Description of the female of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) deorsa (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) / Descripción de la hembra de Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) deorsa (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) deorsa (Pérez, Ogusuku, Monje & Young, 1991) was described on the basis of a single male; the female is being described here from specimens collected in Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Peru. Diagnoses for the Pintomyia genus, Pifanomyia subgenus, Verrucarum series and both sexes of Pi. deorsa are presented, as well as an identification key to distinguish the females of the Verrucarum series.

Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) deorsa (Pérez, Ogusuku, Monje & Young, 1991) fue descrita en base a un solo espécimen macho; la hembra es descrita aquí a partir de especímenes colectados en Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Perú. El diagnóstico para en género Pintomyia, el subgénero Pifanomyia, la série Verrucarum y ambos sexos de Pi. deorsa son presentados, así como claves para la identificación y separación de las hembras de la serie Verrucarum.

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in rural and urban environments in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis in southern Brazil

The high proportion of cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis reported amongst residents in the city of Bandeirantes, in the state of Paraná, Brazil, led the authors to investigate the phlebotomine fauna in both urban and rural environments. The sandflies were captured with automatic light traps from 07:00 pm-07:00 am fortnightly in 11 urban peridomiciles from April 2008-March 2009 and monthly in three ecotopes within four rural localities from April 2009-March 2010. In one of these latter localities, sandfly capture was conducted with white/black Shannon traps during each of three seasons: spring, summer and fall. A total of 5,729 sandflies of 17 species were captured. Nyssomyia neivai (46.7%) and Nyssomyia whitmani (35.3%) were the predominant species. In this study, 3,865 specimens were captured with automatic light traps: 22 (0.083 sandflies/trap) in the urban areas and 3,843 (26.69 sandflies/trap) in the rural areas. Ny. neivai was predominant in urban (68.2%) and rural (42.8%) areas. A total of 1,864 specimens were captured with the white/black Shannon traps and Ny. neivai (54.5%) and Ny. whitmani (31.4%) were the predominant species captured. The small numbers of sandflies captured in the urban areas suggest that the transmission of Leishmania has occurred in the rural area due to Ny. neivai and Ny. whitmani as the probable vectors.

Ecological aspects of phlebotomine fauna (Diptera, Psychodidae) of Serra da Cantareira, Greater São Paulo Metropolitan region, state of São Paulo, Brazil / Aspectos ecológicos da fauna flebotomínea (Diptera, Psychodidae) da Serra da Cantareira, Região metropolitana da Grande São Paulo, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Human cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) have been recorded in Serra da Cantareira, in the Greater São Paulo Metropolitan Region, where two conservation units are situated, the Parque Estadual da Cantareira and the Parque Estadual Alberto Löfgren. The present study aimed to identify the sandfly fauna and some of its ecological aspects in these two parks and their surrounding area to investigate Leishmania sp. vectors. The captures were undertaken monthly from January to December 2009, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with automatic light traps installed in forests and peridomicile areas and with modified black/white Shannon traps in the peridomicile. A total of 12 species and 5,436 sandflies were captured: with automatic light traps (141), Shannon traps (5,219) and attempting to bite the researchers while they were conducting the collection in Shannon traps (76). Pintomyia fischeri and Migonemyia migonei were the most abundant species. Pi. fischeri predominated in all three kinds of captures (49%, 88.8% and 65.8%, respectively). Mg. migonei was the second most prevalent in Shannon traps (10.0%) and attempting to bite the researchers (22.4%). Pi. fischeri females were significantly more attracted to black and those of Mg. migonei to white Shannon traps. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the numbers of Pi. fischeri and the mean of minimum relative humidity values on the fifteen days prior to capture, while there was a negative and significant correlation between the relative humidity on the capture day and the two most abundant species. The anthropophilia and high frequencies of Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei suggest that both species may be transmitting ACL agents in this region.

