Characterization of the sand fly fauna in Barbalha, one of the municipalities with the highest leishmaniasis rates in Brazil.

Leishmaniases are a complex of sand fly-borne diseases that are considered a public health issue in several countries. Brazil presents high leishmaniases rates. The South of Ceará State, known as Cariri region, shows worrying statistics mainly on American tegumentary leishmaniasis. In Barbalha, which is one of the municipalities in this region, there is still a lack of studies regarding the local phlebotomine (Diptera: Psychodidae) fauna in order to help clarify the high rates. This study aimed to characterize such fauna by capturing sand flies with light traps during a four-year period. A total of 3730 sand flies were captured, of which 37.8% were females. Fourteen species were found: 13 of the Lutzomyia genus and one of the Brumptomyia genus. Of the Lutzomyia species, four were proven and five had potential involvement in leishmaniasis transmission. Lutzomyia longipalpis was the most common species (66.97%). This predominance, especially in the urban area, indicates its epidemiological importance and adaptation to environmental conditions modified by human activity. In fact, further studies are still required to accurately determine the behavioral features of these vectors in order to guide public health measurements towards its control and prevention.

Variation of the Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Assemblage in Response to Land Use Changes in an Endemic Area of Leishmania Transmission in Northeast Argentina.

Leishmaniases are a global health problem and in Argentina are considered emerging diseases. The new transmission scenarios of tegumentary leishmaniasis are especially important given that large areas of forest are being transformed into rural and urban systems. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the construction of a large public building and a neighborhood on the assemblage of Phlebotominae in a rural area with forest remnants and to correlate the changes observed in the species assemblage with characteristics of the environment. Entomological surveys with light traps were conducted on the construction campus in the northeastern region of Argentina at six sites representing different environmental situations. Structural environmental characteristics and meteorological conditions were recorded and analyzed. At least 16 species of Phlebotominae sand flies were collected, the most prevalent being Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho), followed by the genus Brumptomyia (França & Parrot) and Migonemyia migonei (França). Our study provides evidence of how the structure of the assemblages and prevalent species respond to anthropogenic disturbances. As the construction progressed, both Ny. whitmani and the genus Brumptomyia were favored. The genus Brumptomyia was favored at sites surrounded by high proportions of forest, within patches of remnant vegetation, and relatively far from anthropogenic disturbances, while Ny. whitmani, the main vector of tegumentary leishmaniasis in the region, increases their abundant at short and intermediate distances from vegetation margins and areas close to anthropogenic disturbances, therefore increasing the risk of human exposure to vectors.

Molecular detection of Leishmania infantum in sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from Veracruz, Mexico.

Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania parasites causing different clinical forms of leishmaniases that represent a serious emerging public health problem worldwide. Mexico harbours a large diversity of sand flies, yet only six species have been considered suspected vectors of Leishmania. The disease has been recorded in 25 states, where the State of Veracruz has recorded the highest number of cases with leishmaniases, although no systematic or epidemiological surveillance studies of Leishmania vectors have been carried out in the region. For that reason, the aim of this study was to perform the molecular detection of Leishmania DNA in phlebotomine sand flies collected from a humid tropical region in Veracruz. We confirmed the presence of Leishmania DNA in eight sand fly species. Sand flies with the highest infection were Psathyromyia aclydifera and Pychodopygus panamensis. This is also the first report of Leishmania DNA in Psathyromyia aclydifera, Psathyromyia carpenteri, Dampfomyia beltrani and Brumptomyia mesai. Our findings highlight the importance of entomological surveys and epidemiological studies, since they enable to determine whether sand fly species may be potential Leishmania vectors in a given area of the Mexico, as transmission dynamics can vary in the different regions.

DNA barcoding and fauna of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico.

