20 November, 2025
In a new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Prof. Gad Baneth and Dr. Liora Studenetsky of the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine present an innovative method for identifying sand fly species, Leishmania parasites, and blood-meal sources from the same sample.
The method has already mapped 12 sand fly species, 4 parasite species, and 25 hosts, and provides an effective tool for targeted monitoring and early identification of infection hotspots — a vital step in preventing outbreaks of leishmaniasis, an infectious tropical disease.