Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from iron ore caves in the State of Pará, Brazil

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution of sand fly species in iron ore caves in the State of Pará, Brazil and to associate the richness and abundance of these insects with the capacity of leishmaniasis transmission. Entomological captures were carried out in the years 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015, throughout active samples with brushes, along the entire caves’ extension, in dry and rainy periods. A total of 9,807 sand flies were counted during the 532 samplings events, being 4,340 in the dry period and 5,467 in the rainy period. A random sample of 802 morphologically identified specimens consisted of 8 genera and 17 species, being 369 males (46%) and 433 females (54%). The predominant species was Sciopemyia sordellii with 60.6% of the total of sand flies collected. Differences in composition and richness were observed between caves located inside of forest and anthropized areas. The mean richness and abundance were different between the wet and rainy periods, with a greater abundance of these insects in the rainy period. The phlebotomine fauna proved to be rich and abundant in the sampled caves, however, environmental degradation seems to be the main factor determining changes in the composition and richness, reinforces the importance of these places as a shelter for sand flies in degraded areas.

Determinants of cutaneous leishmaniasis among students in Delanta district, Northeast Ethiopia: A case–control study

“…This could be due to the mining activities conducted in Delanta district to get Opal using traditional methods. Studies conducted in Brazil indicated as caves were important for the protection, feeding, and breeding of sand flies 39,40 . Another study conducted in Thailand also supported that caves are potential breeding sites for sand flies 41 .…”

“…Studies conducted in Brazil indicated as caves were important for the protection, feeding, and breeding of sand flies. 39 , 40 Another study conducted in Thailand also supported that caves are potential breeding sites for sand flies. 41 In addition, rocky territories have been identified as the preferred ecology of the vectors.…”

Additions to the millipede fauna of an Amazonian ferruginous landscape: a new species of Pseudoporatia Golovatch, 1999 widespread in rock outcrops (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Pyrgodesmidae)

“…To date, the economy of the Serra dos Carajás region has been intensified due to mining operations in its huge deposits of iron ore, influencing directly the local urban development and environmental pressures on land use (Palheta et al 2017). The rock outcrops of this region harbor numerous endemic invertebrates (Chagas-Jr & Bichuette 2018; Brescovit et al 2018; Asenjo et al 2019; Campos-Filho et al 2020; Junta et al 2020; Teodoro et al 2021), including some millipede species such as Glomeridesmus spelaeus Iniesta & Wesener, 2012 (Glomeridesmida Latzel, 1884, Glomeridesmidae Latzel, 1884), Pseudonannolene spelaea Iniesta & Ferreira, 2013 (Spirostreptida Brandt, 1833, Pseudonannolenidae Silvestri, 1895), Parastenonia carajas Bouzan & Iniesta, 2019 (Polydesmida Leach, 1815, Chelodesmidae Cook, 1895), and Stemmiulus brasiliensis Iniesta & Ferreira, 2015 (Stemmiulida Pocock, 1894, Stemmiulidae Pocock, 1894) (Iniesta et al 2012; Iniesta & Ferreira 2013, 2015; Bouzan et al 2019).…”