Casos humanos de leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) têm sido registrados na Serra da Cantareira, região da Grande São Paulo, onde se situam o Parque Estadual da Cantareira e o Parque Estadual Alberto Löfgren. O estudo teve como objetivo identificar a fauna flebotomínea e alguns de seus aspectos ecológicos nos dois parques e área adjacente, para investigar vetores de Leishmania sp. As capturas ocorreram de janeiro a dezembro de 2009, das 18 às 06 horas, com armadilhas automáticas luminosas instaladas em matas e peridomicílios, e com armadilhas de Shannon modificadas, nas cores branca e preta, em peridomicílio. Foram capturadas 12 espécies e 5.436 flebotomíneos por armadilhas automáticas luminosas (141), armadilhas de Shannon (5.219) e tentando picar os pesquisadores enquanto coletavam na armadilha de Shannon (76). Pintomyia fischeri e Migonemyia migonei foram as mais abundantes. Pi. fischeri predominou nos três métodos de coleta com 49,0%, 88,8% e 65,8%, respectivamente, e Mg. migonei foi a segunda mais prevalente na Shannon (10,0%) e tentando picar os pesquisadores (22,4%). Fêmeas de Pi. fischeri foram significativamente mais atraídas à Shannon preta e Mg. migonei à branca. Houve correlação positiva e significante entre o número de Pi. fischeri e a média das mínimas da umidade relativa nos 15 dias anteriores ao dia da coleta, e negativa e significante para as duas espécies mais abundantes em relação a umidade relativa no dia da coleta. Altas frequências e antropofilia de Pi. fischeri e de Mg. migonei sugerem que ambas podem estar atuando na transmissão da LTA na área.

Phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the Speleological Province of the Ribeira Valley: 2. Parque Estadual do Alto Ribeira (PETAR), São Paulo State, Brazil / Flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) na província Espeleológica do Vale do Ribeira. 2: Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira (PETAR), São Paulo, Brasil

The Parque Estadual do Alto Ribeira (PETAR) with about 250 caves, in an Atlantic forest reserve, is an important ecotourist attraction in the Ribeira Valley, an endemic area of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). With the purpose of investigating Leishmania vector species bothersome to humans the sandfly fauna was identified and some of its ecological aspects in the Santana nucleus, captures were undertaken monthly with automatic light traps in 11 ecotopes, including caves, forests, a camping site and domiciliary environments, and on black and white Shannon traps, from January/2001 to December/2002. A total of 2,449 sandflies representing 21 species were captured. The highest values of abundance obtained in the captures with automatic light traps were for Psathyromyia pascalei and Psychodopygus ayrozai. A total of 107 specimens representing 13 species were captured on black (12 species) and white (6 species) Shannon traps set simultaneously. Psychodopygus geniculatus females predominated on the black (43.75 percent), and Psathyromyia lanei and Ps. ayrozai equally (32.4 percent) on the white. Nyssomyia intermedia and Nyssomyia neivai, both implicated in the transmission of ACL in the Brazilian Southeastern region, were also captured. Ny. intermedia predominated in the open camping area. Low frequencies of phlebotomines were observed in the caves, where Evandromyia edwardsi predominated Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of the American visceral leishmaniasis, was aslo present. This is its most southernly reported occurrence in the Atlantic forest.

O Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira, com cerca de 250 cavernas, situado em reserva de floresta Atlântica, é uma importante atração turística na região do Vale do Ribeira, onde a leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) é endêmica. Com o objetivo de investigar as espécies incômodas ao homem e/ou implicadas na transmissão de Leishmania, identificou-se a fauna flebotomínea e alguns aspectos ecológicos de suas populações no núcleo da caverna Santana. Mensalmente, de janeiro/2001 a dezembro/2002, foram realizadas capturas com armadilhas automáticas luminosas em 11 ecótopos, incluindo cavernas, florestas, área de camping e ambientes domiciliares, e com armadilhas de Shannon em mata. No total capturou-se 2.449 flebotomíneos, representando 21 espécies. Nas capturas com armadilhas automáticas luminosas, Psathyromyia pascalei e Psychodopygus ayrozai foram as mais abundantes. Com as armadilhas de Shannon branca e preta instaladas simultaneamente foram capturados 107 espécimes, representando 13 espécies, na preta (12 espécies) e na branca (6 espécies). Fêmeas de Psychodopygus geniculatus predominaram na preta (43,75 por cento), e Psathyromyia lanei e Ps. ayrozai, igualmente (32,4 por cento), na branca. Nyssomyia intermedia e Nyssomyia neivai, ambas implicadas na transmissão da LTA na região, também foram capturadas, Ny. intermedia, a 6ª mais abundante, predominou na área de camping aberto. Baixas freqüências de flebotomíneos foram observadas nas cavernas, onde Evandromyia edwardsi predominou. Destaca-se a captura de Lutzomyia longipalpis, principal vetor do agente da leishmaniose visceral americana, sendo o registro mais meridional da mata Alântica.

