the cases of a 50-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman who presented with a 3-month history of erythematous, ulcerated plaques with well-defined elevated borders and a necrotic center on the lower limbs that began 3 weeks after returning from vacation in Costa Rica. Cutaneous biopsy revealed epidermal ulceration and extensive caseating granulomas throughout the full thickness of the dermis. Giemsa staining revealed no amastigotes. Microbiological examinations identified Leishmania braziliensis and excluded mycobacteria and fungi. The diagnosis of cutaneous Leishmaniasis was established. Owing to clinical severity and antimonial unavailability, the man was treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The woman underwent surgical excision of the single lesion, along with oral fluconazole. Complete resolution was documented in both patients. These cases, which posed diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, highlight that cutaneous leishmaniasis, in all its versatile and often perplexing presentations, is a parasitic infection that should always be considered in dermatologic patients returning from vacation in endemic countries.