First Detection and Molecular Analysis of Leishmania infantum DNA in Sand Flies of Kosovo

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are the principal vectors of phleboviruses and Leishmania spp., causative agents leishmaniases. The Mediterranean fly fauna is diverse, leishmaniasis, mainly caused by infantum, endemic in Balkan countries. Despite recent entomological surveys, only some districts Kosovo have been sampled for flies, with no proof/confirmation L. infantum. This study aimed to gain further insights into species composition natural populations previously unsampled areas without reports leishmaniasis detect DNA flies. A survey was conducted 2022 all seven Kosovo. Collected females were screened PCR. Positive samples sequenced subjected maximum likelihood analysis reference sequences molecular characterization. trapping activities at 114 different localities resulted 3272 caught specimens, comprising two genera, namely Phlebotomus neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, tobbi, papatasi, simici, balcanicus Sergentomyia minuta. infantum detected three individual neglectus perfiliewi. provides most extensive first record indicating autochthonous circulation