Ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia migonei in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis.

Rafaella Albuquerque Silva,Lindemberg Caranha De Sousa,Fabricio Kassio Moura Santos,Claudia Maria Leal Bevilaqua,Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel

doi:10.1590/s1984-29612014068

Abstract

The main vector for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is Lutzomyia longipalpis. However, the absence of L. longipalpis in a region of autochthonous VL demonstrates the participation of other species in the transmission of the parasite. Studies conducted in La Banda, Argentina, and São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco State, Brazil, have correlated the absence of L. longipalpis and the presence of L. migonei with autochthonous cases of VL. In São Vicente Férrer, Pernambuco, there was evidence for the natural infection of L. migonei with Leishmania infantum chagasi. Thus, the objective of this work was to assess the ecology of the sand flies L. longipalpis and L. migonei in Fortaleza, an endemic area for VL. Insect capture was conducted at 22 sampling points distributed across four regions of Fortaleza. In total, 32,403 sand flies were captured; of these, 18,166 (56%) were identified as L. longipalpis and 14,237 (44%) as L. migonei. There were significant density differences found between the vectors at each sampling site (indoors and outdoors) (p <0.0001). These findings confirm that L. migonei and L. longipalpis are distributed throughout Fortaleza, where they have adapted to an indoor environment, and suggest that L. migonei may share the role as a vector with L. longipalpis in the transmission of VL in Fortaleza.

Highlights

Capture of sand fliesBrazil accounts for approximately 90% of the reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) on the South American continent.The northeastern area of Brazil is considered most representative, with 48% of the cases (ZERPA et al, 2003; BERN et al, 2008; BRASIL, 2009)
There were significant density differences found between the vectors at each sampling site (p
The study was conducted in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará State, which is located along the Atlantic coast at an average elevation of m, covers an area of 313.8 km2 and has 2,505,552 inhabitants

Summary

Introduction

Brazil accounts for approximately 90% of the reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) on the South American continent. The northeastern area of Brazil is considered most representative, with 48% of the cases (ZERPA et al, 2003; BERN et al, 2008; BRASIL, 2009). The state of Ceará is endemic for VL and is considered a priority for health surveillance and control by the Ministry of Health. The cities with the highest incidence of VL are Fortaleza, Sobral, Juazeiro, Barbalha and Caucaia. Fortaleza is the only city classified as an area of intense transmission, as 218 and 262 cases were reported in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Studies conducted in Corumbá, State of Mato

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