Eloy Guilhermo Castellón

Density of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Domestic and Wild Animal Shelters in an Area of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to determine the association of sand flies with the presence of domestic and wild animals in the peridomiciliary area. The sand flies were collected using direct aspiration and CDC light traps placed in animal shelters. The results suggest that different sand flies species have different behavioral characteristics in an apparent preference for animal baits and that Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. evandroi were the most eclectic species regarding their biotope choice. Lu. longipalpis showed a distinct preference for horses and Lu. evandroi for armadillos.

Effect of abiotic factors on seasonal population dynamics of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in northeastern Brazil.

Abstract The resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil increases the need for studies to elucidate the spatial and temporal dynamics of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae), the vector of Leishmania infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Sand flies were captured in peridomestic habitats biweekly for 3 yr. Cross-correlation tests and spectral analysis were used to analyze the simultaneous and lag-time correlations between Lu. longipalpis population densities and abiotic factors of temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, and rainfall. Distinct seasonal patterns were observed for males and females, with intervals of 6 mo between population peaks for males and 12 mo for females. Peak female population densities lagged 3 mo behind the maximum annual temperature. Female population density was negatively correlated with relative humidity. An increase in average wind velocity was followed by a decrease in the number of females for 2 wk. Understanding the relationship between the seasonal population dynamics of Lu. longipalpis and abiotic factors will contribute to the design of better control measures to decrease transmission of L. infantum and consequently the incidence of leishmaniasis.

Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are major endemic diseases in northeast Brazil. The objective of the current study was to determine the species and geographic distribution of potential sand fly vectors of Leishmania in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Sand flies were captured using CDC light traps in 30 municipalities distributed throughout the 8 geographic zones of the state. Twelve Lutzomyia species were identified. Lutzomyia longipalpis Lutz & Neiva was the most prevalent and accounted for 85.59% of the sand fly captured. The remaining species were distributed as follows: L. evandroi Costa Lima & Antunes (10.83%), L. oswaldoi Mangabeira (0.99%), L. sallesi Galvão & Coutinho (0.58%), L. intermedia Lutz & Neiva (0.53%), L. lenti Mangabeira (0.53%), L. migonei França (0.49%), L. walkeri Newstead (0.24%), L. goiana Martins, Falcão & Silva (0.15%), L. samueli Deane (0.04%), and L. capixaba Dias, Falcão, Silva & Martins (0.03%), and L. peresi Mangabeira (0.01%). L. longipalpis, which is known to be a vector of Leishmania chagasi Cunha & Chagas (L. donovani chagasi), was captured in 93% of municipalities distributed across all geographical areas of the state and its distribution was independent of obvious climatic and topographic parameters. It was identified in all municipalities where human visceral leishmaniasis had been reported. In contrast, climate and topography appeared to be important for other Lutzomyia species. For example, L. intermedia and L. migonei, which are known to transmit Leishmania braziliensis Viana, were geographically restricted. They were captured in municipalities where cases of cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis had been reported. The widespread distribution of L. longipalpis, its adaptation to peridomicillary settings, and its ability to transmit L. (d.) chagasi suggest that a large number of persons may be at risk of acquiring visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

OS FLEBOTOMÍNEOS DA REGIÃO AMAZÔNICA, ESTRADA MANAUS - HUMAITA, ESTADO DO AMAZONAS, BRASIL (DÍPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE: PHLEBOTOMINAE)

As part of our ongoing program, searching for the vectors and reservoirs of Leishmaniaparasites, we conducted a survey of the sandfly fauna along the BR-319 (Manaus-Porto Velho) highway. Fifty seven species of sandflies were captured; 44 in the genus Lutzomyia and 13 Psychodopygus.Of the collecting methods utilized, CDC traps set 6m above the forest floor proved to be the most effective, and the most frequently captured species were L. antunesi, P. chagasiand P. ayrozai.We also present the geographical distribution of the different species collected.

The known geographical distribution of sand flies in the state of Rondonia, Brazil (Diptera: Psychodidae)

We report sand fly collections in the proximity of two major cities in the state of Acre, Brazil, and cite 19 species as new state records. These, along with other previously recorded phlebotomines from Acre, bring the total species count to 50.

Leishmaniose visceral entre índios no Estado de Roraima, Brasil: aspectos clínicoepidemiológicos de casos observados no período de 1989 a 1993

A description of the epidemiological profile of visceral leishmaniasis among Indians in the State of Roraima, Brazil, was based on the clinical characteristics of human and dog disease, ecological aspects of the area where the cases occurred and entomologic investigations performed from 1989 to 1993. The 82 human cases were reported in six out of eight Counties that existed then in the state; there was a 69.5% predominance of male cases among those registered and a greater (52.4%) occurrence of the disease in children from zero to ten years old. The rate of natural infection was 10.3% out of 3,773 dogs examined in 74 different locations. Lutzomyia longipalpis was found in 31 areas with greater prevalence of the disease. The human and animal cases as well as the vectors were concentrated in areas where mountains and arable soil predominate, typical locations for the occurrence of American visceral leishmaniasis.

Flebotomíneos (Díptera: Psychodidae) de uma Floresta Primária de Terra Firme da Estação Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil

Studies about sand flies fauna were carried out in a non-flooded primary forest at the Experimental Station of Tropical Forest - National Institute of Amazon Research, between October 1998 and March 1999. CDC light traps were placed at 1m, 10m and 20 meters above ground level. 7.409 phlebotomines were collected, belonging to the genera, Lutzomyia (99,98%) and Brumptomyia (0,02%), represented by 39 species. In the genus Lutzomyia, the more frequent subgenus was Nyssomyia, with 39,43%, followed by Psychodopygus with 22,68%. The number of sandflies collected was increased, from the beginning of the rainy station.

CALLIPHORIDAE (DIPTERA) IN MANAUS: IV. BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM BLOWFLIES COLLECTED IN STREET MARKETS

Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteussp.. Providenciasp.. Citrobactersp. e Klebsiellasp. foram isoladas de moscas califorideas coletadas em oito feiras livres na cidade de Manaus, estado do Amazonas, Brasil. A presenca de E. colinas amostras sugere que esta ocorrendo contaminacao fecal e que estas moscas sao veiculos potenciais de bacterias enteropatogenicas para os alimentos expostos.

A new Culicoides from The Amazonian Region, Brazil (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

A new Neotropical species of biting midge Culicoides (Haematomyidium), C. kampa Felippe-Bauer, Veras & Castellon, is described and illustrated based on female specimens from the Amazonian Region.