Flagellate Infections of Brazilian Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae): Isolation In Vitro and Biochemical Identification of Endotrypanum and Leishmania

First human cases of Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi infection in Ecuador and identification of its suspected vector species

“…The natural infection of Lu. yuilli yuilli by flagellates has been recorded in Brazil; however, the parasites were not identified (Arias et al, 1985). We speculate that the flagellates observed in the study could be Endotrypanum species.…”

Leishmania (Viannia) naiffisp. n., a parasite of the armadillo,Dasypus novemcinctus(L.) in Amazonian brazil

“…It came as somewhat of a surprise, therefore, when Arias et al (1985) isolated the parasite from the sandflies Psychodopygus paraensis and P. ayrozai, both of which are caught biting man but seem unattracted to arma dillos (Arias et al, 1985;Ready et al, in Lainson & Shaw, 1987). Ready & Lainson (unpublished data) failed to trap these species in Disney-traps baited with arma dillos, and did not encounter them in the phlebotomine fauna of many armadillo burrows examined in the type locality of L. (V.) naiffi.…”

“…Arias et al (1985) isolated a Leishmania from 4 specimens of the sandfly Psychodopygus paraensis (Costa Lima) and 3 P. ayrozai (Barretto & Coutinho), all captured in forest in the State of Rondônia, Brazil, and found the parasite to be indistinguishable from that of D. novemcinctus on the profiles for 13 different enzymes. It was noted, however, that the promastigotes were restricted to the midgut of « ... sandflies with recent bloodmeals... », and none was seen in the hindgut of any of the infected insects.…”

Natural infection of phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a visceral-leishmaniasis focus in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

“…Estimates of the infection rate in phlebotomines based on dissection of the insects are frequently carried out. Infection rates obtained by this method range from 0 to 9% 1,9,11,19 but are usually in the region of 0.2% 9,10,14,17,18 .…”