American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Pontal of Paranapanema - SP, Brazil: ecological and entomological aspects

Abstract

SUMMARYAmerican cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) occurs in epidemic outbreaks and in sporadic cases with small annual variation in the Pontal of Paranapanema, SP. There is little research on the sandfly fauna of this region. The last outbreaks were related to the Movement of the Landless Workers (MST) and with the ecological tourism in preserved forest of the Parque Estadual do Morro do Diabo (PEMD). Aim: identification of the sandfly fauna within the PEMD, mainly anthropophilic species already incriminated as vectors of ACL, as well as their seasonality, hourly frequency and data of the behavior. M&M: The captures were undertaken with CDC light and Shannon traps from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, monthly from May 2000 to December 2001. The temperature and relative humidity data were registered at hourly intervals. Results: The captured species were: Brumptomyia brumpti, Nyssomyia neivai, Nyssomyia whitmani, Pintomyia fischeri and Pintomyia pessoai. The P. pessoai predominated (34.39%) and N. neivai was less found (0.74%), only being captured in CDC traps. Shannon trap captured more sandflies (63.01%) than the CDC traps (36.99%). Despite the environmental degradation anthropophilic species, indicates favorable bioecological conditions for persistence of vectors and potential transmission of leishmaniasis.

Leishmania spp. in Didelphis albiventris and Micoureus paraguayanus (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) of Brazil

“…For logistical reasons, it was not possible to evaluate the presence of the vector in the studied areas. However, in a study done by Alessi et al (2009), whose period of collection was the same as that of this study (years 2001 and 2002), the three most frequent and epidemiologically important phlebotomine sand fly species observed inside the perimeter of the Morro do Diabo Park (PEMD) were Lutzomyia pessoai, Lu. whitmani and Lu.…”

Geographical distribution of American cutaneous leishmaniasis and its phlebotomine vectors (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Gomes & Galati [44] suggested that P. pessoai could act as a secondary vector in the northwest-central part of São Paulo state due to its presence in primary forest. More recently, P. pessoai was the most abundant species collected in the northwestern region of the state [45]. This species is mostly found in the Plateau area, in patches of semi-deciduous tropical forest and the savannah-like ( cerradão ) vegetation, while it is rarely found in the hygrophilous, non-deciduous forest found along the coast (Figure 7).…”

Microspatial Distributional Patterns of Vectors of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

“…ACL was originally considered to be focused among people who work or live within tropical forests; however, comparison of this idea with current patterns of occurrence suggests strongly that behavior of vectors may be changing, perhaps in response to environmental shifts [1, 6, 7]. Numerous studies point to the capacity of some Lutzomyia species to adapt to human-altered environments in parts of Brazil [1, 8–10], which opens possibilities for broader and much increased transmission.…”