Primeiro registro de Lutzomyia araracuarensis (Morales & Minter) (Diptera: Psychodidae) no Brasil / First Report of Lutzomyia araracuarensis (Morales & Minter) (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Brazil

A male of Lutzomyia araracuarensis (Morales & Minter) and possibly six females of this same species were found in the northeastern area of Manacapuru county, Amazonas State. Samples were collected using light traps CDC, from April 2003 to June 2004.

Primeiro registro de Lutzomyia (Trichopygomyia) conviti Ramirez Perez, Martins & Ramirez (Diptera: Psychodidae) no Brasil / First record of Lutzomyia (Trichopygomyia) conviti Ramirez Perez, Martins & Ramirez (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Brazil

The presence of Lutzomyia conviti Ramirez Perez, Martins & Ramirez, previously found only in Venezuela and Colombia, is recorded for the first time in Brazil. Lutzomyia conviti is now added to the 229 species of Lutzomyia already registered in Brazil and to the 44 identified in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas state. Both sexes of L. conviti were collected in 2007 and 2008 with CDC light traps in an environment of primary vegetation represented by firm land forest. The distribution range of the species is cited and discussed.

Diversidade e abundância de flebotomíneos do gênero Lutzomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) em áreas de mata do nordeste de Manacapuru, AM / Diversity and abundance of phlebotomine of the genus Lutzomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) in areas of forest in the northeast of Manacapuru, Amazonas State, Brazil

O gênero Lutzomyia tem grande importância No Novo Mundo, com algumas espécies implicadas na transmissão dos agentes causais das leishmanioses, bartoneloses e arboviroses. De abril de 2003 a junho de 2004 foi realizada uma investigação sobre a fauna flebotomínica na região nordeste do município de Manacapuru, AM. As coletas foram realizadas em áreas de mata de terra firme ao longo da Rodovia Manuel Urbano, utilizando-se 16 armadilhas luminosas CDC. No período de 13 meses foram coletados 10.446 espécimes de flebotomíneos, dos quais, 3.908 machos (38 por cento) e 6.465 fêmeas (62 por cento), distribuídos em 43 espécies pertencentes ao gênero Lutzomyia, divididas em 10 subgênero e seis grupos de espécies. Os resultados encontrados para a região nordeste de Manacapuru evidenciaram uma fauna flebotomínica diversificada e abundante, com algumas espécies ainda não registradas para o município de Manaus, AM, vizinho à área estudada.

The genus Lutzomyia has great importance in the New World, with some species implicated in the transmission of causal agents of leishmaniases, bartonellosis and arboviruses. From April 2003 to June 2004 an investigation was undertaken on the richness and abundance of the sand fly fauna in the northeast area of Manacapuru county, Amazonas State. The captures were carried out, with 16 light traps CDC, in areas of forest known as terra firme along the highway Manuel Urbano. In the period of 13 months we collected a total of 10,446 sandfly specimens, 3,908 males (38 percent) and 6,465 females (62 percent), distributed in 43 species belonging to the genus Lutzomyia, 10 subgenera and six species groups. These results evidenced a diversified and abundant sand fly fauna, with some species not yet reported for Manaus county, close to the study area.

Single and concomitant experimental infectionsby Endotrypanum spp. and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in the Neotropical sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Lutzomyia longipalpis females received single and mixed infections with Endotrypanum and Leishmania. Two biological parameters were analyzed: the percentage of infected females and the distribution of flagellates in the gut of the females. The principal comparisons were performed between (1) two strains of Endotrypanum, (2) cloned versus primary sample of one strain of Endotrypanum, (3) Endotrypanum versus Leishmania guyanensis, and (4) the pattern of flagellates behaviour by optical microscopy in females with single or mixed infection versus the identification of parasites isolated from digestive tracts by isoenzyme electrophoresis. Flagellates of Endotrypanum showed distinct patterns of infection suggesting that there is variation between and within strains. The distribution of Endotrypanum and L. guyanensis differed significantly in relation to the colonization of the stomodeal valve. In co-infection with L. guyanensis, a large number of flagellates were seen to be plentifully infecting the stomodeal valve in significantly more specimens than in females infected by Endotrypanum only. However, the electrophoretic profiles of isoenzymes of parasites recovered from all co-infected specimens corresponded to Endotrypanum. This suggests that the mere correlation sand fly infection-biochemical analysis of isolates may induce parasitological incorrect consideration.

Minicircle kDNA microheterogeneity in Endotrypanum indicate diversity within this genus

A comparison of kDNA restriction-endonuclease fragment patterns from strains representing selected Endotrypanum zymodemes was done by schizodeme analysis. As the degree of heterogeneity within mini-circles varied among species or strains of Endotrypanum, the fingerprint obtained with each of the restriction enzymes was unique for each of these parasites. The data have revealed that this trypanosomatid genus is much more complex than it was originally thought to be.