[Epidemiology of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Mérida, Venezuela. I. Diversity and dispersion of phlebotomine species at 3 altitude levels and its possible role in the transmission of the disease]. / Epidemiología de la leishmaniasis tegumentaria en Mérida, Venezuela. I. Diversidad y dispersión de especies flebotominas en tres pisos altitudinales y su posible rôle en la transmissión de la enfermedad.

As part of an epidemiological study on leishmaniasis in Merida, Venezuela, the diversity and dispersion of sandflies species found in 15 localities between 175 m and 1,960 m.a.s.l., are presented. From 7,126 collected sandflies (5,132 female and 1,994 male), 24 species were identified, 10 of them recognized as anthropophilic. The relation species-altitude is presented, and the species composition found in human dwellings, periodomestic and sylvatic areas, are recorded. The possible role of the identified species on the transmission of leishmaniasis in the andean region, is discussed.