A new methodology for sampling blackflies for the entomological surveillance of onchocerciasis in Brazil.

The effectiveness of the MosqTent® trap was evaluated in endemic area to onchocerciasis in Brazil. This study seeks to provide subsidies for the monitoring of the onchocerciasis transmission in the country. The study was carried out at the Homoxi and Thirei villages, located in the Yanomami Indigenous Land, in the state of Roraima. This area presents hyperendemicity, high blackflies densities, large population migrations and mining activities. The Homoxi and Thirei villages are assisted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. To conduct the present study, the village leader, health leaders and the Brazilian Ethics Committee were consulted. Blackflies captures were carried out simultaneously at the Homoxi and Thirei, using systematized methods to allow for comparisons between the traditional Human Landing Catch (HLC) and HLC protected by the MosqTent®. The female blackflies were captured at two equidistant capture stations per locality, by two collectors per station, for five consecutive days. Individuals captured by interval/station/day were counted, identified and maintained at -20°C. The underlying probability distributions and the differences between the methods for the independent sample data were verified in a comparative statistical analysis between the use of the MosqTent® and the HLC. A total of 10,855 antropophilic blackflies were captured by both methodologies. A total of 7,367 (67.87%) blackflies belonging to seven species were captured by MosqTent® -Simulium incrustatum s.l (99.06%); S. guianense s.l (0.74%), S. oyapockense s.l (0.01%), S. exiguum (0.10%), S. metallicum (0.05%), S. ochraceum (0.03%) and S. minusculum s.l (0.01%). Moreover, 3,488 (32.14%) blackflies belonging to four species were captured by HLC-S. incrustatum s.l (98.33%); S. guianense s.l (1.38%), S. oyapockense s.l (0.26%) and S. metallicum (0.03%). The MosqTent® was more effective and efficient when compared to HLC. When comparing total blackflies captured/day, the MosqTent® was more efficient than HLC (p = 0.031) with a means of 799.4 blackflies/day versus 217.6 blackflies/day by HLC. The results demonstrated improved performance and high reliability of the MosqTent® compared to the traditional HLC method.

Aspectos bioecológicos de Simuliidae em área sob influência de empreendimento hidroenergético: aproveitamento múltiplo de Manso, MT, Brasil / Bioecology of Simuliidae in area under influence of hydropower development: multiple uses of Manso, MT, Brazil

Devido às condições hidrogeográficas brasileiras favoráveis a instalação de hidrelétricas, este tipo de empreendimento é responsável pela maior parte da produção de energia do País. Estas hidrelétricas impactam diretamente os criadouros de insetos aquáticos, inclusive os de simulídeos. O monitoramento de Simuliidae, em especial em áreas com alto grau de biodiversidade e com fauna ainda pouco estudada, como o Bioma Cerrado, é de extrema importância para a prospecção de dados relevantes para o conhecimento da biodiversidade alinhado com a saúde pública. O Aproveitamento Múltiplo de Manso está localizado em área de Cerrado no município de Chapada dos Guimarães, atingindo também Cuiabá e Nova Brasilândia, MT. Para o monitoramento de Simuliidae, foram realizadas 13 coletas bimestrais em períodos de seca e chuva de maio/2009 a julho/2011. Do total de pontos selecionados na área sob influência direta, 11 pontos foram a montante e 03 a jusante da barragem e 05 pontos, aparentemente, sem influência direta do APM Manso. De maneira geral, percebe-se que o número total de exemplares coletados é inversamente proporcional à precipitação acumulada do período. No total, foram encontradas 28 espécies: Simulium brunnescens, S. pertinax, S. (Chirostilbia) sp, S. spinibranchium, S. dekeyseri, S. subpallidum, S. perflavum, S. (Psilopelmia) sp, S. rorotaense, S. incrustatum sl, S. quadrifidum, S. jujuyense, S. incrustatum s.s., S. limbatum, S. minusculum sl, S. oyapockense, S. (Psaroniocompsa) sp, S. cuasiexiguum, S. (Notolepria) sp, S. guianense, S. nigrimanum, S. rubrithorax, S. (Trichodagmia) sp, S. inaequale, S. clavibranchium sl, S. (Inaequalium) sp, S. subclavibranchium e S. subnigrum. Todas as espécies, com a exceção de S. quadrifidum e S. clavibranchium, já haviam sido registradas para o estado do Mato Grosso. S. perflavum, S. subnigrum e S. subclavibranchium foram encontradas em todas as campanhas...

Simulium (Chirostilbia) brunnescens (Diptera: Simuliidae) - new species from the Brazilian cerrado, Manso Dam, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

A new species of Simuliidae, Simulium (Chirostilbia) brunnescens, was discovered at Chapada dos Guimarães, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and nearby municipalities (Paranatinga, Rosário do Oeste and Nobres). This species is described here based on the adults, pupae and larvae. This species is closely related to Simulium (C.) subpallidum Lutz, but could be differentiated in all stages: females, leg colour pattern and frontal dilatation size; males, gonostyle shape; pupae, number of gill filaments; larvae, body size and colour, postgenal cleft, ratio between antenna and stalk of labral fan.

Simulium (Chirostilbia) brunnescens (Diptera: Simuliidae) - new species from the Brazilian cerrado, Manso Dam, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

A new species of Simuliidae, Simulium (Chirostilbia) brunnescens, was discovered at Chapada dos Guimarães, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and nearby municipalities (Paranatinga, Rosário do Oeste and Nobres). This species is described here based on the adults, pupae and larvae. This species is closely related to Simulium (C.) subpallidum Lutz, but could be differentiated in all stages: females, leg colour pattern and frontal dilatation size; males, gonostyle shape; pupae, number of gill filaments; larvae, body size and colour, postgenal cleft, ratio between antenna and stalk of labral fan.