Ecological aspects of phlebotomine fauna (Diptera, Psychodidae) of Serra da Cantareira, Greater São Paulo Metropolitan region, state of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Human cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) have been recorded in Serra da Cantareira, in the Greater São Paulo Metropolitan Region, where two conservation units are situated, the Parque Estadual da Cantareira and the Parque Estadual Alberto Löfgren. The present study aimed to identify the sandfly fauna and some of its ecological aspects in these two parks and their surrounding area to investigate Leishmania sp. vectors. The captures were undertaken monthly from January to December 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with automatic light traps installed in forests and peridomicile areas and with modified black/white Shannon traps in the peridomicile. A total of 12 species and 5,436 sandflies were captured: with automatic light traps (141), Shannon traps (5,219) and attempting to bite the researchers while they were conducting the collection in Shannon traps (76). Pintomyia fischeri and Migonemyia migonei were the most abundant species. Pi. fischeri predominated in all three kinds of captures (49%, 88.8% and 65.8%, respectively). Mg. migonei was the second most prevalent in Shannon traps (10.0%) and attempting to bite the researchers (22.4%). Pi. fischeri females were significantly more attracted to black and those of Mg. migonei to white Shannon traps. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the numbers of Pi. fischeri and the mean of minimum relative humidity values on the fifteen days prior to capture, while there was a negative and significant correlation between the relative humidity on the capture day and the two most abundant species. The anthropophilia and high frequencies of Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei suggest that both species may be transmitting ACL agents in this region.

Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in an Endemic Area of Leishmaniasis in Aquidauana Municipality, Pantanal of Mato Grosso Do Sul , Brazil

“…The wider variety of species observed in light traps collection has already been reported by other authors 15 , 16 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 . Actually, this high diversity has also been demonstrated in other municipalities located in the Pantanal .…”

Host-biting rate and susceptibility of some suspected vectors to Leishmania braziliensis

“…The infection rate of 23.2% observed for Pi. fischeri in the present study reinforces the hypothesis of its participation in the transmission of this parasite, mainly in the Greater São Paulo area, where it predominates over the other species [12,13,59] and is anthropophilic [12,13]. Pi.…”

“…Pintomyia fischeri is a common species in foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Southeast, South and Northeast regions of Brazil [10-13]. Although it is more frequently found in forests, it also occurs in anthropic environments [11-13].…”

“…Although it is more frequently found in forests, it also occurs in anthropic environments [11-13]. Despite its having been considered a possible vector of L. (V.) braziliensis on the basis of its high degree of anthropophily, frequency in the intradomicile and susceptibility to experimental infections when fed on monkeys of the Rhesus genus (0.4%; 1/246) [12], only recently has its natural infection by L. braziliensis or by L. (Viannia ) been demonstrated [15,56-58].…”

“…Pintomyia fischeri and Mg. migonei are species widely distributed in São Paulo state and are noteworthy as they are highly anthropophilic, presenting considerable density in woodland and peridomiciliary environments [12,13]. …”