Anthropic effects on sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) abundance and diversity in an Amazonian rural settlement, Brazil

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are responsible for the transmission of protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniases. They are found predominantly in forests, but some species exploit environments that have been subject to deforestation and subsequent human colonization. Studies conducted in Brazil over the past 30 years show that some species are adapting to peri-urban and urban settings. We evaluated sand fly diversity and abundance in the rural settlement of Rio Pardo, Presidente Figueiredo Municipality, Amazonas State, Brazil. Settlement households were divided into four categories. These categories were determined by the human population density and the degree of deforestation in the immediate area. We used CDC light traps to sample the area surrounding 24 households (6 households in each category). Samples were taken on six occasions during September-November 2009 and June-August 2010. A total of 3074 sand fly specimens were collected, including 1163 females and 1911 males. These were classified into 13 genera and 52 species. The greatest abundance of sand flies and the greatest richness of species were observed in areas where human population density was highest. Our results show that changes in the human occupancy and vegetation management in rural settlements may affect the population dynamics and distribution of sand fly species, thereby affecting the local transmission of cutaneous leishmaniases. © 2014 The Authors

Ecological aspects and molecular detection of Leishmania DNA Ross (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in terra firme and várzea environments in the Middle Solimões Region, Amazonas State, Brazil

Background: Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are insects of medical importance due to the role that some species play in the transmission of leishmaniasis. This work aimed to study some ecological aspects among sand flies fauna inhabiting two different environments: the várzea (lowland Amazonian forest) and terra firme (upland Amazonian forest), both located in Tefé Municipality, Amazonas State, Braziland to detect Leishmania infection in those phlebotomine populations. Methods: Sand flies were collected using HP light traps. Collection took place over the course of six months: January, February, April, August, September, and October of 2013. To detect natural infection by Leishmania, DNA samples were extracted from female sand flies and submitted to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the kDNA gene; Leishmania species were identified by PCR-RFLP targeting the hsp70 gene and genetic sequencing. Results: In all, 5,716 individuals were collected, and 46 species were identified. Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis (3,330 - 58.26%) and Nyssomyia antunesi (661 - 11.26%) were the most abundant species. Species richness was greater in terra firme environments (42 species) than in the várzea environments (22 species), and forests ecotopes (43 species) were richer than peridomiciles (28 species). DNA of Leishmania was found in Th. ubiquitalis and Psychodopygus davisi, both of which inhabit the terra firme environment and sequencing analysis confirmed the presence of Leishmania (Viannia) lainsoni DNA in Th. ubiquitalis in Tefé Municipality. Conclusions: The high abundance of Th. ubiquitalis and Ps. davisi and detection of DNA of Leishmania sp. may indicate that both species could be putative vectors for American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in the terra firme environment of Tefé. The sand fly fauna found in várzea is rich and diverse, exhibiting several species, nevertheless the seasonal hydric stress during part of the year that could influence the local diversity, if compared with other studies. This is the first report in Amazonas State of Th. ubiquitalis with presence of L. (V.) lainsoni DNA. © 2015 Pereira et al.; licensee BioMed Central

Bionomia de Migonemyia migonei (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) em condições experimentais

