Francisco Santos Leonardo

A periurbanização de Lutzomyia whitmani em área de foco de leishmaniose cutânea, no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

An entomological survey was performed in the periurban area of the municipality of Dom Pedro in the state of Maranhão in 2000, in order to estimate the abundance of Lutzomyia longipalpis, due to the occurrence of one suspect death caused by kala azar. However, it was surprisingly verified that 82.4% (2,440 specimens) from the total of 2,961 sand flies captured in the peridomicile were Lutzomyia whitmani. This association has indicated a new pattern for cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission (urban), as has been observed with regard to kala azar in the northeast of Brazil.

Flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) de área endêmica de leishmaniose na região dos cerrados, Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

Apresentam-se dez especies do genero Lutzomyia Franca, 1924, encontradas nos cerrados do nordeste maranhense. As capturas foram realizadas das 18h as 6h, uma vez por mes, durante nove meses, nos municipios de Aldeias Altas, Capinzal do Norte, Caxias, Codo, Coelho Neto, Timbiras, Timon e Tuntum, areas endemicas das leishmanioses visceral e tegumentar. No total, foram capturados 1.868 especimens em armadilhas luminosas tipo CDC, sendo 377 no intradomicilio (64,7% machos e 35,3% femeas) e 1.491 no peridomicilio (73% machos e 27% femeas). As especies encontradas foram as que seguem: Lutzomyia cortelezii, Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia goiana, Lutzomyia intermedia, Lutzomyia lenti, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia longipennis, Lutzomyia squamiventris, Lutzomyia termitophila e Lutzomyia whitmani. As mais abundantes no intra e no peridomicilios foram L. longipalpis (67,4% e 70,2%, respectivamente) e L. whitmani (31% e 24,7%, respectivamente). L. longipalpis ocorreu em todos os meses estudados, nas estacoes seca e chuvosa, e em todas as localidades trabalhadas.

The fauna of phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae) in different phytogeographic regions of the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Phlebotomine specimens were captured in domiciliary and forest environments in 47 municipalities between 1982 and 2005 with the aid of CDC light traps. A total of 91 species were found, of which four belonged to genus Brumptomyia and 87 to genus Lutzomyia, distributed among the following subgenera: Evandromyia (6), Lutzomyia (5), Micropygomyia (2), Nyssomyia (9), Pintomyia (2), Pressatia (3), Psathyromyia (6), Psychodopygus (14), Sciopemyia (4), Trichophoromyia (2), Viannamyia (2); species groups: Aragaoi (2), Baityi (1), Dreisbachi (1), Migonei (12), Oswaldoi (8), Pilosa (1), Saulensis (2), Verrucarum (4) and ungrouped (1). Species diversity was greatest in areas where there was dense evergreen seasonal forest (52 species), ombrophilous forest (31) and meridional cerrados (23) and lowest in areas with mixed forest (forest with babassu palms, cerrado and caatinga). The greatest similarity index was observed for restinga and open evergreen seasonal forest (J=0.48). Dense evergreen seasonal forest had greatest similarity with ombrophilous forest (J=0.38). The phlebotomine fauna was species rich and unevenly distributed in Maranhao, reflecting the phytogeographical complexity of the state, which is a result of the great variety of ecosystems and climate zones.

Distribuição das espécies do gênero Anopheles (Diptera, Culicidae) no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

We studied the distribution and diversity of Anopheles species in 123 counties (municipalities) in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. The basic method consisted of capturing female specimens inside and around human dwellings between 6 PM and 6 AM from January 1992 to December 2001. A total of 84,467 specimens belonging to 24 species were captured, with a predominance of A. triannulatus sensu lato (20,788), A. darlingi (19,083), A. nuneztovari (16,884), A. albitarsis s.l. (14,352), A. aquasalis (8.202), and A. evansae (2,885). The other 18 species together accounted for only 2.7% of the total. The species found in the most counties were A. albitarsis s.l. (109 counties), A. triannulatus s.l. (106), A. nuneztovari (93), A. darlingi (87), and A. evansae (64). The richness and wide distribution of anopheline species in Maranhão agree with the States geographic position among Brazils macro-regions, resulting in a mixed fauna with representative elements from these regions.

Spatial dynamics of urban populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Caxias, State of Maranhão, Brazil

INTRODUCTION In this paper, we report the ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Caxias City, located in the eastern part of State of Maranhão, Brazil and highlight its seasonal and geographical distribution by environment. In addition, we discuss natural Leishmania infection and its relationship with visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS Between September 2007 and August 2009, the collection of sandflies was performed using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps from 15 houses in 5 selected neighborhoods. RESULTS Lutzomyia longipalpis was present in all zones of the city. We also found that Lu. longipalpis was regularly detected both inside and around the house, predominantly in outdoor areas. In urban areas, Lu. longipalpis was present in both the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher density present in the latter. One female specimen of Lu. longipalpis was observed to have natural Leishmania infection. CONCLUSIONS The presence of Lu. longipalpis was observed throughout the year during 2 seasonal periods, with a predominance in the rainy season. A low rate of natural Leishmania infection was observed in urban areas during the rainy season.

