Lutzomyia longipalpis Presence and Abundance Distribution at Different Micro-spatial Scales in an Urban Scenario

Abstract

The principal objective of this study was to assess a modeling approach to Lu. longipalpis distribution in an urban scenario, discriminating micro-scale landscape variables at microhabitat and macrohabitat scales and the presence from the abundance of the vector. For this objective, we studied vectors and domestic reservoirs and evaluated different environmental variables simultaneously, so we constructed a set of 13 models to account for micro-habitats, macro-habitats and mixed-habitats. We captured a total of 853 sandflies, of which 98.35% were Lu. longipalpis. We sampled a total of 197 dogs; 177 of which were associated with households where insects were sampled. Positive rK39 dogs represented 16.75% of the total, of which 47% were asymptomatic. Distance to the border of the city and high to medium density vegetation cover ended to be the explanatory variables, all positive, for the presence of sandflies in the city. All variables in the abundance model ended to be explanatory, trees around the trap, distance to the stream and its quadratic, being the last one the only one with negative coefficient indicating that the maximum abundance was associated with medium values of distance to the stream. The spatial distribution of dogs infected with L. infantum showed a heterogeneous pattern throughout the city; however, we could not confirm an association of the distribution with the variables assessed. In relation to Lu. longipalpis distribution, the strategy to discriminate the micro-spatial scales at which the environmental variables were recorded allowed us to associate presence with macrohabitat variables and abundance with microhabitat and macrohabitat variables. Based on the variables associated with Lu. longipalpis, the model will be validated in other cities and environmental surveillance, and control interventions will be proposed and evaluated in the microscale level and integrated with socio-cultural approaches and programmatic and village (mesoscale) strategies.

Co‐occurrence and seasonal and environmental distributions of the sandflies Lutzomyia longipalpis and Nyssomyia whitmani in the city of Puerto Iguazú, northeastern Argentina

“…longipalpis was associated with climate conditions such as temperature and humidity (Oliveira et al, 2008). Further, peridomestic features such as the presence of chickens or dogs (Alexander et al, 2002;Dias et al, 2003), and the type and amount of vegetation cover, street type, distance to water bodies and landscape features were also related to the distribution of this species (de Oliveira et al, 2012;Fernández et al, 2013;Santini et al, 2015). The abundance of Ny.…”

Habitat selection differs across hierarchical behaviors: selection of patches and intensity of patch use

“…A hurdle model is a two‐stage modeling process that provides flexibility to assess factors that contribute to both coarse‐ and fine‐scale processes (Wenger and Freeman , Santini et al. ). The hurdle component of the model separates zero and non‐zero data by first estimating the probability of a non‐zero count (e.g., probability of selection or occurrence).…”

Sistemas de información geográfica y modelos de distribución de abundancia de Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), a escala de foco urbano en la ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina

“…longipalpis s.l. Santini et al 2015 (Salomón et al 2008;Salomón et al 2011a;Gomez Bravo et al 2013). En el año 2010 se observó la posibilidad de la existencia de sub-poblaciones diferentes a la del norte de Brasil (Salomón et al 2010b).…”

“…longipalpis s.l. han sido correlacionadas con variables de micro y macro-hábitat Fernandez et al 2013;Santini et al 2015). La ocurrencia mostró estar relacionada con variables del micro-hábitat, en cambio la abundancia se observa relacionada con variables tanto del micro-hábitat como del macro-hábitat (de Oliveira et al 2012;Santini et al 2012a;Fernández et al 2012;Fernández et al 2013;Santini et al 2015).…”

“…longipalpis s.l. responde a una estructura meta-poblacional, esto es coherente con los resultados presentados en el capítulo II y con la descripción de otras ciudades de Argentina (Salomón et al 2009c;Fernández et al 2010;Fernández et al 2013;Santini et al 2015;Santini et al 2017).…”