Submitted by Ycaro Santos ([email protected]) on 2019-04-11T20:35:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Eric Marialva.pdf: 2999412 bytes, checksum: 29c5e848de9e9571d6d45a5e39e75840 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ycaro Santos ([email protected]) on 2019-04-11T20:39:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Eric Marialva.pdf: 2999412 bytes, checksum: 29c5e848de9e9571d6d45a5e39e75840 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-04-11T20:39:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Eric Marialva.pdf: 2999412 bytes, checksum: 29c5e848de9e9571d6d45a5e39e75840 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq) – PVE 2014 / Processo 401262/2014-6Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.A espécie Migonemyia migonei é vetora de Leishmania braziliensis no Brasil. Estudos recentes demostraram que essa espécie pode estar participando do ciclo de transmissão de Leishmania infantum chagasi no Brasil e Argentina. O presente estudo teve como objetivo estudar a biologia de Mi. migonei, verificando morfologia dos imaturos, aspectos de colonização em massa e desenvolver modelo de transmissão de Le. in.chagasi através da picada da mesma, de indivíduos colonizados. Para alcançar esses objetivos foram feitos vários experimentos, os estágios imaturos (ovo, larva e pupa ) foram analisados por MEV e microscopia de luz; colonização em massa foi verificado ciclo de vida, longevidade, fecundidade, fertilidade e preferência de oviposição em substratos; para transmissão, fêmeas de Mi. migonei foram infectadas com Le. in. chagasi e Le. braziliensis (controle) de isolados em meio de cultura; , posteriormente fêmeas infectadas foram colocadas para picar camundongos. Como resultado da descrição, os ovos de Mi. migonei apresentam um exocório com estruturas poligonais, a quetotaxia das larvas e pupas apresentaram diversas cerdas diferenciadas de outras espécies. O ciclo de vida de ovo até emergência do adulto foi de 62,1 dias em média. A maior fertilidade e fecundidade foi com o sangue de hamster (36,68, p <0.05), seguido de humano (23,28), camundongo (19,63) e pinto (12,20). Fêmeas de Mi. migonei alimentadas com maçã sobreviveram maior tempo (10 dias) seguido de água açucarada a 10% (7 dias) e água (5 dias). Não foi observado diferença na taxa de oviposição dos diferentes substratos. Quanto a transmissão Mi. migonei foi capaz de transmitir Le. in. chagasi, a quantidade de parasita variou de 10 a 1000 em uma única orelha. Estes resultados contribuem para biologia de Mi. migonei e desvendar seu papel como vetora na transmissão de Le. in. chagasi.The species Migonemyia migonei is a vector of Leishmania braziliensis in Brazil. Recent studies have shown that this species may be participating in the transmission cycle of Leishmania infantum chagasi in Brazil and Argentina. The present study had as objective to study the biology of Mi. migonei, verifying the morphology of the immature, aspects of mass colonization and to develop a model of transmission of Le.in. chagasi through the sting of it. In order to reach these objectives, several experiments were carried out, the immature stages (egg, larva, and pupa) were analysed by MEV and light microscopy; colonization in mass was verified life cycle, longevity, fecundity, fertility and preference of oviposition in substrates; for transmission Mi.migonei was infected with L. in. chagasi and Le. braziliensis (control), was later placed to prick mice. The eggs of Mi. migonei present an exochorion with polygonal structures, which chaetotaxy of larvae and pupae presented differentiated bristles of other species. The egg life cycle up to adult emergence was 62.1 days on average. The highest fertility and fecundity was with hamster blood (36.68, p <0.05), followed by the human (23.28), mouse (19.63) and chick (12.20). Mi. migonei females fed with apple survived longer (10 days) followed by 10% water (7 days) and water (5 days). No difference was observed in the oviposition rate of the different substrates. As for transmission Mi.migonei was able to transmit Le. in. chagasi, the amount of parasite varied from 10 to 1000. These results may contribute to the biology of Mi. migonei and its role as a vector in the transmission of Le. in. chagasi

Description of the genital atrium of three Lutzomyia species in the subgenus Psathyromyia (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebominae) from the Central Brazilian Amazon

