Multiplexed Rapid Test Kit for Leishmania Detection in Sand Flies

Sand flies are carriers of Leishmaniasis, a disease common to tropical and subtropical countries. Millions of people are infected every year, and thousands of fatalities are attributed to this disease. American and European military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan are being infected with Leishmaniasis. An effective strategy to prevent the spread of this disease would be to determine whether the local sand fly population carries the pathogens, and if so to use effective pest control methods to eradicate their population. This could be an important strategy for controlling outbreaks, and for using pesticides responsibly to avoid polluting the soil, air, and water. This would also mitigate the development of insecticide resistant pathogens. This proposal developed in collaboration with Prof. Diane McMahon-Pratt of Yale University School of Medicine describes the development of a field-usable test kit to identify L. major and L. infantum in sand flies. In Phase I, test strips will be fabricated for the detection of L. major and L. infantum, and their performance will be tested. Test kits to perform 100 assays will be delivered to the contractor during Phase I. In Phase II, the assay will be optimized to further improve performance and meet field needs.