Traditionally, there has been a frequent, yet incorrect assumption that phlebotomine vectors, animal reservoirs, and human hosts are susceptible to Leishmania infection by a single parasite species. However, current evidence supports that these new vector-parasite-reservoir associations lend vectors and reservoirs greater permissiveness to certain Leishmania species, thus promoting the appearance of coinfection events, particularly in disease-endemic regions.

This study aimed to analyse the patterns of diversity, blood sources and Leishmania species of phlebotomines in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Arboledas, Eastern Colombia. In total, 1729 phlebotomines were captured in two localities (62.3% Siravita and 37.7% Cinera) and five environments of Norte de Santander. We identified 18 species of phlebotomines: Pintomyia ovallesi (29.8%), Psychodopygus davisi (20.3%), Pi. spinicrassa (18.5%) and Lutzomyia gomezi (15.8%) showed the highest abundance. Species diversities were compared between Cinera (15.00) and Siravita (20.00) and among five microenvironments: forest remnants (19.49), coffee plantations (12.5), grassland (12.99), cane plantations (11.66) and citrus plantations (12.22). Leishmania DNA was detected in 5.8% (80/1380) of females, corresponding mainly to Pi . ovallesi (22/80; 27.2%), Lu . gomezi (17/80; 21.3%) and Pi . spinicrassa (11/80; 13.8%). Leishmania species were 63.1% L. braziliensis , 18.5% L . panamensis , 13.2% L . infantum and 6.1% L . amazonensis . The most frequent feeding sources were Homo sapiens (50%), Bos taurus (13.8%) and Canis lupus familiaris (10.3%). This focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis has a high diversity of Leishmania -carrying phlebotomines that feed on domestic animals. The transmission of leishmaniasis to human hosts was mainly associated with Lu . gomezi , Pi . ovallesi and L . braziliensis .

El desarrollo urbano ha causado una serie de transformaciones ambientales, que ha promovido la propagación de la leishmaniasis con la adaptación de los flebotomíneos transmisores. Este estudio tiene como objetivo determinar la presencia de flebotomíneos y evaluar factores epidemiológicos asociados a la transmisión de leishmaniasis en una zona urbana de Zea, Venezuela.  Se emplearon cinco métodos  de captura de  flebotomíneo en el interior de las viviendas en dos urbanizaciones en Zea, Venezuela. A través de un instrumento tipo encuestas, se determinaron las variables epidemiológicas asociadas a la transmisión de la leishmaniasis. Se demostró la presencia en el interior de la viviendas urbanas de Lutzomyia youngi, Lutzomyia spinicrassa, Lutzomyia migonei, Lutzomyia ovallesi, Lutzomyia walkeri, Lutzomyia venezuelensis,  Lutzomyia atroclavata  y Lutzomyia lichyi. El 62,5% de las especies capturadas en las áreas urbanizadas poseen hábitos de antropohematofagia. Se determinó un 67 % y 80% de infestación en las viviendas de las  urbanizaciones estudiadas. Se evidenció un bajo nivel de conocimiento en los pobladores principalmente sobre los flebotomíneos, lo cual incrementa el riesgo de domiciliación y  transmisión de la leishmaniasis. Se alerta a los entes encargados del control de dicha enfermedad a implementar las medidas preventivas y de educación necesaria.

No abstract

This correction has been published due to an error in a collection permission of biological specimens in the Methods section. In §2.1 Study area, it was stated that:Universidad del Rosario provided the field permit from ANLA (Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) 63257-2014. All collections were done on public land. This has been updated to:Universidad de Santander (UDES) provided the collection permit from ANLA (Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) 01749. All collections were done on public land.