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in a sympatric area: seasonal and nocturnal hourly rhythm in black and white modified Shannon traps / Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) e Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) em área de ocorrência simpátrica: ritmo sazonal e horário noturno em armadilhas de Shannon modificadas nas cores branca e preta

Captures with black and white Shannon traps were undertaken to identify aspects of the behavior of the two cryptic and sympatric species implicated as vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926). The traps were installed side by side, monthly, from July 2001 to June 2002, from 18 to 07 hours, in a peridomicile of Iporanga municipality, state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 2,142 specimens were captured, Ny. intermedia (47.4 percent) and Ny. neivai (50.5 percent). The white trap was more attractive to both sexes of both species. Males of Ny. neivai predominated (70 percent) over those of Ny. intermedia on the two traps; on the black trap, the females of Ny. intermedia predominated (63.3 percent) over those of Ny. neivai (36.7 percent). Seventy percent of the specimens of both species were captured between 18 and 24 h. Females of Ny. intermedia presented the highest peak at 19-20 h, and those of Ny. neivai at 20-21 h. The highest hourly average for females of Ny. intermedia on the black trap occurred in the winter and that for males in the summer. For Ny. neivai, both sexes predominated in the summer. The two species probably transmit the cutaneous leishmaniasis in the area due to their great predominance.

Objetivando identificar aspectos do comportamento de duas espécies crípticas, simpátricas e implicadas na transmissão de leishmaniose tegumentar, Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) e Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926), procederam-se capturas com armadilhas de Shannon preta e branca, instaladas lado a lado, mensalmente, de julho/2001 a junho/2002, das 18-07 horas, em peridomicílio no município de Iporanga, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Um total de 2.142 espécimes foi capturado, Ny. intermedia (47,4 por cento) e Ny. neivai (50,5 por cento). A armadilha branca foi mais atrativa para ambos os sexos das duas espécies. Machos de Ny. neivai predominaram (70 por cento) sobre os de Ny. intermedia nas duas armadilhas; na preta, as fêmeas de Ny. intermedia predominaram (63,3 por cento) sobre às de Ny. neivai (36,7 por cento); 70 por cento dos espécimes de ambas as espécies foi capturado entre 18h e 24h. Fêmeas de Ny. intermedia apresentaram o maior pico das 19-20h e as de Ny. neivai das 20-21h. Na armadilha preta, a maior média horária para as fêmeas de Ny. intermedia ocorreu no inverno e para os machos, no verão; para Ny. neivai, ambos os sexos predominaram no verão. Na branca, ambos os sexos de ambas as espécies foram mais atraídos no verão. A alta predominância de ambas as espécies sugere que estejam atuando na transmissão da leishmaniose cutânea na área.

Ocorrência de Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) e fauna associada, no Paraná / Ocurrence of Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Paraná State, south of Brazil

Nyssomyia intermedia s. lat. tem sido citada por vários autores no Paraná. No entanto, alguns estudos apontam que esse táxon corresponde a Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto). Em coletas realizadas em galinheiro e em ambiente de mata, com armadilhas, entre novembro de 2005 e outubro de 2006, em Adrianópolis, Morretes e Pontal do Paraná, localizados na região de Mata Atlântica na Serra do Mar e no litoral do Paraná, sete fêmeas de Nyssomyia intermedia s. str. (Lutz & Neiva) foram encontradas juntamente com outras 14 espécies de flo ebotomíneos, confirmando a ocorrência de N.intermedia em área de costa e de mata Atlântica do Paraná.

The occurrence of Nyssomyia intermedia s.lat. in the state of Paraná, Brazil, has been registered by several authors; however, studies have identified this taxon as belonging, in Paraná, to Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto). During captures with traps in a hen-house and forested areas, from November 2005 to October 2006, in Adrianópolis, Morretes and Pontal do Paraná, situated in the Atlantic forest domain, Paraná state, seven females of Nyssomyia intermedia s.str. (Lutz & Neiva) were collected together with other 14 sand floy species. Thus the occurrence of N. intermedia on the coast and in areas of Atlantic forest in Paraná is confirmed.

