Iorlando da Rocha Barata

Fauna flebotomínica da Serra dos Carajás, Estado do Pará, Brasil, e sua possível implicação na transmissão da leishmaniose tegumentar americana

Serra dos Carajas, located in the southeast of Para State, Brazil, is a rich tropical forest where species of Leishmania sp. of medical interest are found, such as Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) lainsoni, L. (V.) shawi and L. (L.) amazonensis. They are transmitted by the following phlebotomi: Psychodopygus complexus or Ps. wellcomei, Lutzomyia ubiquitalis, Lu. whitmani and Lu. flaviscutellata. Considering the increase of immigrants in the region of the Carajas project, this study aimed to assess the Phlebotominae fauna and their possible participation in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). The phlebotomi were captured from December 2005 to September 2007 at the following locations: i) Parauapebas Botanical Park; ii) an environmental protection area; and iii) Tapirape-Aquiri National Forest. During the 172 days of collection, 10 CDC (18 h to 6 h) and 2 Shannon (18 h to 20 h) light traps were used. Of the 22,095 phlebotomi captured, 6,789 (31%) were male and 15,306 (69%) were female, and they belonged to 69 species and three genera, including Psychodopygus, Lutzomyia and Brumptomyia. A total of 19 (0.16%) natural infections of the following species were detected: Ps. davisi (4), Ps. h. hirsutus (3), Lu. umbratilis (3), Lu. richardward (2), Lu. brachipyga (2), Lu. ubiquitalis (2), Lu. trinidadensis (1) and Lu. migonei (1). Although no infection was found in Ps. wellcomei/complexus, the main vector of L. (V.) braziliensis in the region, this species was the most prevalent (16%), followed by Ps. davisi (15.4%), Ps. carrerai (4.2%), Lu. shawi (3.9%), Lu. brachipyga (2.5%) and Lu. richardward (1.2%). These results show the importance of these phlebotomi as possible vectors of ACL in Serra dos Carajas.

Natural Leishmania (Viannia) spp. infections in phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Brazilian Amazon region reveal new putative transmission cycles of American cutaneous leishmaniasis

In Amazonian Brazil the etiological agents of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) belong to at least seven Leishmania species but little is known about the putative phlebotomine sand fly vectors in different biomes. In 2002–2003 a survey of the phlebotomine fauna was undertaken in the “Floresta Nacional do Tapajós”, Belterra municipality, in the lower Amazon region, western Pará State, Brazil, where we recently confirmed the presence of a putative hybrid parasite, L. (V.) guyanensis × L. (V.) shawi shawi. Sand flies were collected from Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps, Shannon traps and by aspiration on tree bases. Females were dissected and attempts to isolate any flagellate infections were made by inoculating homogenized midguts into Difco B45 medium. Isolates were characterized by monoclonal antibodies and isoenzyme electrophoresis. A total of 9,704 sand flies, belonging to 68 species or subspecies, were collected. Infections were found in the following sand flies: L. (V.) naiffi with Psychodopygus hirsutus hirsutus (1) and Ps. davisi (2); and L. (V.) shawi shawi with Nyssomyia whitmani (3) and Lutzomyia gomezi (1). These results provide strong evidence of new putative transmission cycles for L. (V.) naiffi and L. (V.) s. shawi.

Natural Leishmania (Viannia) infections of phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) indicate classical and alternative transmission cycles of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Guiana Shield, Brazil

From 1996 to 1999 multi-trapping methods (Center of Diseases Control, CDC) light traps, light-baited Shannon traps, and aspiration on tree bases) were used to study the phlebotomine fauna of the “Serra do Navio” region of the Brazilian State of Amapá, which is part of the Guiana Shield. Fifty-three species were identified among 8,685 captured individuals. The following species, associated with the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Amazonian Brazil, were captured: Nyssomyia umbratilis (3,388), Psychodopygus squamiventris maripaensis (995), Ny. anduzei (550), Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (400), Ny. whitmani (291), Ps. paraensis (116), and Bichromomyia flaviscutellata (50). Flagellate infections were detected in 45 flies. Of the 19 parasites isolated in vitro, 15 were Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis (13 in Ny. umbratilis, 1 in Ny. whitmani, 1 in Ny. anduzei) and three were L. (V.) naiffi (2 in Ps. s. maripaensis, 1 in Ny. anduzei). The results indicate the participation of three phlebotomine species in the transmission of L. (V.) guyanensis and two species in that of L. (V.) naiffi, and show that the same phlebotomine species is involved in the transmission of different Leishmania (Viannia) species in the Guianan/Amazon region. A review of the literature together with the results of the present study, and other published and unpublished results, indicate that eight phlebotomine species potentially participate in the transmission of Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi in Amazonia.

