Establishment of a laboratory colony of Pressatia choti (Diptera: Psychodidae), a suspected vector of Leishmania braziliensis

ABSTRACT Background: Pressatia choti is a common sand fly found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, which is suspected to be involved in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. Herein, we aimed to establish a Pr. choti laboratory colony. Methods: Wild-caught female sand flies were blood fed on hamsters and maintained under controlled conditions (temperature: 26 °C; relative humidity: 70%). Results: Of the 301 collected female sandflies, 288 were identified as Pr. choti. The life cycle duration ranged from 31 to 56 days. Conclusions: We successfully established a Pr. choti colony, whose biological parameters were similar to those of other neotropical sand flies.

Leishmaniasis en Venezuela: Situación actual, acciones y perspectivas para el control vectorial en el marco de un programa de control multisectorial / Leishmaniasis in Venezuela: Current status, actions and prospects for vector control in the context of a multi-sectorial control program

El Programa de Control de Leishmaniasis en Venezuela, a cargo del Servicio Autónomo Instituto de Biomedicina (IB) del Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud (MPPS), ha sido reforzado en los últimos años a través del fortalecimiento de la asistencia médica, en especial la consolidación de la base diagnóstica y una mayor interacción con los Servicios de Zoonosis para la LV. Sin embargo, indicadores entomológicos y epidemiológicos de la dispersión y en algunos casos urbanización, de la leishmaniasis cutánea (LC) y visceral (LV) han resaltado la necesidad del control antivectorial para un abordaje sistémico y transdisciplinario de este problema de salud, en el marco de la protección ambiental. Se presenta en este documento una revisión de los datos epidemiológicos, de los conocimientos sobre las especies de flebótomos incriminadas en la transmisión, su respuesta a los insecticidas y los ensayos de control conducidos en el país. Como perspectiva factible a corto plazo se propone un programa multisectorial en el cual concurran en primera instancia el IB, la Dirección General de Salud Ambiental (DGSA) y el Sector Educativo en una acción concertada para el control de leishmaniasis y Enfermedad de Chagas y leishmaniasis-malaria en áreas de co-endemicidad. Se hace especial énfasis en la necesidad de buenos programas educativos de salud que deben aplicarse antes de la selección de las medidas de control, de acuerdo a las características epidemiológicas y socio-culturales de la zona. Es importante tener en cuenta los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas (CAP) de la población de riesgo con el fin de promover la aceptación del programa y de la participación comunitaria en la prevención de estas "enfermedades desatendidas", a través de la gestión ambiental y la protección personal. Sobre la base de estas premisas, estas acciones de lucha integrada, concertadas en un programa multisectorial, en el marco del enfoque Ecosalud conducirían hacia la optimización de los recursos y la sostenibilidad del programa en sí.

The Leishmaniasis Control Program in Venezuela, directed by the Institute of Biomedicine (IB) of the Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MPPH) has been strengthened in recent years by the improvement of health care, especially with regard to the establishment of diagnostic procedures and for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), tighter relations with the Zoonosis Department of the MPPH. However, entomological and epidemiological indicators of the dispersion, and in some cases urbanization, of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (CL and VL, respectively) have highlighted the need for vector control in order to approach this health problem from a transdisciplinary systemic perspective in the context of environmental protection. We present a review of epidemiological data, our knowledge about the species of phlebotomine sand flies incriminated in transmission, and their response to insecticides and control assays undertaken in Venezuela. A multisectorial program managed between the Institute of Biomedicine (MPPH), the General Directorate of Environmental Health (GDEH) (MPPH) and the Education Sector (MPPE) for the control of leishmaniasis-Chagas disease and leishmaniasis-malaria in co-endemic areas, has been proposed as a feasible short term strategy. The need for high quality health education programs implemented according to the epidemiological and socio-cultural features of the regions, before control measures are selected, is also emphasized. It is important to take into account the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of the population at risk in order to a) ensure acceptance of the program and b) promote community participation, through environmental management and personal protection, for the prevention of these "neglected diseases". Based on this approach, these integrated control actions within a multi-sectorial program would lead towards the optimization of resources and the sustainability of the program itself.

