Eduardo Dias Wermelinger

Infecção natural de Lutzomyia intermedia Lutz & Neiva, 1912, em área endêmica de leishmaniose tegumentar no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

In a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro, one specimen of Lutzomyia intermedia was found naturally infected with Leishmania braziliensis.

Studies on sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

In a study on vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, eleven species of sandflies were found: Lutzomyia longipalpis, L. fischeri, L. quinquefer, L. intermedia, L. whitmani, L. shannoni, L. cortelezzii, L. edwardsi, L. migonei, L. lanei and L. firmatoi. Lutzomyia intermedia was the predominant species. It was collected indoors but in much higher numbers outdoors, in the close vicinity of houses. In comparative captures it was found to feed more frequently on equines, and less frequently on man and dogs. Studies, using man and animals as baits, showed that blood-feeding started in the evening, and remained stable during the night, until early morning. June, August and October were the months of highest density.

Flebótomos de Vargem Grande, foco de leishmaniose tegumentar no Estado do Rio de Janeiro

In Vargem Grande, an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in State of Rio de Janeiro, where Lutzomyia intermedia had been found infected with Leishmania braziliensis, we performed a series of caputes of sandflies to increase the knowledge on their behaviour. The following species were found among 8,671 sandflies collected: L. intermedia, L. migonei, L. longipalpis, L. lanei, L. fischeri, L. firmatoi, L. monticola, L schreiberi, L. whitmani, L. pelloni, L. barrettpi e L. (Pi) sp. inside houses and outdoors close to the houses, on human bait and in light traps, the predominant species was L. intermedia, followed by L. migonei, both being more numerous between 9 and 11 p.m. than from 6 to 8 p.m. In a plantation, L. migonei was predominant. In simultaneous captures on man and dog as baits, L. intermedia was more frequent on the former, L. migonei on the latter.In Vargem Grande, an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in State of Rio de Janeiro, where Lutzomyia intermedia had been found infected with Leishmania braziliensis, we performed a series of captures of sandflies to increase the knowledge on their behaviour. The following species were found among 8,671 sandflies collected: L. intermedia, L. migonei, L. longipalpis, L. lanei, L. fischeri, L. firmatoi, L. monticola, L. schreiberi, L. whitmani, L. pelloni, L. barrettoi e L. (Pi) sp. Inside houses and outdoors close to the houses, on human bait and in light traps, the predominant species was L. intermedia, followed by L. migonei, both being more numerous between 9 and 11 p.m. than from 6 to 8 p.m. In a plantation, L. migonei was predominant. In simultaneous captures on man and dog as baits, L. intermedia was more frequent on the former, L. migonei on the latter.

Estabelecimento de colonia, em laboratório, de Lutzomyia intermedia Lutz & Neiva, 1912 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

A laboratory colony of the sandfly Lutzomyia intermedia was established (at present in its seventh generation) in order to provide specimens for experimental infection and for experimental xenodiagnosis of natural infections due to cutaneous leishmanias in Rio de Janeiro. Date are presented on the methodology and on the yield and duration of each stage of development, during the first four generations.

Development of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Vianna, 1911 in Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) under experimental conditions

The development of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in experimentally infected Lutzomyia intermedia, showed colonization of the hindgut from 48 h after the infective blood-meal, and the migration of flagellates to the foregut, with a massive infection of the cardia at the 5th day post infection. Up to 10 days following the infective blood-meal, very few parasites were seen in the pharynx and cibarium. The role of L. intermedia as a vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis is discussed according to the established criteria.

Biologia de Lutzomyia intermedia Lutz & Neiva, 1912 e Lutzomyia longypalpis Lutz & Neiva, 1912 (Diptera, Phychodidae), em condições experimentais. I. aspectos da alimentação de larvas e adultos

To improve our knowledge on the breeding and behaviour of sandflies in captivity, we established closed colonies of Lutzomyia intermedia and Lutzomyia longipalpis. Data are here presented on the feeding preferences of larvae and adults and their influence on the development and survival of each species. Fish food is accepted by the larvae of both species; it is easily available, unexpensive and does not encourage the growth of fungi. The larvae of both species, in all stages accepted food of vegetal and mixed origin, but the 1st and 2nd stage larvae of L. intermedia preferred vegetal food, while the 3rd and 4th stage larvae of L. longipalpis showed a discreet preference for mixed food. Previous feeding on sugar was not necessary to induce a blood meal. Both species can feed on man, dog, hamster and bird, but better development was obtained when the females was fed on hamster. The female of L. longipalpis were more resistant to the absence of blood meal than those of L. intermedia, although 70% of both were able to survive on a sugar meal up to seven days.

Occurrence of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) rangeli (Gabaldon et al) and Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) evansae (Brethes) (Diptera: Culicidae) in an eutrophized dam.

This is the first record of immature stages of species belonging to the subgenus Nyssorhynchus (Blanchard) in eutrophized breeding habitats. Larvae of Anopheles (Nys.) evansae (Brethes), Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) rangeli (Gabaldon et al), Culex nigripalpus (Theobald) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected in a rural eutrophized dam in Rio de Janeiro State, in Southeastern Brazil. Eutrophication was substantiated by the low diversity of mosquitoes, the high incidence of Cx. quinquefasciatus (42%) and of Daphinia sp. and, the high levels of both organic nitrogen (0.28 mg/l) and total phosphorus (0.02 mg/l).

Biologia de Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) e Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera, Psychodidae) em condições experimentais: II. Influência de fatores ambientais no comportamento das formas imaturas e adultas

Proceeding on our studies on the biology of Lutzomyia intermedia and Lutzomyia longipalpis in closed colonies in the laboratory, we here present our observations on changes in their behavior caused by environmental conditions. L. longipaldis was easier to breed, more productive and more resistant to environmental changes; it feeds at any time of the day or night, while L. intermedia prefers to do it at sunset and at night, the preferencial time for oviposition and ecdysis of adults of both species. The immature stages of both species resisted to immersion in water for up to 1 hour and low temperature (5oC) for 1 to 6 hours.

Experimental infection of Lutzomyia longipalpis fed on a patient with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania mexicana amazonensis

The authors were able to infect phlebotomine sandflies on a human case of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by feeding females of Lutzomyia longipalpis on a patient with a lesion due to Leishmania mexicana amazonensis.

Flagellates in the Malpighian tubules of laboratory-bred Lutzomyia longipalpis fed on a hamster experimentally infected with Leishmania mexicana amazonensis

As a preparatory stage for a study aiming at identifying the species and subspecies of local Leishmania in naturally infected sandflies through immunoradiometric assay with monoclonal antibodies, we tried to obtain experimental infections of phlebotomines with well characterized stocks of parasites, in order to test the effectiveness of the method.