Sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) species diversity in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

Monitoring phlebotomine sandflies in urban areas is key for epidemiological studies in susceptible populations. This paper describes sandfly fauna that were present in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, and were captured with Shannon and CDC light traps. During February and March of 2014, 1,442 sandflies were captured, specifically Lutzomyia cruciata (Coquillet) (98.8%), Lutzomyia cayennensis cayennensis (Floch and Abonnenc) (0.8%), Lutzomyia chiapanensis (Dampf) (0.3%) and Lutzomyia atulapai (De León) (0.1%). Lu. cruciata was the most abundant and the most frequently trapped species. This is the first record of its remarkable ability to adapt to urban green areas. The three other species trapped represent new records of geographic distribution for the study region. These results indicate the need to establish measures for reducing both human contact with this vector and the risk of possible sites of infection.

Diversity and spatio-temporal variation of phlebotomine sand flies (Phlebotominae: Diptera: Psychodidae) in three different types of land use and seasons in the state of Veracruz, Mexico

“…We found that sand fly abundance decreases due to habitat destruction by humans and that several species are absent from degraded sites (Travi et al, 2002). However, there are some species of medical importance that are tolerant to these changes and can survive in modified environments, sometimes even with high abundances compared to sylvatic or less disturbed sites (Mikery-Pacheco et al, 2015;Sánchez-García et al, 2010).…”

“…This finding represents a greater risk of contact of female L. cruciata with humans entering the crop areas. This species has been recorded in urban and peri-urban areas of Campeche, Chiapas, and Quintana Roo, with high abundances, suggesting a high capacity to adapt to these modified sites (Mikery-Pacheco et al, 2015;Pech-May et al, 2016;Sánchez-García et al, 2010). Lutzomyia cruciata has also been recorded in high abundance in coffee agroecosystems in Chiapas, suggesting that Leishmania transmission is likely to occur in these sites (Pérez et al, 2014).…”

Métodos de recolecta y monitoreo de adultos Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae), vectores de los agentes causales de las leishmaniasis

“…La trampa Shannon ha sido empleada en la península de Yucatán (74, 118-124), en Chiapas (125,126). Se ha determinado que las colectas con esta trampa en Quintana Roo tuvieron la mayor influencia en los estimadores de diversidad como son las curvas de rango-abundancia y las de acumulación de especies (124).…”