Mexico has great diversity of phlebotomine sand flies related to cases of leishmaniasis, yet few studies have dressed the molecular taxonomy of these sand fly species. The use of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene, as a DNA Barcode has facilitated the molecular identification of sand flies species worldwide. We use the DNA barcode as a useful tool for the identification of phlebotomine sand flies of the natural reserve Los Tuxtlas from Veracruz, México. A fragment of 536 bp of the COI gene was obtained from 36 individuals belonging to eight species of five genera (Dampfomyia, Lutzomyia, Psathyromyia, Psychodopygus and Brumptomyia) with coverage between 92-100%, and found similarities ranging from 93-98% with other New World phlebotomine sand flies. The NJ dendogram grouped sand flies into eight clusters according to identified species, supported by bootstrap of 97%-100%. In conclusion, all phlebotomine sand flies were correctly identified and agree with the morphological identification, also could separate genetics the isomorphic females of the genus Brumptomyia.

A new species of Laurenceomyia Wagner Stuckenberg, with a key to species and new records for Psychodidae (Diptera) from Uruguay.

A species list and a key to species of Psychodidae (Diptera, Nematocera) from Uruguay is presented, with the description of Laurenceomyia martinezae sp. nov., and first records of Brumptomyia guimaraesi (Coutinho Barreto), Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto), Paramormia furcata (Kincaid), Psychoda savaiiensis Edwards, Psychoda zetoscota Quate, and Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis. Discussion on the medically important species is provided.

DNA barcode for identification of immature stages of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) collected from natural breeding sites.

Although phlebotomine sand flies breeding sites have been identified and recorded by several studies, the microhabitats exploited by these insects remain little-known and hard to find. In this context, the difficulty of finding immature stages, and the limited number of taxonomic studies to identify immature stages of phlebotomine sand flies, are considered the major obstacles when attempting a complete inventory of Lutzomyia species. The objective of this study is to validate Cytochrome Oxidase I (Barcode region) as a marker for the identification of immature stages of Lutzomyia species recovered from natural breeding sites in Colombia. Among 142 collected sand flies, 18 immature individuals that did not complete their life cycle were identified to species level through sequencing of the COI gene. Values of K2P genetic distance between 0.002-0.031 allowed the identification of larvae at species level. The bootstrap support values (96%) in the Neighbor-Joining dendrogram were consistent for the majority of the established MOTUS of Lutzomyia atroclavata, Lutzomyia micropyga, Lutzomyia serrana, Lutzomyia cayennensis, Lutzomyia rangeliana, Lutzomyia shannoni and some species of the genus Brumptomyia. The COI gene is validated as a marker for the identification of immature stages of the genus Lutzomyia.

Species composition and seasonal abundance of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in coffee agroecosystems

The composition and seasonal occurrence of sandflies were investigated in coffee agroecosystems in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Insect sampling was performed on three plantations located at different altitudes: Finca Guadalupe Zajú [1,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)], Finca Argovia (613 m a.s.l.) and Teotihuacán del Valle (429 m a.s.l.). Sandflies were sampled monthly from August 2007-July 2008 using three sampling methods: Shannon traps, CDC miniature light traps and Disney traps. Sampling was conducted for 3 h during three consecutive nights, beginning at sunset. A total of 4,387 sandflies were collected during the course of the study: 2,718 individuals in Finca Guadalupe Zajú, 605 in Finca Argovia and 1,064 in Teotihuacán del Valle. The Shannon traps captured 94.3% of the total sandflies, while the CDC light traps and Disney traps captured 4.9% and 0.8%, respectively. More females than males were collected at all sites. While the number of sandflies captured was positively correlated with temperature and relative humidity, a negative correlation was observed between sandfly numbers and rainfall. Five species of sandflies were captured: Lutzomyia cruciata , Lutzomyia texana , Lutzomyia ovallesi , Lutzomyia cratifer / undulata and Brumptomyia sp. Lu. cruciata , constituting 98.8% of the total, was the most abundant species. None of the captured sandflies was infected with Leishmania spp.