A new species of phlebotomine, Trichophoromyia adelsonsouzai (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Brazilian Amazonia

The phlebotomine sandfly Trichophoromyia adelsonsouzai sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on the male and female morphological characteristics of specimens collected at Km 27 of the Trans-Amazonian Highway, municipality of Vitória do Xingu, state of Pará, Brazilian Amazonia. This is an area subject to the direct influence of Belo Monte hydroelectric system. With the description of this new species the number of Trichophoromyia sandflies recorded in Brazil is increased to 20.

Phlebotominae fauna in Serra dos Carajás, Pará State, Brazil, and its possible implications for the transmission of American tegumentar leishmaniasis

Serra dos Carajas, located in the southeast of Para State, Brazil, is a rich tropical forest where species of Leishmania sp. of medical interest are found, such as Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) lainsoni, L. (V.) shawi and L. (L.) amazonensis. They are transmitted by the following phlebotomi: Psychodopygus complexus or Ps. wellcomei, Lutzomyia ubiquitalis, Lu. whitmani and Lu. flaviscutellata. Considering the increase of immigrants in the region of the Carajas project, this study aimed to assess the Phlebotominae fauna and their possible participation in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). The phlebotomi were captured from December 2005 to September 2007 at the following locations: i) Parauapebas Botanical Park; ii) an environmental protection area; and iii) Tapirape-Aquiri National Forest. During the 172 days of collection, 10 CDC (18 h to 6 h) and 2 Shannon (18 h to 20 h) light traps were used. Of the 22,095 phlebotomi captured, 6,789 (31%) were male and 15,306 (69%) were female, and they belonged to 69 species and three genera, including Psychodopygus, Lutzomyia and Brumptomyia. A total of 19 (0.16%) natural infections of the following species were detected: Ps. davisi (4), Ps. h. hirsutus (3), Lu. umbratilis (3), Lu. richardward (2), Lu. brachipyga (2), Lu. ubiquitalis (2), Lu. trinidadensis (1) and Lu. migonei (1). Although no infection was found in Ps. wellcomei/complexus, the main vector of L. (V.) braziliensis in the region, this species was the most prevalent (16%), followed by Ps. davisi (15.4%), Ps. carrerai (4.2%), Lu. shawi (3.9%), Lu. brachipyga (2.5%) and Lu. richardward (1.2%). These results show the importance of these phlebotomi as possible vectors of ACL in Serra dos Carajas.

Novas evidências sobre o valor diagnóstico da reação de imunofluorescência indireta e reação intradérmica de hipersensibilidade tardia na infecção humana por Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi na Amazônia, Brasil

This is a prospective study on a cohort of 1099 individuals of both genders, aged 1-84 years (mean 24.4 years), living in an endemic area of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in the Municipality of Cametá, Brazil, from May 2006 to September 2008. It aimed to analyze the prevalence and incidence rates of human infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, as well as the evolutional process of its previously defined clinical and immunological profiles: 1. Asymptomatic infection (AI); 2. Symptomatic infection (SI = AVL); 3. Subclinical oligosymptomatic infection (SOI); 4. Subclinical resistant infection (SRI); and 5. Indeterminate initial infection (III). The diagnosis was based on the simultaneous use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and delayed hypersensitivity skin test. A total of 304 cases of infection were diagnosed during the period studied (187 for prevalence and 117 for incidence), generating an accumulated prevalence rate of 27.6%. The distribution regarding their clinical and immunological profiles presented the following order: AI 51.6%; III 22.4 %; SRI 20.1%; SOI 4.3%; and SI (= AVL) 1.6%. Based on the dynamics of the infection, the main discovery was about the III profile, which had an instrumental role in its evolution, directing it either to the resistant immunological pole – SRI (21 cases 30.8%) and AI (30 cases 44.1 %) profiles – or to the susceptible immunological pole – SI (1 case 1.5%) profile. In addition, 16 cases remained within the III profile until the end of the study. It was concluded that this diagnostic approach can help monitor the infection in endemic areas, aiming mainly at preventing morbidity caused by AVL, and reducing the treatment time and expenses.

