Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil: the species coming to human bait, and their seasonal and monthly variations over a 2-year period

Abstract

In a study of the phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a forest reserve in Recife, Pernambuco state, north-eastern Brazil, the sandflies landing on human bait between 1.00 and 1.42 h after sunset were collected weekly for 2 years. Although 10,287 sandflies of 10 Lutzomyia species were collected, almost all (96.5%) of the sandflies caught were Lu. umbratilis. This species and several others caught are potential vectors of some of the Leishmania parasites that cause human disease. The recorded landing rate for Lu. umbratilis peaked, at the high level of 333.3 flies/person-hour, during the collections made in May 2003.The relative rarity in the collections of males of some of the species caught probably indicates that these species do not lek on their bloodmeal sources. It is likely that the sizes of the local populations of species that are not very anthrophilic, such as Lu. flaviscutellata, are much larger than indicated by the collections made on human bait.

Phlebotomine fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) of an American cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

“…flaviscutellata, a proven vector of L. amazonensis in other areas, has been reported in other regions (Lainson 1985, Balbino et al 2005. The rodent-philic habits of this species were made evident by the captures obtained with Disney traps (Dorval et al 2007) and in this study the scarcity of specimens caught in Shannon traps (5.95%) indirectly showed the species' poor attraction to human bait.…”

“…This species is widely spread throughout the American continent and, although it is not associated with leishmaniasis transmission, it has been caught in anthropic environments and in captures with human bait (Hashiguchi et al 1992, Galati et al 2003b, Balbino et al 2005. Moreover, it has been regarded as an important transmitter of arbovirus and Endotrypanum schaudinni (Mesnil & Brimont 1908), a trypanosomatid found only in sloths (Comer et al 1990, Franco & Grimaldi 1999.…”

A list of mosquito species of the Brazilian State of Pernambuco, including the first report of Haemagogus janthinomys (Diptera: Culicidae), yellow fever vector and 14 other species (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…The finding of a diversified Phlebotomine sandfly fauna exists in this reservation 3 , some of them potential vectors of Leishmania, including several species previously reported only in the Amazon region, reinforces the need of studies on the insect fauna in the area.…”

“…40m a.s.l.) was described previously 3 . Briefly, it includes two lagoons, surrounded by secondary Atlantic forest; it is very humid, mostly in winter, with diversified vegetation, including bromeliads and non-native bamboos.…”

Sand fly captures with Disney traps in area of occurrence of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, mid-western Brazil

“…This species is recognized as the main vector of L. amazonensis [19][20][21] . Although it is reported as predominant in anthropophilic phlebotomine fauna in areas of non-climatic vegetation cover in the Amazon 22 , it is still regarded as a species with nocturnal habits, barely attracted to man [23][24][25][26][27] . This is a strictly wild species, found mostly in humid forests, especially those temporarily flooded 27 .…”