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

Abstract

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.

Leishmania infection and blood food sources of phlebotomines in an area of Brazil endemic for visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis

“…This phlebotomine is a natural vector of L . braziliensis in various Brazilian regions [46], especially in the northeast [27,28], and has been reported previously in various municipalities in Maranhão, including Caxias [58], generally in association with ATL infections. In fact, L .…”

Distribution and Abundance of Phlebotominae, Vectors of Leishmaniasis, in Argentina: Spatial and Temporal Analysis at Different Scales

“…The abundance of phlebotomine was higher in pigsties than in houses ( P < 0.0001, 91.26 % in pigsties). Lutzomyia whitmani was also the dominant species (up to 98.9%) in many foci of TL in Brazil, where it was suggested to be in the process of adapting to modified environments, present in domestic (endophilic and endophagic) and peridomestic habitats, and feeding on humans, domestic and synanthropic animals [65–71]. This species was present in pigsties and houses during all the seasons, although higher abundances were observed during the warm months.…”

Sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), vectors of Leishmania protozoa, at an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit in the municipality of Nísia Floresta, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil

“…Even though the study area is not endemic for ATL, it is important to register the occurrence of a small number of N. whitmani . This anthropophilic species is a vector of L. braziliensis in a number of areas in Brazil [ 9 , 10 , 45 ], including the Northeast [ 7 ], and its importance as a vector depends on its adaptation to the features of local ecotopes [ 46 ].…”