In the New World, the leishmaniases are primarily transmitted to humans through the bites of Leishmania-infected Lutzomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) phlebotomine sand flies. Any or both of two basic clinical forms of these diseases are endemic to several cities in Brazil—the American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and the American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL). The present study was conducted in the urban area of a small-sized Brazilian municipality (Jaboticatubas), in which three cases of AVL and nine of ACL have been reported in the last five years. Jaboticatubas is an important tourism hub, as it includes a major part of the Serra do Cipó National Park. Currently, no local data is available on the entomological fauna or circulating Leishmania. During the one-year period of this study, we captured 3,104 phlebotomine sand flies belonging to sixteen Lutzomyia species. In addition to identifying incriminated or suspected vectors of ACL with DNA of the etiological agent of AVL and vice versa, we also detected Leishmania DNA in unexpected Lutzomyia species. The expressive presence of vectors and natural Leishmania infection indicates favorable conditions for the spreading of leishmaniases in the vicinity of the Serra do Cipó National Park.

Leishmaniases are a group of infectious diseases transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, and their distribution depends on the presence of vectors, parasites, reservoirs and susceptible hosts in the same environment. In the last decades, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has become urbanized and reached economically important cities in countries within the transmission zone. Our study was conducted in one of those cities–Ipatinga–in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where the first autochthonous case of VL dates back to 2011. Since no data regarding the epidemiological triad of VL (etiological agent/vector/domestic reservoir) were available for this city, we characterized the local entomological fauna, identified the presence of specific Leishmania DNA in the captured phlebotomine sand flies, and assessed the incidence of canine and human VL. For the entomological survey, we set twenty light traps in ten districts of the city with reports of human and canine VL. The insect captures were performed monthly, during one year, starting in March 2015. A total of 1501 specimens of phlebotomine sand flies belonging to 16 distinct species were captured, with predominance (61.9%) of Lutzomyia longipalpis. Leishmania infantum DNA was detected in L. longipalpis and in Evandromyia cortelezzii test samples. A total of 9,136 dogs were examined, 1,355 of which (14.8%) were serologically positive for VL. The cases were georeferenced and the data were plotted in thematic maps, along with human cases of VL registered by the local Department of Health, during the study period. Our results confirm that the VL transmission cycle is active in Ipatinga, with the presence of vectors carrying Leishmania DNA, canine and human cases of the disease. Spatial analysis allowed for the observation of a positive relationship between canine and human cases of VL and the identification of areas with high priority for control actions in the city. The mapping of high-risk areas, together with an epidemiological study in urban areas, is fundamental to improve the efficacy of the Program for Surveillance and Control of VL (PSCVL) in Brazil.

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