Distribuição de Lutzomyia whitmani em fitorregiões do estado do Maranhão, Brasil

The study had the aim of characterizing the geographical distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Between 1992 and 2005, 9,600 specimens (65.1% males and 34.9% females) were caught in the rural and urban zones of 35 municipalities in regions consisting of forests, savanna and mixed vegetation with coconut plantations, sandbanks and heath. Greater abundance was observed in areas surrounding dwellings (91.6%) than inside the dwellings (8.4%). The presence of the vector in different phytoregions and in rural and urban areas favors the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in these environments. This taxon may constitute a complex of species in Maranhão, which can be confirmed by molecular biology studies.O estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar a distribuicao geografica de Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. no estado do Maranhao. De 1992 a 2005, foram capturados 9.600 especimes (machos: 65,1% e femeas: 34,9%) nas zonas rurais e urbanas de 35 municipios situados em areas de floresta, cerrado e vegetacao mista com cocal, restinga e caatinga. A abundância foi maior no peridomicilio (91,6%) do que no intradomicilio (8,4%). A ocorrencia do vetor em diferentes fitorregioes e nas areas rurais e urbanas favorece a transmissao da leishmaniose tegumentar nesses ambientes. E possivel que esse taxon constitua um complexo de especies no Maranhao, o que podera ser confirmado mediante estudos de biologia molecular.

Distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani in phytoregions of the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil

The study had the aim of characterizing the geographical distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Between 1992 and 2005, 9,600 specimens (65.1% males and 34.9% females) were caught in the rural and urban zones of 35 municipalities in regions consisting of forests, savanna and mixed vegetation with coconut plantations, sandbanks and heath. Greater abundance was observed in areas surrounding dwellings (91.6%) than inside the dwellings (8.4%). The presence of the vector in different phytoregions and in rural and urban areas favors the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in these environments. This taxon may constitute a complex of species in Maranhão, which can be confirmed by molecular biology studies.O estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar a distribuicao geografica de Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. no estado do Maranhao. De 1992 a 2005, foram capturados 9.600 especimes (machos: 65,1% e femeas: 34,9%) nas zonas rurais e urbanas de 35 municipios situados em areas de floresta, cerrado e vegetacao mista com cocal, restinga e caatinga. A abundância foi maior no peridomicilio (91,6%) do que no intradomicilio (8,4%). A ocorrencia do vetor em diferentes fitorregioes e nas areas rurais e urbanas favorece a transmissao da leishmaniose tegumentar nesses ambientes. E possivel que esse taxon constitua um complexo de especies no Maranhao, o que podera ser confirmado mediante estudos de biologia molecular.

DIVERSIDADE DE ANOPHELES E INFECÇÃO POR MALÁRIA NA ZONA DOS COCAIS, ESTADO DO MARANHÃO, BRASIL

A survey of the Anopheles species was conducted in the municipality of São Mateus, in the state of Maranhão. Species hematophagy habits, the influence of seasonality as well as the vector’s infection by Plasmodium were studied. The female Anopheles mosquitoes were captured between February and December 2010 and in March 2012, from 18h00 to 21h00, in intra and peridomiciles. PCR was used for the infection studies. A total 615 specimens of Anopheles were captured, of which 223 (36.2%) in the locality of Piquizeiro and 392 (63.8%) on the Retiro Velho Farm belonging to the species An. nuneztovari, An. darlingi, An. triannulatus, An. albitarsise, and An. oswaldoi. In Piquizeiro most specimens were captured in the intradomiciliary area, while on the Retiro Velho Farm they were mostly found in the peridomiciliary area. The results show the influence of seasonality and time of capture in the hematophagy frequency of the captured Anopheles. The negative result for Plasmodium infection demonstrates a reduction in the number of malaria cases in the State during the study period.

Distribución de Lutzomyia whitmani en fitoregiones del estado de Maranhão, Norte de Brasil

The study had the aim of characterizing the geographical distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Between 1992 and 2005, 9,600 specimens (65.1% males and 34.9% females) were caught in the rural and urban zones of 35 municipalities in regions consisting of forests, savanna and mixed vegetation with coconut plantations, sandbanks and heath. Greater abundance was observed in areas surrounding dwellings (91.6%) than inside the dwellings (8.4%). The presence of the vector in different phytoregions and in rural and urban areas favors the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in these environments. This taxon may constitute a complex of species in Maranhão, which can be confirmed by molecular biology studies.O estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar a distribuicao geografica de Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. no estado do Maranhao. De 1992 a 2005, foram capturados 9.600 especimes (machos: 65,1% e femeas: 34,9%) nas zonas rurais e urbanas de 35 municipios situados em areas de floresta, cerrado e vegetacao mista com cocal, restinga e caatinga. A abundância foi maior no peridomicilio (91,6%) do que no intradomicilio (8,4%). A ocorrencia do vetor em diferentes fitorregioes e nas areas rurais e urbanas favorece a transmissao da leishmaniose tegumentar nesses ambientes. E possivel que esse taxon constitua um complexo de especies no Maranhao, o que podera ser confirmado mediante estudos de biologia molecular.