IDENTIFICATION OF SANDFLIES (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) BLOOD MEALS IN AN ENDEMIC LEISHMANIASIS AREA IN BRAZIL

Abstract

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to identify blood meals of female sandflies captured in the municipality of Governador Valadares, an endemic area of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From May 2011 to January 2012, captures were performed using HP light traps in four districts. There were 2,614 specimens (2,090 males and 524 females) captured; 97 engorged females were identified belonging to the species Lutzomyia longipalpis (82.1%) and Lutzomyia cortelezzii (17.9%). Considering simple and mixed feeding, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed a predominance of chicken blood (43.6%) in Lutzomyia longipalpis, showing the important role that chickens exert around the residential areas of Governador Valadares. This finding increases the chances of sandflies contact with other vertebrates and consequently the risk of leishmaniasis transmission.

Leishmania in synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus): new evidence for the urbanization of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

“…These findings are likely explained by increased exposure to infected vectors throughout the rats' lives. Data analysis revealed a statistical association between IFAT positivity in rats and places where other animal species were not allowed to enter, for example, dogs, cats and, chickens (TANURE et al, 2015). In other words, the presence of animal species different from rats was a protection factor against leishmaniosis in rats (OR= 0.01273 to 0.8341).…”

Human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in an emerging focus in Araçuaí, Minas Gerais: spatial distribution and socio-environmental factors

“…The majority of sites of VL occurrence in the city showed deficiencies in sanitation infrastructure and crowded populations in poor living conditions with a large quantity of animals and organic material from shrubs, fruit trees, waste and garbage. Such conditions favor the maintenance of reservoirs in the areas surrounding homes and the proliferation of vectors ( Bigeli et al 2012 , da Silva et al 2012 , Jeraldo et al 2012 , Barata et al 2013 , Belo et al 2013 , Costa et al 2013 , Coura-Vital et al 2013 , Vieira et al 2014 , Pimentel et al 2015 , Tanure et al 2015 ).…”

Leishmania spp. Infection Rate and Feeding Patterns of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from a Hyperendemic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Community in Panamá

“…14 All domestic animals whose blood was found in our samples were common in the study area, as well as spiny rats Proechymis spp., 14,25 but more definitive linkages in transmission will only be possible using more specific and sensitive tools for blood meal identification, for example, developing next generation sequencing techniques 84 that will also allow the quantification of multiple blood sources. 85 Regarding the limitations of our study, it is important to highlight that the probability of detecting Leishmania spp. in engorged female is increased by the potential presence of parasites in undigested blood.…”