Environmental characteristics of the sand fly collection sites in PES from September 2011 to August 2013.

<p>Environmental characteristics of the sand fly collection sites in PES from September 2011 to August 2013.</p

Species accumulation curve, abundance, and species richness of the sand fly fauna of PES from September 2011 to August 2013.

<p>Species accumulation curve, abundance, and species richness of the sand fly fauna of PES from September 2011 to August 2013.</p

Environmental characteristics of the sand fly collection sites in PES from September 2011 to August 2013.

<p>Environmental characteristics of the sand fly collection sites in PES from September 2011 to August 2013.</p

Detection of <i>Leishmania</i> spp in silvatic mammals and isolation of <i>Leishmania</i> (<i>Viannia</i>) <i>braziliensis</i> from <i>Rattus rattus</i> in an endemic area for leishmaniasis in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

<div><p>Knowledge of potential reservoirs of <i>Leishmania</i> spp. in an anthropic environment is important so that surveillance and control measures can be implemented. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection by <i>Leishmania</i> in small mammals in an area located in Minas Gerais, Brazil, that undergoes changes in its natural environment and presents autochthonous human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). For the capture of the animals, Sherman and Tomahawk traps were used and distributed in the peridomicile of houses with reports of autochthonous cases of CL or VL. Six catches were carried out on two consecutive nights with intervals of two months during one year and samples of spleen, liver, tail skin, ear skin and bone marrow of the animals were obtained. Parasitological and molecular methods were used to detect the infection. Identification of the <i>Leishmania</i> species was performed by PCR RFLP<i>hsp70</i>. Twenty five animals of four species were captured: ten <i>Rattus rattus</i>, nine <i>Didelphis albiventris</i>, five <i>Cerradomys subflavus</i> and one <i>Marmosops incanus</i>. In the PCR-<i>hsp</i>70, five animals were positive (20%). The <i>Leishmania</i> species identified in PCR-RFLP<i>hsp</i>70 were: <i>Leishmania braziliensis</i> in <i>D</i>. <i>albiventris</i> (2), <i>C</i>. <i>subflavus</i> (1) and <i>R</i>. <i>rattus</i> (1) and <i>Leishmania infantum</i> in <i>R</i>. <i>rattus</i> (1). The highest positivity rate for <i>L</i>. <i>braziliensis</i> was obtained in the liver samples. The spleen was the only tissue positive for <i>L</i>. <i>infantum</i>. It was isolated in culture medium <i>L</i>. <i>braziliensis</i> from two samples (liver and spleen) of <i>R</i>. <i>rattus</i>. This is the first record of isolation of <i>L</i>. <i>braziliensis</i> from <i>R</i>. <i>rattus</i> in the southeastern region of Brazil. These results are relevant to the knowledge of the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in the region, mainly in the investigation of the presence of hosts and possible reservoirs of the parasite.</p></div

Map showing the location of PES and the location of sampling sites in the park.

<p>(1)—Park surroundings—peridomestic areas; (2)—Cerrado 1; (3)—Cerrado 2; (4)—Rupicolous vegetation; (5)—Cave entrance; (6)—Cave surroundings.</p

Results of PCR RFLP <i>hsp</i>70.

<p>PM: 100bp molecular weight marker. C1 and C2:DNA samples of isolated parasites. 1 to 11: DNA samples of small mammals. La: <i>L</i>. <i>(L</i>.<i>) amazonensis</i> (IFLA/BR/1967/PH8); Lb: <i>L</i>. <i>(Viannia) braziliensis</i> (MHOM/BR/1975/M2903); Li: <i>L</i>. <i>(L</i>.<i>) infantum</i> (MHOM/BR/1974/PP75); and Lg: <i>L</i>. <i>(V</i>.<i>) guyanensis</i> (MHOM/BR/1975/M4147).</p

PCR positivity for <i>hsp</i>70 in tissue samples of small mammals captured in Casa Branca, Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the period from May 2013 to June 2014.

<p>PCR positivity for <i>hsp</i>70 in tissue samples of small mammals captured in Casa Branca, Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the period from May 2013 to June 2014.</p

Number of specimens captures by species and campaign (May 2013 to July 2014) in Casa Branca, Brumadinho, MG, Brazil.

<p>Number of specimens captures by species and campaign (May 2013 to July 2014) in Casa Branca, Brumadinho, MG, Brazil.</p