Description of Micropygomyia brandaoi sp. n. (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), a fossil phlebotomine from the Dominican Republic

The description of Micropygomyia brandaoi, a new species of fossil phlebotomine sand fly, is based on one male specimen obtained from Dominican amber of the Miocene period (20 million years). In this new species, the fifth palpal segment is long, the coxite lacks a setal tuft and the style shows four well-developed spines. This set of characters allowed us to place the new species in the genus Micropygomyia Barretto.

Diversidade, distribuição e abundância de flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) no Paraná / Diversity, distribution and abundance of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Parana State, Southern Brazil

Devido à crescente expansão da leishmaniose visceral americana (LVA) no Brasil, o presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar as espécies de flebotomíneos em áreas vulneráveis à transmissão dessa parasitose, bem como em outras sem qualquer informação sobre a presença desses dípteros no Paraná. As coletas de flebotomíneos foram realizadas em 46 localidades distribuídas em 37 municípios do Paraná, no período de março de 2004 a novembro de 2005. Em cada uma das localidades foram instaladas armadilhas de Falcão, durante três noites consecutivas, em vegetação natural e ambientes antrópicos (intra e peridomicílio). Ocasionalmente, foram instalas armadilhas de Shannon e feitas inspeções de paredes e aspiração em domicílio, peridomicílio e extradomicílio. O tratamento dos dados baseou-se na estimativa das freqüências e abundância das espécies, segundo cinco regiões de distintas paisagens originais. Coletaram-se 38.662 flebotomíneos de 23 espécies. Predominaram Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (75.6 por cento), Ny. whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) (10.1 por cento), Migonemyia migonei (França) (7.8 por cento), Expapillata firmatoi (Barreto et al.) (2.1 por cento) and Pintomyia fischeri (Pinto) (1,6 por cento); representando juntas 97,2 por cento dos flebotomíneos coletados. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) o principal vetor da LVA não foi encontrado. No entanto, capturou-se Lu. gaminarai (Cordero et al.), cujas fêmeas são morfologicamente semelhantes às de Lu. longipalpis. As espécies mais freqüentes e abundantes têm sido apontadas como vetores da leishmaniose tegumentar no Paraná e em outras áreas das Regiões Sudeste e Sul do Brasil. A presença de Lu. gaminarai no Paraná suscita a necessidade de estudos do seu comportamento, inclusive em relação à sua competência vetorial do agente da leishmaniose visceral.

Due to the spread of the Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian territory, this research was undertaken with the objective to identify the sandfly fauna and aspects of the species’ behavior in forest and anthropic environments in Paraná State, Brazil. The sandfly captures were sporadically carried out in 37 municipalities of the Paraná state, during the period from March 2004 to November 2005. Each municipality was once visited, when Falcão traps were installed during three consecutive nights in forested fragments and anthropic environments; captures with Shannon traps installed in forests and edge of forests, inspection of walls and electric aspiration in domiciles and forested areas were sporadically undertaken. The data analysis was based on estimates of frequency and abundance of the species, by five native landscapes. A total of 38,662 specimens belonging to 23 species were captured. Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (75.6 percent), Ny. whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) (10.1 percent), Migonemyia migonei (França) (7.8 percent), Expapillata firmatoi (Barreto et al.) (2.1 percent) and Pintomyia fischeri (Pinto) (1.6 percent) together constituted 97.2 percent of the phlebotomine colletcted. High frequencies of sand flies were found in forests, henhouses, pigpens and domiciles. The three most frequent species have been implicated in transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Paraná and in the Brazilian Southeastern and Southern Regions. Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), the visceral leishmaniasis vector was no found, however Lutzomyia gaminariai (Cordero et al.), female of which is similar to that of Lu. longipalpis was captured, raising the need to investigate its behavior, including as regard to the vectorial competence.

Description of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) paleotrichia, a Miocene period new species from the Dominican Republic (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

A new fossil species of phlebotomine sandflies is described from Dominican amber based in one specimen. Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) paleotrichia sp. nov. is distinguished from the other extant and extinct species by aspects of paramere and the basal tuft of bristles in the gonocoxite.

