The development of species of Leishmania Ross, 1903 in Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912).

The development of four isolates of Leishmania from foci of American cutaneous leishmaniasis was studied in Lutzomyia longipalpis. The suggestion that the differences in the development of the Leishmania in the invertebrate host are of great taxonomic significance was confirmed. The pattern of development of three strains was typical of parasites of the subgenus Leishmania, the other was similar to Leishmania of the subgenus Viannia. The identification of the strains using other criteria is in agreement with biological characterization. The results show that the morphological and morphometric study of promastigotes do not clearly define the taxonomic position of the parasites but other studies are needed to confirm this.

Effect of deltamethrin spraying on the sandfly populations in a focus of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The effect of deltamethrin of the sandfly population in a focus of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Viana, Espírito Santo State is described. The phlebotomine population density was determined inside and outside houses during a one year period in a treated and untreated area. The results showed a significant reduction in the number of sandflies inside houses in the treated area compared with both the untreated area and the same area before spraying. Despite having a residual action for 12 months after spraying the insecticide was ineffective outside houses. It is concluded therefore that deltamethrin is an efficient insecticide for reducing the number of phlebotomine sandflies inside houses.

Observations on the dipteran fauna in a focus of dermal leishmaniasis in the State of Minas Gerais: II. The distribution of families in relation to their medical, veterinary and economic importance

Foram usadas armadilhas luminosas para coleta de flebotomineos em um foco de leishmaniose tegumentar a leste do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Durante um periodo de sete meses as 179 amostras de outros Dipteros capiturados com aramdilhas luminosas foram identificadas a nivel de familia. As armadilhas foram colocadas em oito locais constituidos de tres diferentes biotopos: tres areas de floresta, areas cultivadas e peridomicilio. Foi feita uma comparacao entre o total de Dipteros coletados em cada biotopo, o total de familias coletadas em cada biotopo, sendo estimado o indice de diversificacao. Sao apresentados dendrogramas com o grau de associacao entre as familias de Dipteros em diferentes biotopos. Algumas familias de Dipteros foram uniformemente distribuidas atraves da area estudada; poucas familias parecem ter se adaptado as areas onde a atividade humana causou as maiores mudancas ecologicas. E discutido o impacto entre os Dipteros e o bem estar humano. As evidencias obtidas neste trabalho indicam que a transmissao da leishmaniose tegumentar nao esta atualmente ocorrendo nas areas estudadas, apesar da alta densidade de flebotomos capturados

Observations on the dipteran fauna in a focus of dermal leishmaniasis in the State of Minas Gerais. I: The families collected and an evaluation of trapping methods.

Em um foco de leishmaniose tegumentar na parte leste do Estado de Minas Gerais durante sete meses, foram utilizadas para coleta de Dptera com atividade noturna dois tipos de armadilha luminosa em miniatura. Cento e oitenta e uma amostras examinadas continham 51.708 individuos que exceto 249 danificados foram identificados ao nivel de familia. O material identificado inclui a especie de treze familias de Nematocera, duas familias de Brachycera e onze familias de Cyclorrhapha A abundancia e diversidade da fauna de dipteros da area estudada e comparada com a escassez de conhecimentos sobre Diptera no Estado de Minas Gerais. O desempenho e utilidade dos dois tipos de armadilha sao examinados, e a posicao de Phlebotominae dentro da fauna de dipteros e discutida. Flebotomineos sao o grupo de Diptera hematofagos predominante na area, mesmo quando nao havia evidencia de transmissao ativa de Leishmania agente da leishmaniose tegumentar humana

Epidemiology of dermal leishmaniasis in the Rio Doce Valley, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Dermal leishmaniasis is prevalent in the predominantly settled agricultural areas in the Rio Doce Valley in the eastern part of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The disease has been recorded almost equally in both sexes. Cases have been confirmed in all age groups but youths aged ten to 14 years form the population segment at greatest risk to infection. Cases of single cutaneous lesions, multiple cutaneous lesions and muco-cutaneous lesions have been recorded in the area. Isolates of parasites include representatives of the Leishmania mexicana and L. braziliensis complexes and at least one parasite that does not fit into either category. Infections have not been detected in small mammals (mainly rodents) but about 3% of dogs are infected. The phlebotomine fauna includes no species (or close relatives of species) previously incriminated as vectors of mexicana and braziliensis infections in Brazil. In the complex and confusing epidemiological situation in the Rio Doce Valley it seems unwise to apply traditional specific names to Leishmania of the area.