Sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from forest areas in Botucatu municipality, central western São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundThe study of the distribution and ecology of sandfly species is essential for epidemiological surveillance and estimation of the transmission risk of Leishmania spp. infection.FindingsIn the present study, sandflies were captured in native fragmented forest areas in Rubião Júnior district, Botucatu municipality, São Paulo state, Brazil, between September 2001 and January 2005. A minimum of two automatic light traps were installed per night from 6 pm to 8 am, in different months, resulting in approximately 900 collecting hours. During this period, 216 sandfly specimens of sixteen species were captured. Pintomyia monticola and Brumptomyia guimaraesi were the most abundant with 56 specimens (25.93%) captured per species, followed by Pintomyia fischeri 28 (12.96%) and Psathyromyia pascalei 18 (8.33%). Other captured species were Lutzomyia amarali, Sciopemyia sordellii, Psathyromyia aragaoi, Nyssomyia whitmani, Migonemyia migonei, Pintomyia bianchigalatiae, Pintomyia misionensis, Brumptomyia carvalheiroi, Brumptomyia cardosoi, Brumptomyia cunhai, Brumptomyia nitzulescui, Brumptomyia brumpti and Brumptomyia spp. represented by 58 (26.85%) specimens.ConclusionsAlthough less frequently found, the presence of Pintomyia fischeri, Nyssomyia whitmani and Migonemyia migonei, known vectors of Leishmania braziliensis, indicates risk of American cutaneous leishmaniasis occurrence. Moreover, the absence of Lutzomyia longipalpis-the main vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi, which is the agent of American visceral leishmaniasis-suggests that there is no risk of introduction and establishment of this disease in the studied area.

Serological Evidence of Infection byLeishmania (Leishmania) infantum(Synonym:Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi) in Free-Ranging Wild Mammals in a Nonendemic Region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Although this municipality is in the path of expansion of AVL in southeastern Brazil, it has no evidence or record of autochthonous human or canine transmission, or of the occurrence of the disease vector, and is therefore considered a ''silent'' municipality (Cutolo et al 2013).…”

“…The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-L. (L.) infantum antibodies through the direct agglutination test (DAT), in 528 free-ranging wild mammals of 38 species from the municipality of Botucatu, state of São Paulo, Brazil, which is considered ''silent'' for AVL in view of the absence of records of human or canine autochthony (Cutolo et al 2013). …”

Epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Georgia

“…The total number of collected sand flies was 873 (656 in Tbilisi and 217 in Kutaisi); of these, 516 were female. Sandflies being phototrophic [21] , [22] Seven CDC miniature light traps (John W. Hock Company, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA) were used to collect sand flies during three consecutive nights per month in each area [23] . Traps were placed outside houses, one per family compound, within fenced or protected habitats, especially near animal pens or in courtyards close to houses, between 7 pm and 7 am.…”

An updated list of sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in the Federal District of Brazil

“…An understanding of the distribution of phlebotomine species is essential for the prevention of leishmaniasis (Cutolo et al 2013); however, knowledge on their geographic distribution in the FD is still poorly understood, and the phlebotomine fauna has rarely been sampled or compared to that of other regions. Studies analyzing the occurrence of sand flies in FD are scarce , Ferreira et al 2015, which hinders the identification of areas at risk for Leishmania spp.…”