Attachment of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum in the midgut of their respective sand fly vectors Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus langeroni (Diptera: Psychodidae).

The attachment of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major in the midgut of experimentally infected Phlebotomus langeroni and Phlebotomus papatasi was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Cellular damage in the midgut of infected flies as a byproduct of infection was observed in both species. A difference in the mode of attachment of flagella to the midgut of their respective sand fly vectors suggested higher adaptation between L. major/P. papatasi compared to L. infantum/P. langeroni.