An entomological survey was undertaken from January 1991 to February 1992 in El Ingenio, Miranda State, Venezuela, an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis: prevalence of 10.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. A total of 4863 female sandflies (Phlebotominae) of fourteen species were collected in Shannon traps, then dissected and examined for leishmanial infections. Lutzomyia ovallesi (85.4%) and Lu. gomezi (11.2%) were the predominant anthropophilic species of sandfly. Fifty-one (1.19%) Lu.ovallesi and two (0.47%) Lu.gomezi had natural infection with Leishmania promastigotes. Identification of the parasites was done by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA hybridization. Two isolates from Lu.gomezi and forty-nine from Lu.ovallesi were typed as Leishmania braziliensis and three of the latter reacted with Le.mexicana also. This is the first report of Lu.gomezi with parasites typed as Le.braziliensis. We concluded that Lu.ovallesi is the primary vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the north-central area of Venezuela and Lu.gomezi should be regarded as an additional vector.

Summaryobjective To relate entomological, epidemiological and geographical data to understand the transmission dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a closed focus in western Venezuela.methods Spatial and temporal patterns of Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis, the most prevalent phlebotomine sand fly species (99.7%), were studied in El Brasilar, Curarigua, Lara State, Venezuela, a small rural community of 20 dwellings and 118 inhabitants. The sand fly population was monitored using Centers for Disease Control light traps monthly throughout 1 year in the domestic and sylvatic habitats and for 3 months in all inhabited houses.results Temporal variation followed the yearly bimodal pattern of precipitation with the highest population densities in April and December. Infection with flagellates suggestive of Leishmania spp. was detected in 0.01% of 10 026 dissected females of L. pseudolongipalpis, which proved to be highly endophilic. Prevalence of Leishmania infection in people, as measured by the leishmanin skin test, was correlated with distance of the houses from the woodland and with sand fly abundance. A logistic regression model showed that for people who live in the village, the proximity to the woodland (linear) should be considered a risk factor for Leishmania infection (binary) (z ¼ )2.02, P ¼ 0.04, OR ¼ 0.98, 95% CI ¼ 0.97-0.99). This was consistent with the association between the proportion of VL infection and the log of sand fly abundance, which was negatively correlated with distance from the woodland.conclusion We discuss strategies that might be useful in controlling VL transmission in this endemic focus.keywords visceral leishmaniasis, Leishmania chagasi/infantum, Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis, temporal and spatial distribution, risk factors, Venezuela

This study attempted to quantify the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in children less than 15 years of age in Barinas State, Venezuela and investigate risk factors for infection. Among 3,296 children, 4 (0.12%) were seropositive. The mother of one child also was also seropositive, which suggested that congenital transmission is a possible risk factor for Chagas disease in this area. Seroprevalence among the dwellers of 10 localities was 3.3%. Rhodnius prolixus was detected in 7 localities and in 8% of 125 dwellings. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that infection was associated with age, a dirt floor, and distance from houses to palm trees. The risk of infection is increased by the presence of adventitious sylvatic R. prolixus and transient or residual colonies. Insecticide spraying does not seem justified in this scenario, a finding that was also observed in other Latin American countries. New methods are therefore needed for Chagas disease control programs.

h. The activity of sandflies of both populations and sexes steadily decreased thereafter. These different patterns seem to correlate with genetic data that indicate the presence in Venezuela of at least two sibling species in the L. longipalpis complex. The advantages of the bottle rotator trap for this type of study are discussed.

Este artículo pretende mostrar cómo aparecen presentados los migrantes en el Antiguo Testamento y si es posible establecer al respecto una postura global del mismo en términos de su aceptación o rechazo. Para ello, se analiza la terminología utilizada y se examina un abanico de textos relativos a un marco u horizonte universalista y otros representativos de las tendencias mencionadas, para luego presentar un balance del análisis y concluir con unas pistas para el hoy.