The dispersion of Lutzomyia longipalpis in urban areas

Presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the Parque Estadual da Serra da Tiririca, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

“…Furthermore, climatic factors, such rain, humidity, and temperature, appear to directly influence the seasonality of Lu. longipalpis in urbanized areas (14) (15) ; yet, no such positive correlation was observed in our study. In conclusion, we speculate that this small population might contribute to the maintenance and dispersion of this species to human-modified areas.…”

“…Lu. longipalpis has also been observed in other sylvatic environments (4) (12) ; however, it tends to dominate other sand fly species in modified or urbanized areas (13) (14) . Furthermore, climatic factors, such rain, humidity, and temperature, appear to directly influence the seasonality of Lu.…”

Occurrence of Lutzomyia longipalpis andhuman and canine cases of visceral leishmaniasis and evaluation of their expansion in the Northwest region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…The aggregate spatial pattern of vector presence in the region may be related to the ways in which the vector can be passively dispersed, such as via transport over short and medium distances; through materials and products that can be infested with its eggs, larvae, and pupae (such as soil, grasses, organic fertilizers, and other gardening products, or in animal feces, particularly that of chickens, by their transportation, among other possibilities) (7) ; or by adults, which can be transported in cars or trucks (during the movement of household items, for example) (25) . This transportation, given the degree of contiguity and neighborhood found, could occur via both radial and transverse highways.…”

“…However, the disease vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, is eclectic in its feeding habits and also anthropophilic, indicating that it has found breeding sites in the urban environment and adapted to anthropogenic areas. Since the urbanization of the vector, VL is currently most active in urban centers of the country, and it continues to expand (1) (4) (5) (6) (7) . In the State of São Paulo, L. longipalpis had previously been identifi ed only in rural areas of municipalities located in the eastern part of the state (8) (9) (10) ; the fi rst detection of this vector in an urban area occurred in 1997 in Araçatuba, which is in the western region of the state (11) .…”

Outbreak of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Barra Mansa, State of Rio de Janeiro

“…Canine VL cases historically precede spatial and temporal human cases 7 ; therefore, the geographical expansion of canine cases in the State of Rio de Janeiro has put epidemiological surveillance authorities on alert 8 .…”