Lutzomyia nuneztovari anglesi (Le pont & Desjeux, 1984) as a vector of Leishmania amazonensis in a sub-Andean leishmaniasis focus of Bolivia.

Abstract

Abstract. Recently, a new Leishmania amazonensis focus was described in a sub-Andean region (1,450-2,100 meters above sea level) of Bolivia. In this area, three anthropophilic sandfly species were identified: Lutzomyia nuneztovari anglesi Le Pont & Desjeux, 1984, which represented 86-99% of the captures, Lu. galatiae Lu. shannoni Dyar 1929. Only Lu. nuneztovari anglesi was found naturally infected by flagellates (16 of 1,715 females). Three Leishmania stocks were isolated and analyzed by isoenzyme electrophoresis at 11 loci. No significant isoenzymatic differences were demonstrated between them and 7 stocks isolated from patients from the same area, and previously characterized as L. amazonensis. Moreover, in a simplified protocol, the experimental infection of Lu. nuneztovari anglesi by L. amazonensis was successful in 92% of the surviving specimens. These data are discussed in relation to the Killick-Kendrick criteria. These results strongly suggest that Lu. nuneztovari anglesi is the vector of L. amazonensis at Cajuata, Inquisivi, La Paz, Bolivia.In Bolivia, only two Leishmania species have been identified as agents of human cutaneous leishmaniasis:The first one is a widespread parasite in Bolivia, 1-4 while the second one has been reported only rarely. 5-7 Leishmania amazonensis is better known from sylvatic lowlands, especially in Amazonia, 8,9 where all proven vectors belong to the Lutzomyia flaviscutellata complex, 9,10 but the cycle is able to survive in plantation woodland and deforested areas as in Brazil. 11 In the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian Andes, parasites related to L. amazonensis have been described (L. garnhami 12 and L. mexicana, 13 respectively). Leishmania amazonensis is potentially very dangerous and occasionally induces a chronic and eventually fatal disease known as cutaneous diffuse leishmaniasis (CDL). The first Bolivian case reported by Prado Barrientos from the neighboring region of the Yungas was a typical case of CDL probably due to L. amazonensis. 14 Recently, we described an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the province of Inquisivi, La Paz, 15 where the parasite was identified as L. amazonensis on the basis of biologic and molecular data. The present study provides evidence indicating that the vector of L. amazonensis is Lu. nuneztovari anglesi Le Pont and Desjeux, 1984. MATERIALS AND METHODSStudy area. The L. amazonensis focus is located at Cajuata and surrounding communities in the province of Inquisivi in southeastern region (67º15ЈW, 16º42ЈS) of the Department of La Paz, Bolivia. The study area is at an altitude ranging from 1,450 to 2,100 meters above sea level. 15 It is a deforested valley with very steep slopes such that the bottom of the valley is shaded early in the afternoon. The human population lives in scattered adobe brick houses with corrugated iron roofs. Around the settlements, land is cultivated with coca plantations, root vegetables, and papaya crops, while residual deciduous forests with xerophytes and epiphytes cover the steepest places. The cumulative pr...

Active surveillance of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in endemic areas in rural Bolivia

“…The presence of Lu. nuneztovari anglesi in domestic and peridomestic environments in sub-Andean Cajuta and Yungas points to the possibility of domestic transmission of L. (L.) amazonensis e L. (L.) braziliensis in these two regions [16][17] .…”

“…Although the epidemiological transmission profile of ATL in Bolivia has traditionally been associated with sylvatic cycles or with regions contiguous with forested areas (in the context of farm expansion), it has been suggested that, in some Bolivian regions, the transmission profile has been changing towards one of domestication 16 . The presence of Lu.…”

Phlebotomine sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Falcon state, Venezuela

“…amazonensis y Le. (V.) braziliensis (Martínez et al 1999). En este mismo orden de ideas, se deberá establecer en la mayor elevación de la región falconiana (1500 m), el status epidemiológico de L. erwindonaldoi, debido a que es la especie flebotomina más abundante y con una acentuada antropofilia, pero su biología ha sido poco estudiada.…”

Sand Fly Vectors of Leishmania in the Americas - A Mini Review

“…In Pará and probably other area of the Amazon region Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis is the main vector, but his poor anthropophily certainly determines the existence of few human cases. Two other species may be responsible for transmission of L. lainsoni in the sub-Andean region of Bolivia: Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) nuneztovari and Trichophoromyia velascoi [30,31]. Recently, Trichophoromyia auraensis (Mangabeira,1942) has also found infected by L. lainsoni in Madre de Dios region of Peru [32] however, further studies are needed to determine actually the main vector in both regions of Bolivia and Peru.…”

“…Although uncommon in catches with light traps, its role as a vector of Leishmania amazonensis is undisputed in Brazil [1,22,29] and other countries of South America. Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) nuneztovari has been found naturally infected by L. amazonensis and is suspect of transmitting in the Sub Andean region of Bolivia [1,30].…”