ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY OF PHLEBOTOMINES (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) IN AN AREA OF CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS OCCURRENCE, MUNICIPALITY OF ANGRA DOS REIS, COAST OF RIO DE JANEIRO STATE, BRAZIL

Abstract

Over a complete two-year period, phlebotomine specimens were caught in an area of cutaneous leishmaniasis occurrence in the municipality of Angra dos Reis. A manual suction tube was used to catch phlebotomines on house walls, and also light traps in domestic and peridomestic settings and in the forest. This yielded 14,170 specimens of 13 species: two in the genus Brumptomyia and eleven in the genus Lutzomyia. L. intermedia predominantly in domestic and peridomestic settings, with little presence in the forest, with the same trend being found in relation to L. migonei, thus proving that these species have adapted to the human environment. L. fischeri appeared to be eclectic regarding location, but was seen to be proportionally more endophilic. L. intermedia and L. migonei were more numerous in peridomestic settings, throughout the year, while L. fischeri was more numerous in domestic settings except in March, April, May and September. From the prevalence of L. intermedia, its proven anthropophily and findings of this species naturally infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, it can be incriminated as the main vector for this agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the study area, especially in the peridomestic environment. L. fischeri may be a coadjuvant in carrying the parasite.

Survey of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an Environmentally Protected Area in Brazil

“…fischeri have been incriminated in the transmission of Le . braziliensis , [ 28 ], [ 29 ], [ 33 ], [ 34 ], [ 35 ], [ 36 ], [ 37 ], [ 38 ].…”

An updated list of sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in the Federal District of Brazil

“…Moreover, the frequent exposure to insecticides in urban areas rendered them resistant. These changes may explain population increases of this species and the consequent propagation of the disease to peridomestic and domestic habitats (Aguiar et al 2014, Salomón et al 2015. The absence of this species in the gallery forests sampled reflects its adaptive nature, which may be reflected in its apparently opportunistic behavior in relation to sources of carbohydrates and blood (Brazil 2013).…”

Invasión urbana de flebotomineo transmisores de Leishmania en Mérida, Venezuela

“…Los flebotomíneos encontrados en los domicilios de estas áreas urbanas, correspondieron principalmente a especies con hábitos de antropohematofagia, distribuidos en ambos sexos, con un predominio de hembras en relación a los machos, lo cual podría deberse a los métodos de captura empleados. Se ha reportado que con las trampas de luz CDC y Shannon se colecta mayor cantidad de hembras que de machos 19 , además, la relación macho/ hembra cercano a uno en el entorno doméstico indica que los refugios naturales y sitios de reproducción de estas especies están muy cerca, dado que los machos tienen baja capacidad de vuelo invadiendo en las zonas peridomésticas motivados por el apareamiento 20 .…”

“…En cuanto L. migonei y L. ovallesi, especies también encontradas en el área urbana de Zea, Venezuela, L. migonei ha sido encontrada en alta frecuencia en ambientes peridomésticos, siendo detectada e infectada con Leishmania mexicana y Leishmania guyanensis 26 . Además, ha sido incriminada en la transmisión de la leishmaniasis cutánea en zonas peridomésticas y en parques urbanos en Brasil 20 . Cabe resaltar, que se ha reportado criaderos de L. migonei en el hábitat peridoméstico urbano en Brasil 27 , lo que sustenta una posible adaptación de esta especie a el entorno urbano.…”