Abstract
BackgroundSand flies are insect vectors of protozoa from the genus Leishmania, causative parasites of visceral and American tegumentary leishmaniases. The present study discusses the bioecological aspects of sand fly species, transmitters of Leishmania protozoa, in different ecotopes of an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit located in the metropolitan region of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil.MethodsTwo monthly captures were made in 1 year, using CDC light traps, in two anthropized and two preserved environments.ResultsA total of 2936 sand flies belonging to the following ten species were captured: Evandromyia walkeri, Evandromyia evandroi, Psychodopygus wellcomei, Sciopemyia sordellii, Psathyromyia brasiliensis, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Evandromyia lenti, Psathyromyia shannoni, Nyssomyia whitmani and Nyssomyia intermedia. The most common species was E. walkeri (77.6 %), followed by E. evandroi (17.5 %). Forest was the site with the greatest abundance (32.4 %), followed by bamboo grove (26.3 %).ConclusionsSand flies were generally more abundant in the rainy season and L. longipalpis, a vector species of Leishmania infantum, was adapted to anthropized environments. It was confirmed that P. wellcomei, a vector of Leishmania braziliensis in Amazônia, is a species associated with more preserved environments, and occurs only in the rainy season.
Highlights
Sand flies are insect vectors of protozoa from the genus Leishmania, causative parasites of visceral and American tegumentary leishmaniases
Among the sand flies considered vectors of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in Brazil, Nyssomyia whitmani, Nyssomyia intermedia, Nyssomyia umbratilis, Migonemyia migonei, Psychodopygus complexa and Psychodopygus wellcomei occur in the Northeast [6, 12,13,14,15]
Study area The study was conducted in the National Forest (FLONA) of Nísia Floresta, an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit located in the municipality of Nísia Floresta, Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil
Summary
Sand flies are insect vectors of protozoa from the genus Leishmania, causative parasites of visceral and American tegumentary leishmaniases. Sand flies are insects responsible for transmitting the causative parasites of American tegumentary (ATL) and visceral leishmaniases (VL), a serious health problem and among the major human diseases transmitted by insect vectors that can cause mutilation, incapacity and death [1, 2]. ATL exhibits different causative agents and vectors, depending on the region of the country [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. Among the sand flies considered vectors of ATL in Brazil, Nyssomyia whitmani, Nyssomyia intermedia, Nyssomyia umbratilis, Migonemyia migonei, Psychodopygus complexa and Psychodopygus wellcomei occur in the Northeast [6, 12,13,14,15].
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