transmission by prediuresis of sand flies.

Parasites of the genus , together with the genus , form a sister clade to the species-rich and medically important genus . Both species, and , are dixenous parasites of Neotropical porcupines. Almost 50 years after their first discovery, knowledge of their life cycle remains poor and their insect vectors are unknown. Because competent vectors of their closest phylogenetic relatives, genera and , are phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) and/or biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), we examined here the potential of both sand flies and biting midges to transmit parasites. The insects ( and ) were exposed to parasites through the chicken skin membrane and dissected at various time intervals post bloodmeal. Potentially infected females were also allowed to feed on the ears of anaesthetized BALB/c mice and the presence of parasite DNA was subsequently confirmed in the mice by PCR. did not survive defecation in or , suggesting that these sand fly species are unlikely to serve as natural vectors of this parasite. Similarly, infections were lost in midges. In contrast, mature infections developed in 51-61% of females, 7.3% of females and 7.7% of females. In all three vector species, colonized predominantly Malpighian tubules and produced metacyclic infective forms. Transmission of to BALB/c mice was demonstrated the prediuresis of females. This mode of transmission, as well the colonization of Malpighian tubules as the dominant tissue of the vector, is unique among trypanosomatids. In conclusion, we demonstrated the vector competence of for but not for , and further studies are needed to evaluate competence of other Neotropical vectors for these neglected parasites.