Fauna de flebotmmíneos (diptera: psychodidae) en acandí (chocó, Colombia) / Fauna of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Acandí (Chocó, Colombia)

La región geográfica denominada Chocó-Darién-Caribe es uno de los ecosistemas de bosque húmedo tropical de gran diversidad, pero aún poco explorado. El presente estudio documenta algunas especies de flebotomíneos colectados en un área de transmisión de leishmaniasis cutánea. Se realizó un estudio entomológico en la reserva natural el Aguacate, municipio de Acandí, Chocó. La metodología incluyó el uso de trampas de luz CDC y búsqueda activa en raíces tabulares, colectando con aspiradores bucales. Se recolectaron 1.205 individuos, de los cuales sobresalen Lutzomyia panamensis, Lutzomyia trapidoi, Lutzomyia gomezi, Lutzomyia sanguinaria, Lutzomyia olmeca bicolor y Lutzomyia hartmanni reconocidos como vectores potenciales de leishmaniasis cutánea en el nuevo mundo. Se relata el hallazgo de 16 especies del género Lutzomyia França y dos especies del género Brumptomyia Sherlock para la costa del Darién-Caribe colombiano, destacando la presencia de las especies Lutzomyia atroclavata (Knab) y Brumptomyia mesai (Sherlock) como nuevos registros para el departamento del Chocó. Este estudio aporta al conocimiento de la fauna de flebotomíneos del municipio de Acandí, Chocó.

The geographic region called Chocó-Darién-Caribe is a tropical forest ecosystem considered of great diversity but still a poorly known region. The current study focuses on some phlebotominae species collected in a geographic area where it has been documented cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission. An entomological study was conducted at the Natural Reserve El Aguacate, in Acandí municipality, Chocó. Sampling methods included light traps such as CDC and collections of adult sand flies in resting sites such as tree buttresses using mouth aspirators devices. The collection findings comprise a total of 1205 phlebotominae adults, with some species of note such as Lutzomyia panamensis, Lutzomyia trapidoi, Lutzomyia gomezi, Lutzomyia sanguinaria, Lutzomyia olmeca bicolor and Lutzomyia hartmanni which are recognized as potential vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the new world. Sixteen species of the genus Lutzomyia França and two species of the genus Brumptomyia Sherlock are recorded for the colombian Darién-Caribe region. The species Lutzomyia atroclavata (Knab) and Brumptomyia mesai (Sherlock) are new findings in Chocó. This study is a contribution to the phlebotominae species of Acandí municipality in Chocó.

Brumptomyia hamata (PSYCHODIDAE), UN NUEVO APORTE A LA FAUNA FLEBOTOMÍNEA DEL CARIBE COLOMBIANO / Brumptomyia hamata (Psychodidae), A New Addition To The Phlebotomine Fauna Of The Colombian Caribbean

La fauna flebotomínea del Caribe colombiano es aún poco conocida, por lo que se hace necesario llevar a cabo estudios para determinar la riqueza de especies de la región. Con este propósito se desarrollaron muestreos entomológicos en enero y marzo de 2007, en el municipio de Colosó, departamento de Sucre, con dos trampas CDC modificadas. En el material recolectado se identificaron dos machos de Brumptomyia hamata, que constituyen el primer registro de este flebotomíneo para el Caribe colombiano. Las características morfológicas observadas en los ejemplares de B. hamata son consistentes con la descripción original de la especie, excepto por las espinas del estilo que se distribuyen en tres grupos. Se plantea que tales diferencias pueden corresponder a variaciones intraespecíficas entre poblaciones geográficas.

The sand fly fauna of the Colombian Caribbean is still not completely known and further surveys are needed in order to determine the richness of species over the region. Entomological samplings were performed in the municipality of Colosó , department of Sucre , using two modified CDC traps, in January and March of 2007. Two males belonging to Brumptomyia hamata were identified. It is the first record of this sand fly species from the Colombian Caribbean. With the exception of the distribution of spines on the style in three distinct groups, all other morphological characters of the individuals of B. hamata agree with the original description of the species. The observed difference could be attributed to intraspecific variation among geographic populations.

Brumptomyia angelae, a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil

The male of Brumptomyia angelae, sp. nov., a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new taxon is closely related to Brumptomyia ortizi Martins, Silva & Falcão 1971, Brumptomyia nitzulescui (Costa Lima, 1932), and Brumptomyia troglodytes (Lutz, 1922). The male genitalia of these three latter species have also been drawn.