Article Detection of Leishmania and Trypanosoma DNA in Field-Caught Sand Flies from Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas of Leishmaniasis in Southern Thailand Pimpilad Srisuton 1, Atchara Phumee 2,3, Sakone Sunantaraporn 4, Rungfar Boonserm 2, Sriwatapron Sor-suwan 2, Narisa Brownell 2, Theerakamol Pengsakul 5 and Padet Siriyasatien 2,* 1 Medical Parasitology Program, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 2 Vector Biology and Vector Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 3 Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases-Health Science Centre, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, Chulalongkorn Hospital, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 4 Medical Science Program, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand 5 Faculty of Medical Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +66-2256-4387 Received: 8 June 2019; Accepted: 31 July 2019; Published: 2 August 2019 Abstract: Phlebotomine sand flies are tiny, hairy, blood-sucking nematoceran insects that feed on a wide range of hosts. They are known as a principal vector of parasites, responsible for human and animal leishmaniasis worldwide. In Thailand, human autochthonous leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis have been reported. However, information on the vectors for Leishmania and Trypanosoma in the country is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to detect Leishmania and Trypanosoma DNA in field-caught sand flies from endemic areas (Songkhla and Phatthalung Provinces) and non-endemic area (Chumphon Province) of leishmaniasis. A total of 439 sand flies (220 females and 219 males) were collected.