Controle de flebotomíneos com DDT, em àrea endêmica de leishmaniose tegumentar no estado do Paraná, sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of DDT insecticide used to sand flies control in domiciles and domestic animal shelters in an endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Collections of sand flies were made with Falcão traps in houses, in one pigsty and in one tree in Jussara Farm, municipality of Jussara, State of Paraná, Brazil, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. during 7 days from March 24 to April 1, 1992. In May, 1992 DDT insecticide (Dicloro Difenil Tricloro Etano) (1 g/square meter of area) was applied internally and externally on houses and in pigsty. After this, new collections of sand flies were made from July 1992 to February 1993, once a month, with Falcão traps installed in the same hour and conditions mentioned above. Before DDT insecticide application 12,960 sand flies were collected (Hourly Average=463) and it was observed the prevalence (61,8 percent). of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) After the DDT application only 589 sand flies were collected (Hourly Average=18,4) and also L. whitmani predominated again (90,8 percent). The decrease of sand flies number after the DDT insecticide application in domiciles and in pigsty prove that this measure can help cutaneous leishmaniasis control in Northern Paraná.