BACKGROUND The state of Rondônia (RO) is a hot spot for human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Many sandfly species in RO are putative vectors of leishmaniasis. OBJECTIVES This study examines the diversity patterns and the presence of Leishmania DNA and blood meal sources of sandflies in RO. METHODS A sandfly survey was performed between 2016 and 2018 in 10 municipalities categorised into three different environment types: (i) Conservation Unit (CUN)-comprised of preserved ombrophilous forests; (ii) Forest Edge (FE)-small forest fragments; and (iii) Peridomicile (PE)-areas around dwellings. FINDINGS A total of 73 species were identified from 9,535 sandflies. The most abundant species were Psychodopygus davisi (1,741 individuals), Nyssomyia antunesi (1,397), Trichophoromyia auraensis (1,295) and Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (1,043). Diversity was the highest in CUN, followed by the FE and PE environments. One pool of Ps. davisi tested positive for Leishmania braziliensis, reinforcing the possibility that Ps. davisi acts as a vector. The cytochrome b (cytb) sequences were used to identify three blood meal sources: Bos taurus, Homo sapiens and Tamandua tetradactyla. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that sandflies can switch between blood meal sources in differing environments. This study enhances the knowledge of the vector life cycle in RO and provides information relevant to leishmaniasis surveillance.

Background Almost 1000 cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis have been registered yearly in Rondônia State, Brazil. Little is known about the Leishmania transmission cycle (vectors and reservoirs) in the state. This study aimed to evaluate sand fly fauna from two vertical stratification layers in order to identify potential vectors and their blood-meal sources. Methods The study was conducted in Jamari National Forest. Sand flies were collected in the canopy (15 m) and at ground level (1 m) using HP light traps during four months, February, April, August and October, 2018. Insects were identified to the species level, and females were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR targeting minicircle k DNA and hsp 70 (for Leishmania detection and species identification), and cytb (to identify blood-meal sources). Exploratory data analysis was used to determine mean of abundance and species richness between stratifications. The hsp 70 and cytb sequences were analyzed and compared with sequences from GenBank. Results Overall, 68 species were identified from 15,457 individuals. On the Potosi trail, 7531 individuals of 49 species were collected; canopy captures totaled 6463 individuals of 46 species, while ground captures totaled 1068 individuals of 38 species. On the Santa Maria trail, 7926 individuals of 61 species were collected; canopy captures totaled 6136 individuals of 51 species, while ground captures totaled 1790 individuals of 53 species. A total of 23 pools were positive for k DNA (canopy n = 21, ground n = 2). Only two samples were sequenced for hsp 70 (both in canopy); one sequence exhibited similarity with Leishmania braziliensis ( Lutzomyia davisi pool) and another with L. naiffi ( Lu. antunesi pool). The cytb fragment was amplified in 11 of 86 samples. Sample sequencing identified cytb DNA from 5 blood-meal sources: Micrastur gilvicollis , Psophia viridis , Tamandua tetradactyla , Homo sapiens and Choloepus didactylus . Conclusions Sand fly fauna is more diverse in the canopy than at ground level. Factors such as blood-meal sources, resting sites, and abiotic components probably contribute to high abundance in the canopy. Our results reinforce the possibility that Lu. antunesi and Lu . davisi participate in Leishmania ...

Introdução: O uso de plantas medicinais como alternativa terapêutica no tratamento de inúmeras doenças é um fato que acontece a milénios antes de Cristo, e a inovação do Sistema Único de Saúde em liberar fitoterápicos como adjuvante ou tratamento, abriu caminho para o conhecimento da população sobre as plantas medicinais e seu uso correto para tratamento. Plantas como espinheira-santa, romã e unha-de-gato são frequentemente empregados para tratamento, e o objetivo desse trabalho é identificar os principais metabólitos secundários que são vinculados às principais características farmacológicas das plantas. Metodologia: Trabalho realizado no laboratório de pesquisa do CENTRO UNIVERSITÁRIO -FIMCA, Porto Velho -RO. As análises prospectivas foram realizadas no mês de agosto de 2021. No desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram utilizados: laboratório, artigos científicos, teses, sites, livros e revistas especializadas no tema. Resultado: Nota-se que tanto a romã, unha-de-gato e espinheira-santa apresentaram uma quantidade expressiva de metabólitos secundários. Através da prospecção fitoquímica para a romã os testes foram positivos para alcaloides, glicosídeos cardiotônicos, flavonoides, taninos e esteroides. Para a unha-de-gato os testes foram positivos para alcaloides, taninos, saponinas e triterpenos. E para a Espinheira-Santa os testes foram positivos para alcaloides, glicosídeos, cumarinas, flavonoides, taninos, saponinas e triterpenos. Sendo assim, entende-se que as espécies possuem possíveis ações terapêuticas que são direcionadas por estes metabólitos secundários. Conclusão: Durante a elaboração desta pesquisa foi possível determinar que tanto a romã, unha-de-gato e a espinheira santa tiveram resultados que sugerem que as espécies possuem ações farmacológicas devido as presenças dos metabólitos secundários e por isso podem ser utilizadas para tratamento de algumas patologias.