Flebotominos en dos focos endémicos de leishmaniasis visceral americana en el municipio torres, estado lara, venezuela. / Phlebotomine Sand Flies in Two Endemic Foci of American Visceral Leishmaniasis at Torres Municipality, Lara State, Venezuela.

RESUMEN

Se realizó un estudio entomológico con el fin de conocer las especies flebotominas presentes en dos focos endémicos de leishmaniasis visceral americana (LVA) del estado Lara, Venezuela. Las capturas de flebotominos se realizaron, de enero 1998 a marzo 2000, en dos áreas endémicas localizadas en el municipio Torres La Rinconada (10° 15’ N-69° 57’ W) y San Esteban (10° 54’ N-69° 55’ W). Para ello se colocó la trampa de luz Shannon, entre las 19 00 y 22 00 h, y 4 trampas de luz CDC durante toda la noche en el peridomicilio y, además, se realizó la búsqueda activa manual en sus refugios naturales. En La Rinconada se capturaron 7.488 ejemplares, pertenecientes a ocho especies flebotominas, de los cuales 6.782 fueron hembras y 706, machos. Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis fue la especie predominante (94,59%). En San Esteban fueron capturados 1.032 ejemplares, de los cuales 842 fueron hembras y 190 machos. El 97,96% de los ejemplares fueron identificados como L. pseudolongipalpis. Ninguna de las hembras capturadas en las localidades endémicas estudiadas mostró la presencia de promastigotes de Leishmania spp. en su tracto digestivo. Debido al marcado predominio de L. pseudolongipalpis y la escasa presencia de L. evansi en estas áreas endémicas, L. pseudolongipalpis pudiera tener un rol importante en la transmisión de la leishmaniasis visceral en las localidades estudiadas.

ABSTRACT

An entomological study was undertaken to know the presence of phlebotomine species in two endemic foci of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) at Lara State, Venezuela. The captures of phlebotomine sand flies were carried out, from January 1998 to March 2000, in two endemic areas localized at the Torres municipality La Rinconada (10° 15’ N-69° 57’ W) and San Esteban (10° 54’ N-69° 55’ W). For this purpose the Shannon light trap was used, between 19 00 and 22 00 h, and 4 CDC light traps left overnight at the peridomicily and, besides, active manual searches in its natural refuges was carried out. At La Rinconada, 7,488 specimens of eight phlebotomine species were caught out of which 6,782 were females and 706, males. Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis was the predominant species (94.59%). At San Esteban 1,032 specimens were captured of which 842 were females and 190 males. The 97.96% of the specimens were identified as L. pseudolongipalpis. None of the females captured at the endemic localities that were studied showed the presence of Leishmania spp. promastigotes in their digestive tract. Due to the predominance of L. pseudolongipalpis and the low presence of L. evansi at these endemic areas, L. pseudolongipalpis should be regarded as having an important role in the transmission of American visceral leishmaniasis in the localities that were studied.