Sand Fly Fauna (Diptera, Pcychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Different Leishmaniasis-Endemic Areas of Ecuador, Surveyed Using a Newly Named Mini-Shannon Trap

To study the sand fly fauna, surveys were performed at four different leishmaniasis-endemic sites in Ecuador from February 2013 to April 2014. A modified and simplified version of the conventional Shannon trap was named “mini-Shannon trap” and put to multiple uses at the different study sites in limited, forested and narrow spaces. The mini-Shannon, CDC light trap and protected human landing method were employed for sand fly collection. The species identification of sand flies was performed mainly based on the morphology of spermathecae and cibarium, after dissection of fresh samples. In this study, therefore, only female samples were used for analysis. A total of 1,480 female sand flies belonging to 25 <i>Lutzomyia</i> species were collected. The number of female sand flies collected was 417 (28.2%) using the mini-Shannon trap, 259 (17.5%) using the CDC light trap and 804 (54.3%) by human landing. The total number of sand flies per trap collected by the different methods was markedly affected by the study site, probably because of the various composition of species at each locality. Furthermore, as an additional study, the attraction of sand flies to mini-Shannon traps powered with LED white-light and LED black-light was investigated preliminarily, together with the CDC light trap and human landing. As a result, a total of 426 sand flies of nine <i>Lutzomyia</i> species, including seven man-biting and two non-biting species, were collected during three capture trials in May and June 2014 in an area endemic for leishmaniasis (La Ventura). The black-light proved relatively superior to the white-light with regard to capture numbers, but no significant statistical difference was observed between the two traps.

Sand Fly Fauna (Diptera, Pcychodidae, Phlebotominae) in DifferentLeishmaniasis- Endemic Areas of Ecuador, Surveyed by Using a Newly Named Mini-Shannon Trap

To study the sand fly fauna, surveys were performed atfour different leishmaniasis-endemic areas of Ecuador, during February 2013 andApril 2014. The conventional Shannon trap was modified and simplified to anewly named mini-Shannon trap for its multiple uses at different study sites,such as limited, forested and narrow spaces. The mini-Shannon, CDC light trapsand the protected human landing method were employed for sand fly collection.The species identification of sand flies was performed mainly based on themorphology of spermathecae and cibarium, after dissection of freshsamples.  In this study, therefore, onlyfemale samples were used for analysis. A total of1,480 female sand flies belonging to 25<i> Lutzomyia</i> species were collected. Numbers of the female sand fliescollected by each trap were 417 (28.2%) by the mini-Shannon trap, 259 (17.5%)by CDC light trap and 804 (54.3%) by human landing. The total number of sand flies per trap collected bydifferent methods was markedly affected by study sites, probably because ofdifferent species compositions at each locality. Further, as an additionalstudy, the attractiveness of sand flies against the mini-Shannon traps poweredwith LED White-light and LED Black-light, waspreliminary tested, together with CDC light trap and human landing. In the test,a total of 426 sand flies of nine <i>Lutzomyia</i> species, seven man-biting and two non-man-biting species, were collected by threecapture trials during May and June 2014 in an area endemic for leishmaniasis(La Ventura). The Black-light equipped trap was relatively superior in capturenumbers to the White-light equipped one, but no significant difference wasobserved statistically between the two traps.

Leishmaniose tegumentar americana em centro de treinamento militar localizado na zona da mata de pernambuco, Brasil / American cutaneous leishmaniasis in a military training center located in Zona da Mata, Pernambuco, Brazil

An outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis has been occurred in military training unit localized in 'Zona da Mata' of Pernambuco State, Brazil, where were registered 26 human cases. An epidemiological survey was carried out by entomological investigation and Montenegro skin test (MST). Lutzomyia choti presents predominance (89.9%) in sandflies identified. Out of 545 men who realized training activities were 24.12% positive to MST.

Um surto de leishmaniose tegumentar americana ocorreu em 1996 em unidade de treinamento militar situada na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco, com o registro de 26 casos humanos. Um inquérito epidemiológico foi realizado através da realização de levantamento entomológico e da aplicação do Teste de Montenegro. Lutzomyia choti apresentou predominância de 89,9% dos flebótomos identificados. De 545 homens que participaram de treinamentos no período, 24,1% (incluindo os casos clínicos) foram positivo para o Teste de Montenegro.