Description of Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) vonatzingeni sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from the states of Pará and Tocantins, Brazil

Both sexes of a new phlebotomine sandfly species Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) vonatzingeni sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae), captured in the Serra das Andorinhas, São Geraldo do Araguaia municipality, Pará state, and Cavalcante municipality, Tocantins state, Brazil, are described and illustrated. This new species belongs to the oswaldoi series and its distinction from the other extant species of the series was made by male and female identification keys. The specific geographical distribution of the oswaldoi series by country and department (or state) is presented.

Ambos os sexos de uma nova espécie de flebotomíneos Micropygomyia (Sauromyia) vonatzingeni sp. nov. (Diptera, Psychodidae) capturada na Serra das Andorinhas, município de São Geraldo do Araguaia, Estado do Pará e no município de Cavalcante, Estado de Tocantins, Brasil são descritos e ilustrados. Esta nova espécie pertence a série oswaldoi e a sua distinção das demais espécies não fósseis da série foi feita por meio de chave de identificação para machos e fêmeas. Apresenta-se a distribuição geográfica das espécies da série oswaldoi, por país e estado (ou departamento).

Description of Micropygomyia (Micropygomyia) ancashensis sp. nov. and the female of Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) chavinensis Pérez & Ogusuku (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from Ancash department, Peru

A male of a new species Micropygomyia (Micropygomyia) ancashensis sp. nov. and a female of the Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) chavinensis Pérez & Ogusuku, 1999 captured in the Antonio Raymondi province, department of Ancash, Peru are described and illustrated. The new species belongs to the cayennensis series, being closest to Mi. lewisi (Feliciangeli Ordoñez & Férnandez) though presenting highly sclerotized pseudotracheae on the labella that seem to constitute an autapomorphy among American Phlebotominae, and a clypeus almost completely covered with setae, as in Warileya. The female of Lu. chavinensis is close to those of Lu. blancasi Galati & Cáceres 1990, Lu. noguchii (Shannon, 1929), and Lu. pallidithorax Galati & Cáceres 1994.

Brumptomyia angelae, a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil

The male of Brumptomyia angelae, sp. nov., a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new taxon is closely related to Brumptomyia ortizi Martins, Silva & Falcão 1971, Brumptomyia nitzulescui (Costa Lima, 1932), and Brumptomyia troglodytes (Lutz, 1922). The male genitalia of these three latter species have also been drawn.

The subgenus Migonemyia Galati 1995 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), with description of a new species Migonemyia vaniae: a review

The capture of a new species of the subgenus Migonemyia Galati, 1995 (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), Migonemyia vaniae sp. nov. in the Ribeira Valley, state of São Paulo, Brazil, together with the other two species: Mg. migonei (França, 1920) and Mg. rabelloi (Galati & Gomes, 1992) lead us to review this subgenus. The new species was described and illustrated. The genitalia of the two other species were also illustrated and some genital characteristics (number of setae on the gonocoxite tuft, ejaculatory ducts and pump and ducts/pump ratio; and number of setae on the tergite VIII of the females) considered important to differentiate the three species, including five populations of Mg. migonei (from Northeastern, Southeastern, and Southern Brazilian regions and of Peru) were submitted to variance analyses. The Mg. migonei population of Northeastern Brazilian region showed distinct smaller values (P < 0.05) than the other Brazilian populations studied as regarding these characteristics. The capture of both sexes of these three species in sympatry confirms the association between the sexes of Mg. rabelloi, recognised as doubtful when this species was originally described. Identification keys for male and female of the three species are presented.

