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. 2014 Nov;109(7):899-904.
doi: 10.1590/0074-0276140112. Epub 2014 Oct 14.

Phlebotomine fauna, natural infection rate and feeding habits of Lutzomyia cruzi in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Veruska Nogueira de Brito  1 , Arleana do Bom Parto Ferreira de Almeida  2 , Luciano Nakazato  2 , Rosemere Duarte  3 , Cladson de Oliveira Souza  2 , Valéria Régia Franco Sousa  2
Affiliations

Phlebotomine fauna, natural infection rate and feeding habits of Lutzomyia cruzi in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Veruska Nogueira de Brito et al. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is transmitted by the phlebotomine Lutzomyia longipalpis and in some midwestern regions by Lutzomyia cruzi. Studies of the phlebotomine fauna, feeding habits and natural infection rate by Leishmania contribute to increased understanding of the epidemiological chain of leishmaniases and their vectorial capacity. Collections were performed in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso from 2010-2013, during which time 2,011 phlebotomines (23 species) were captured (68.70% Lu. cruzi and 20.52% Lutzomyia whitmani). Lu. cruzi females were identified by observing the shapes of the cibarium (a portion of the mouthpart) and spermatheca, from which samples were obtained for polymerase chain reaction to determine the rates of natural infection. Engorged phlebotomines were assessed to identify the blood-meal host by ELISA. A moderate correlation was discovered between the number of Lu. cruzi and the temperature and the minimum rate of infection was 6.10%. Twenty-two females were reactive to the antisera of bird (28%), dog (3.30%) and skunk (1.60%). We conclude that Lu. cruzi and Lu. whitmani have adapted to the urban environment in this region and that Lu. cruzi is the most likely vector of VL in Jaciara. Moreover, maintenance of Leishmania in the environment is likely aided by the presence of birds and domestic and synanthropic animals.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. : number of Lutzomyia cruzi accumulated rainfall, average relative humidity (RH) and the average monthly average temperature, municipality of Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso, from July 2010-June 2011.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. : products of amplification for Leishmania chagasi undertaken in females of Lutzomyia cruzi. m: marker of 100 bp; nc: negative control; pc: positive control (MHOM/BR/1974/PP75); 17, 27, 36, 58, 61, 63: positive samples of phlebotomines.
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