Nueva evidencia sobre el valor diagnóstico de la prueba de inmunofluorescencia indirecta y la reacción intradérmica de hipersensibilidad retardada en la infección humana por Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi en la Amazonia brasileña

This is a prospective study on a cohort of 1099 individuals of both genders, aged 1-84 years (mean 24.4 years), living in an endemic area of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in the Municipality of Cametá, Brazil, from May 2006 to September 2008. It aimed to analyze the prevalence and incidence rates of human infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, as well as the evolutional process of its previously defined clinical and immunological profiles: 1. Asymptomatic infection (AI); 2. Symptomatic infection (SI = AVL); 3. Subclinical oligosymptomatic infection (SOI); 4. Subclinical resistant infection (SRI); and 5. Indeterminate initial infection (III). The diagnosis was based on the simultaneous use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and delayed hypersensitivity skin test. A total of 304 cases of infection were diagnosed during the period studied (187 for prevalence and 117 for incidence), generating an accumulated prevalence rate of 27.6%. The distribution regarding their clinical and immunological profiles presented the following order: AI 51.6%; III 22.4 %; SRI 20.1%; SOI 4.3%; and SI (= AVL) 1.6%. Based on the dynamics of the infection, the main discovery was about the III profile, which had an instrumental role in its evolution, directing it either to the resistant immunological pole – SRI (21 cases 30.8%) and AI (30 cases 44.1 %) profiles – or to the susceptible immunological pole – SI (1 case 1.5%) profile. In addition, 16 cases remained within the III profile until the end of the study. It was concluded that this diagnostic approach can help monitor the infection in endemic areas, aiming mainly at preventing morbidity caused by AVL, and reducing the treatment time and expenses.

New evidences on the diagnostic value of indirect immunofluorescence test and delayed hypersensitivity skin test in human infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi in the Amazon, Brazil

This is a prospective study on a cohort of 1099 individuals of both genders, aged 1-84 years (mean 24.4 years), living in an endemic area of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in the Municipality of Cametá, Brazil, from May 2006 to September 2008. It aimed to analyze the prevalence and incidence rates of human infection by Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, as well as the evolutional process of its previously defined clinical and immunological profiles: 1. Asymptomatic infection (AI); 2. Symptomatic infection (SI = AVL); 3. Subclinical oligosymptomatic infection (SOI); 4. Subclinical resistant infection (SRI); and 5. Indeterminate initial infection (III). The diagnosis was based on the simultaneous use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and delayed hypersensitivity skin test. A total of 304 cases of infection were diagnosed during the period studied (187 for prevalence and 117 for incidence), generating an accumulated prevalence rate of 27.6%. The distribution regarding their clinical and immunological profiles presented the following order: AI 51.6%; III 22.4 %; SRI 20.1%; SOI 4.3%; and SI (= AVL) 1.6%. Based on the dynamics of the infection, the main discovery was about the III profile, which had an instrumental role in its evolution, directing it either to the resistant immunological pole – SRI (21 cases 30.8%) and AI (30 cases 44.1 %) profiles – or to the susceptible immunological pole – SI (1 case 1.5%) profile. In addition, 16 cases remained within the III profile until the end of the study. It was concluded that this diagnostic approach can help monitor the infection in endemic areas, aiming mainly at preventing morbidity caused by AVL, and reducing the treatment time and expenses.

Flebótomos de la Serra dos Carajás (Estado de Pará, Brasil) y su posible implicación en la transmisión de la leishmaniasis cutánea americana

Serra dos Carajas, located in the southeast of Para State, Brazil, is a rich tropical forest where species of Leishmania sp. of medical interest are found, such as Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) lainsoni, L. (V.) shawi and L. (L.) amazonensis. They are transmitted by the following phlebotomi: Psychodopygus complexus or Ps. wellcomei, Lutzomyia ubiquitalis, Lu. whitmani and Lu. flaviscutellata. Considering the increase of immigrants in the region of the Carajas project, this study aimed to assess the Phlebotominae fauna and their possible participation in the transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). The phlebotomi were captured from December 2005 to September 2007 at the following locations: i) Parauapebas Botanical Park; ii) an environmental protection area; and iii) Tapirape-Aquiri National Forest. During the 172 days of collection, 10 CDC (18 h to 6 h) and 2 Shannon (18 h to 20 h) light traps were used. Of the 22,095 phlebotomi captured, 6,789 (31%) were male and 15,306 (69%) were female, and they belonged to 69 species and three genera, including Psychodopygus, Lutzomyia and Brumptomyia. A total of 19 (0.16%) natural infections of the following species were detected: Ps. davisi (4), Ps. h. hirsutus (3), Lu. umbratilis (3), Lu. richardward (2), Lu. brachipyga (2), Lu. ubiquitalis (2), Lu. trinidadensis (1) and Lu. migonei (1). Although no infection was found in Ps. wellcomei/complexus, the main vector of L. (V.) braziliensis in the region, this species was the most prevalent (16%), followed by Ps. davisi (15.4%), Ps. carrerai (4.2%), Lu. shawi (3.9%), Lu. brachipyga (2.5%) and Lu. richardward (1.2%). These results show the importance of these phlebotomi as possible vectors of ACL in Serra dos Carajas.