Flebotomíneos de várzea do rio Aguapeí, região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Sand flies in the Aguapeí river floodplain, northwest area of State of São Paulo, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Investigar a sazonalidade de flebotomíneos de acordo com sua ocorrência e densidade. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa for realizada em área de várzea do rio Aguapeí, do município de Mirandópolis, Estado de São Paulo. Os flebotomíneos foram capturados mensalmente com armadilhas automáticas luminosas, instaladas das 18:00 às 7:00 horas, durante um ano (2004-2005), em dois locais: varanda de um rancho de pesca e mata. Utilizou-se a média de Williams para o cálculo da sazonalidade dos flebotomíneos e teste de qui-quadrado para comparação. RESULTADOS: Foram capturados 35.995 flebotomíneos. Cinco espécimes eram Brumptomyia avellari, um Psathyromyia (Xiphomyia) hermanlenti e os demais Nyssomyia neivai, que apresentou freqüência mais elevada no inverno. É o primeiro registro de Ps. hermanlenti no Estado. CONCLUSÕES: A alta densidade de Nyssomyia neivai, um dos vetores suspeitos de transmitir a leishmaniose tegumentar americana, aponta o risco de transmissão dessa doença no local, principalmente nos períodos mais secos do ano.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seasonal variation of sand flies regarding their occurrences and densities. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Aguapeí river floodplain in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Sand flies were monthly captured with automatic light traps set up between 18:00 and 7:00 hours, over a period of one year (2004-2005), at two sites: veranda of a domicile and in a forest on the banks of Aguapeí River. The Williams' average was used for estimating the seasonal variation and the Chi-square test for comparison. RESULTS: A total of 35,995 specimens were captured: five Brumptomyia avellari, one Psathyromyia (Xiphomyia) hermanlenti and the rest Nyssomyia neivai, which had the highest frequency during the winter. Ps. hermanlenti is first recorded in state of São Paulo. CONCLUSIONS: The high density of Nyssomyia neivai, a suspected vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, points out to the risk of transmission of this disease in this setting, especially during drier periods of the year.

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) geographical distribution and epidemiological importance

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva 1912) and N. neivai (Pinto 1926) are possible vectors of tegumentary leishmaniasis in some regions of Brazil. Further, the latter was until recently, considered a junior synonym of the former. This study has the purpose of updating our knowledge of the geographical distribution of these species, based on specimens deposited at the collection of the Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Faculdade de Saúde Pública-Universidade de São Paulo, and on data presented by literature as also to associate this distribution with the cutaneous leishmaniasis cases reported. It has been reported that N. intermedia occurs in the states of the Northeastern Region, in Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, on the northern coast of São Paulo, in eastern Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goiás, close to the border with Minas Gerais and Bahia. N. neivai occurs in the Southern Region, southern coast and in western São Paulo, southern and western Minas Gerais, southern Goiás, and southern Pará, beyond Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It is important to highlight that N. intermedia and N. neivai occur in sympatry in Minas Gerais and São Paulo. N. intermedia or N. neivai are predominant or are captured abundantly in several cutaneous leishmaniasis foci in the Southeastern and Southern regions of Brazil.

Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) paleotownsendi, a new sand fly from the Miocene amber of Dominican Republic (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae)

Phlebotominae includes some vector species, mainly that of leishmaniases, with a very old host-parasite relationship. Some species fossils of this subfamily have been recently described and this paper presents the description of a new sand fly Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) paleotownsendi sp. nov in amber. The gonostyle present four spines, being one apical, one external superior implanted close to the apical third, one external inferior in the middle of the structure and one internal implanted in the basal third. This disposition of the spines may separate the new species from others in the sub genus.

Kinetics of growth of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi cycle in McCoy cell culture

The kinetics of growth of Leishmania performed in vitro after internalization of the promastigote form in the cell and the occurrence of the transformation of the parasite into the amastigote form have been described by several authors. They used explants of macrophages in hamster spleen cell culture or in a human macrophage lineage cell, the U937. Using microscopy, the description of morphologic inter-relationship and the analysis of the production of specific molecules, it has been possible to define some of the peculiarities of the biology of the parasite. The present study shows the growth cycle of Leishmania chagasi during the observation of kinetic analysis undertaken with a McCoy cell lineage that lasted for a period of 144 hours. During the process, the morphologic transformation was revealed by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) and the molecules liberated in the extra cellular medium were observed by SDS-PAGE at 24-hour intervals during the whole 144-hour period. It was observed that in the first 72 hours the promastigote form of L. chagasi adhered to the cell membranes and assumed a rounded (amastigote-like) form. At 96 hours the infected cells showed morphologic alterations; at 120 hours the cells had liberated soluble fluorescent antigens into the extra cellular medium. At 144 hours, new elongated forms of the parasites, similar to promastigotes, were observed. In the SDS-PAGE, specific molecular weight proteins were observed at each point of the kinetic analysis showing that the McCoy cell imitates the macrophage and may be considered a useful model for the study of the infection of the Leishmania/cell binomial.

