BACKGROUND The state of Rondônia (RO) is a hot spot for human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Many sandfly species in RO are putative vectors of leishmaniasis. OBJECTIVES This study examines the diversity patterns and the presence of Leishmania DNA and blood meal sources of sandflies in RO. METHODS A sandfly survey was performed between 2016 and 2018 in 10 municipalities categorised into three different environment types: (i) Conservation Unit (CUN)-comprised of preserved ombrophilous forests; (ii) Forest Edge (FE)-small forest fragments; and (iii) Peridomicile (PE)-areas around dwellings. FINDINGS A total of 73 species were identified from 9,535 sandflies. The most abundant species were Psychodopygus davisi (1,741 individuals), Nyssomyia antunesi (1,397), Trichophoromyia auraensis (1,295) and Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (1,043). Diversity was the highest in CUN, followed by the FE and PE environments. One pool of Ps. davisi tested positive for Leishmania braziliensis, reinforcing the possibility that Ps. davisi acts as a vector. The cytochrome b (cytb) sequences were used to identify three blood meal sources: Bos taurus, Homo sapiens and Tamandua tetradactyla. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that sandflies can switch between blood meal sources in differing environments. This study enhances the knowledge of the vector life cycle in RO and provides information relevant to leishmaniasis surveillance.

BackgroundPhlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are insects of medical importance due to the role that some species play in the transmission of leishmaniasis. This work aimed to study some ecological aspects among sand flies fauna inhabiting two different environments: the várzea (lowland Amazonian forest) and terra firme (upland Amazonian forest), both located in Tefé Municipality, Amazonas State, Braziland to detect Leishmania infection in those phlebotomine populations.MethodsSand flies were collected using HP light traps. Collection took place over the course of six months: January, February, April, August, September, and October of 2013. To detect natural infection by Leishmania, DNA samples were extracted from female sand flies and submitted to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the kDNA gene; Leishmania species were identified by PCR-RFLP targeting the hsp70 gene and genetic sequencing.ResultsIn all, 5,716 individuals were collected, and 46 species were identified. Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (3,330 – 58.26%) and Nyssomyia antunesi (661 – 11.26%) were the most abundant species. Species richness was greater in terra firme environments (42 species) than in the várzea environments (22 species), and forests ecotopes (43 species) were richer than peridomiciles (28 species). DNA of Leishmania was found in Th. ubiquitalis and Psychodopygus davisi, both of which inhabit the terra firme environment and sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni DNA in Th. ubiquitalis in Tefé Municipality.ConclusionsThe high abundance of Th. ubiquitalis and Ps. davisi and detection of DNA of Leishmania sp. may indicate that both species could be putative vectors for American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in the terra firme environment of Tefé. The sand fly fauna found in várzea is rich and diverse, exhibiting several species, nevertheless the seasonal hydric stress during part of the year that could influence the local diversity, if compared with other studies. This is the first report in Amazonas State of Th. ubiquitalis with presence of L. (V.) lainsoni DNA.

This study had the aim of ascertaining the sandfly fauna and possible presence of Leishmania in these insects, collected in caves in the state of Rondônia, Brazil. Collections were conducted in eight caves located in two different areas of this state. Leishmania in the sandflies collected was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This was the first study on sandflies from caves in Rondônia and, among the total of 1,236 individuals collected, 24 species and 10 genera were identified. The species Evandromyia georgii was collected for the first time in Rondônia and the most abundant species were Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis with 448 individuals (36.2%), followed by T. octavioi with 283 (22.9%) and E. georgii with 179 (14.5%). For the PCR, 17 pools were analyzed and five pools were positive (for T. auraensis in three pools and for Nyssomyia shawi and N. antunesi in one pool each). The kDNA region was amplified and the presence of Leishmania DNA was confirmed. The sandfly fauna in these caves can be considered diverse in comparison with similar studies in other regions. It may be that some species use caves as a temporary shelter and breeding site, while other species live exclusively in this environment. The detection of Leishmania DNA indicates that this pathogen is circulating in cave environments and that further studies are needed in order to ascertain the risks of infection by leishmaniasis in these locations with high touristic potential.Keywords: Caves, sandflies, Rondônia, Amazon. ResumoO objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer a fauna de flebotomíneos, e possível presença de Leishmania nestes insetos, coletados em cavernas do Estado de Rondônia. As coletas foram realizadas em oito cavernas localizadas em duas áreas diferentes do Estado. A detecção de Leishmania nos flebotomíneos foi realizada por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Este foi o primeiro trabalho com flebotomíneos em cavernas de Rondônia e um total de 1,236 indivíduos foram coletados e identificados em 24 espécies e 10 gêneros. Evandromyia georgii foi coletada pela primeira vez em Rondônia, e as espécies mais abundantes foram Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis com 448 indivíduos (36.2%) seguida por T. octavioi com 283 (22.9%) e E. georgii com 179 (14.5%). No estudo de PCR, 17 pools foram analisados, sendo cinco positivos (T. auraensis -3, Nyssomyia shawi e N. antunesi -1 cada). A região do kDNA foi amplificada confirmando a presença de DNA de Leishmania. A fauna de flebotomíneos nestas cavernas foi considerada diversa quando comparada com estudos semelhantes de outras regiões. É possível que algumas espécies utilizem cavernas como abrigo temporário e local de procriação e outras sejam exclusivas deste ambiente. A detecção de DNA de Leishmania indica que este patógeno está circulando no ambiente cavernícola, sendo necessários mais estudos para conhecer o risco de transmissão de leishmanioses nestes locais com alto potencial turístico.Palavras-chave: Cavernas, flebotomíneos, Rondônia, Amazônia.