Studies on the sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from transmission areas of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in state of Acre, Brazil

Abstract

American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is widely distributed in Latin America. In Brazil, the disease is regarded as an emerging infection and the prevalence of ACL is increasing as a result of the deforestation that occurs for the exploitation of natural resources, the expansion of agriculture and the construction of dams and hydroelectric projects. Within Brazil, ACL may present in a classic epidemiological pattern or as an epidemic surge associated with these activities (Lainson 1988, Rangel 1995, Rangel & Lainson 2003, MS 2006. In an attempt to analyze the spatial distribution of the disease within Brazil, the National Leishmaniases Program of the Health Ministry has been analyzing disease circuit of ACL by associating the occurrence of human cases with specific socio-environmental variables (MS 2006).Within this context, Amazonia has been identified as having an epidemiological circuit of rural and occupational variables that are associated with the destruction of forest. Within this region, the state of Acre has reported a large number of mucosal leishmaniasis cases. As reported by the Health Secretary of the state of Acre, the majority of patients were male (72%) and over 10

Natural Leishmania Infection of Lutzomyia auraensis in Madre de Dios, Peru, Detected by a Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer–Based Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…There are no previous reports of natural Leishmania infection in this sand fly species, despite being highly prevalent in hyperendemic settings for leishmaniasis in Brazil and Peru. 22,23 This study also confirmed the large predominance of Lu. auraensis, which comprised 63% of all collected sand flies in the study area.…”

“…auraensis has been reported in the State of Acre, Brazil, and comprised 19% of all collected sand flies. 23 According to Young and Duncan, there are also Melting curve analysis of real-time polymerase chain reaction of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI ). A, Melting curves corresponding to 6PGD-based amplification reactions of seven sand fly pools (I-VII) were run and compared with a battery of six standard strains of the New World Leishmania.…”

Species structure of sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) fauna in the Brazilian western Amazon

“…However, this species has been observed with the highest frequency in the rainy month of March in RO (Gil et al 2003), although adult forms can be found in any month of the year (Luz et al 2000). In the state of Acre it was one of the most prevalent species and was considered one of the potential Leishmania vectors in the Bujari municipality and Rio Branco municipality (Azevedo et al 2008). The high density of Lu.…”

“…umbratilis is found in MA, with greater frequency in wild areas (Rebêlo et al 1999). In the primary forests of the central Amazonia, it is the species with the greatest presence in tree canopies (Dias-Lima et al 2002, Azevedo et al 2008). However, stratification studies show that the density of Lu.…”

Description of a new phlebotomine species (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) and new records of sand flies from the State of Acre, northern Brazil

“…52 sand fly species have previously been reported in the state (Aguiar & Medeiros 2003;Azevedo et al 2008); therefore, sand flies were sampled in the municipality of Assis Brasil in order to acquire a more comprehensive basic knowledge of the fauna. The survey resulted in the discovery of a species new to science, which is described here.…”