Cinéticas de crescimento de Leishmania realizadas in vitro após a internalização da forma promastigota na célula e a ocorrência da transformação do parasito na forma amastigota foram descritas por vários autores, seja com a utilização de explantes de macrófagos em células de baço de hamster ou atualmente da célula de linhagem de macrófago humano U937. Aliando a microscopia à descrição das inter-relações morfológicas e à síntese de moléculas específicas foi possível esclarecer pontos sobre a biologia do parasito. O presente estudo mostra o acompanhamento do ciclo de crescimento da Leishmania chagasi em uma cinética realizada com células de linhagem McCoy, no período de 144 horas. Durante o processo, as transformações morfológicas foram reveladas pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e as moléculas liberadas no meio extracelular foram observadas pelo método de SDS-PAGE, em intervalos de 24 horas no período de 144 horas. Observou-se que nas primeiras 72 horas, a forma promastigota da L. chagasi fica aderida à membrana das células com aspecto arredondado (amastigota-like). Em 96 horas as células infectadas apresentaram alterações morfológicas; em 120 horas, as células liberaram, para o meio extracelular, antígenos fluorescentes solúveis; e em 144 horas foram observadas novas formas alongadas dos parasitos como se fossem promastigotas. No SDS-PAGE, proteínas com pesos moleculares específicos são observadas em cada ponto da cinética, mostrando que a célula McCoy parece mimetizar o macrófago e que pode ser um modelo útil para o estudo da infecção do binômio leishmânia/célula.

Polymorphism, inter-population and inter-specific variation in Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) are morphologically very close and both present great variation in some structures. The objective of this study is a description of the variation among the females of these species in populations from the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. The morphological structures studied were the number of horizontal teeth in the cibarium and the number of rings and the shape of the terminal knob of the spermathecae. The spermatheca rings are significantly more numerous in N. intermedia than in N. neivai and the simple shape of the terminal knob predominated in both species. Regarding the cibarium, eight to eleven teeth have been found in both species, with up to twelve teeth in the latter. The number of horizontal teeth and the shape of the terminal knob of the spermathecae were variable throughout the populations of both species and all structures were polymorphic in the populations studied.

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) e Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) são muito semelhantes morfologicamente e ambas apresentam grande variação em algumas estruturas. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a variação ocorrida em fêmeas destas espécies, provenientes dos Estados de Minas Gerais e São Paulo. As estruturas morfológicas estudadas foram o número de dentes horizontais no cibário e o número de anéis e forma da cabeça da espermateca. O número de anéis nas espermatecas foi significativamente maior em N. intermedia e forma da cabeça da espermateca simples predominou em ambas. Com relação ao cibário, foi encontrada uma variação de oito a onze dentes horizontais nas duas espécies, chegando a doze em N. intermedia. O número de dentes horizontais e a forma da cabeça da espermateca foram variáveis em todas as populações estudadas e todas as estruturas pesquisadas foram consideradas polimórficas.

Reproduction of Leishmania (Leishmania ) infantum chagasi in conditioned cell culture growth medium

Leishmânias podem ser produzidas em meio de crescimento condicionado, após o cultivo de células McCoy (MCC). Promastigotas crescidas em meio semi-sólido NNN foram inoculadas em MCC, inicialmente, 100 parasitos por poço com 2,5 mL de McCoyMCC, em placas com 24 poços, sua multiplicação foi observada por uma cinética de 120 horas. Após este tempo, o meio estava saturado de promastigotas. A reprodução das leishmânias foi acompanhada a cada 24 horas, com contagem do número de parasitos por campo fotomicrografado. Como vantagem da técnica do crescimento da leishmânia em MCC tem-se o seu baixo custo, com pequena quantidade de parasitos pode-se obter o aumento da densidade de promastigotas em tempo reduzido. Com o emprego dessa técnica pode-se estudar o comportamento e a multiplicação das leishmânias nos vertebrados e invertebrados, assim como, obter antígenos, tanto brutos (leishmânia) como solúveis, produzidos pelos parasitos, que poderão ser úteis para se desenvolver kits de diagnósticos.