Submitted by Eric Fabrício Marialva ([email protected]) on 2018-11-08T18:22:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fariaetal2016b-2-5.pdf: 927817 bytes, checksum: eb650bb2d2708e3a99a06793138bf2db (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ycaro Santos ([email protected]) on 2018-11-14T15:42:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Fariaetal2016b-2-5.pdf: 927817 bytes, checksum: eb650bb2d2708e3a99a06793138bf2db (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-14T15:42:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fariaetal2016b-2-5.pdf: 927817 bytes, checksum: eb650bb2d2708e3a99a06793138bf2db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07Universidade Federal do Amazonas. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Diversidade Biológica.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia.Los flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) son responsables por la transmisión de agentes etiológicos de varias enfermedades, incluyendo protozoarios parásitos que causan las leishmaniosis. En el género Lutzomyia França, las hembras de algunas especies tienen morfologías semejantes y los carácteres morfológicos utilizados para identificarlas no son confiables. El objetivo de este estudio fué distinguir las hembras de especies crípticas del subgénero Psathyromyia Barretto analizando la armadura del área genital (AGA). Las especies estudiadas fueron Lutzomyia dendrophyla Mangabeira-Filho, Lutzomyia scaffi Damansceno & Arouck y Lutzomyia shannoni sensulato Dyar. Las hembras criadas en laboratorio fueron diseccionadas para aislar la genitalia y la espermateca, las armaduras fueron fotografiadas y la distribución de las espinas fue descrita. Concluímos que la AGA puede ser una herramienta útil para distinguir las hembras crípticas del subgénero Psathyromyia.Phlebotomine sand flies are responsible for the transmission of the etiological agents of several diseases, including protozoan parasites that cause leishmaniases. In the Lutzomyia França genus, the females of some species are morphologically similar, and the morphological characters normally used to identify them are unreliable. The aim of this study was to distinguish between females of cryptic Lutzomyia França species from the subgenus Psathyromyia Barretto by analyzing the armature in the genital atrium (AGA). The species studied were Lutzomyia dendrophyla Mangabeira, L. scaffi Damasceno & Arouck and L. shannoni sensulato Dyar. Lab-reared females were dissected to isolate the genital atrium and spermathecae. The AGA of each species was then photographed, and the arrangement of spines described. We conclude that the AGA can be a useful tool for distinguishing between female cryptic species of the subgenus Psathyromyia.

Survey of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Guajará-Mirim State Park forest reserve, near the Brazil-Bolivian border, with a description of Pintomyia fiocruzi, a new sand fly species

Júnior, Antonio Marques Pereira, Marialva, Eric Fabrício, Julião, Genimar Rebouças, Pessoa, Felipe Arley Costa, Medeiros, Jansen Fernandes (2019): Survey of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Guajará-Mirim State Park forest reserve, near the Brazil-Bolivian border, with a description of Pintomyia fiocruzi, a new sand fly species. Zootaxa 4691 (3): 270-278, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4691.3.

Lutzomyia umbratilis from an area south of the Negro River is refractory to in vitro interaction with Leishmania guyanensis

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2019-06-25T18:49:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Lutzomyia umbratilis from.pdf: 505469 bytes, checksum: 02b08372f2472409beef937a1e28bb4e (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2019-06-25T18:54:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Lutzomyia umbratilis from.pdf: 505469 bytes, checksum: 02b08372f2472409beef937a1e28bb4e (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-06-25T18:54:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lutzomyia umbratilis from.pdf: 505469 bytes, checksum: 02b08372f2472409beef937a1e28bb4e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.BACKGROUND: Lutzomyia umbratilis, the vector for Leishmania guyanensis in northern South America, has been found naturally infected with L. guyanensis only in areas north of the Negro and Amazon rivers. While populations of this sand fly species are also found in areas south of these rivers, these populations have never been reported to be infected and/or transmitting L. guyanensis. However, no studies on the corresponding host-parasite interactions are available. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the interaction between Lu. guyanensis promastigotes and field-collected Lu. umbratilis sand flies from Rio Preto da Eva and Manacapuru, which are located to the north and south, respectively, of the Negro River. METHODS: Procyclic and metacyclic attachment was quantified using an in vitro system. FINDINGS: Low attachment of parasites to the midguts of insects collected from Manacapuru was detected. Conversely, greater binding of metacyclic parasites was observed in the midguts of insects collected from Rio Preto da Eva, and this attachment was more pronounced than that observed for procyclics (p < 0.03). MAIN CONCLUSIONS: The Lu. umbratilis population from an area south of the Negro River has lower in vitro interaction with L. guyanensis. The higher attachment of L. guyanensis to midguts of insects from Rio Preto da Eva may suggest better vector competence. These findings are in accordance with previously reported epidemiological information of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) transmission in the Amazon

Lutzomyia umbratilis from an area south of the Negro River is refractory to in vitro interaction with Leishmania guyanensis

BACKGROUND Lutzomyia umbratilis, the vector for Leishmania guyanensis in northern South America, has been found naturally infected with L. guyanensis only in areas north of the Negro and Amazon rivers. While populations of this sand fly species are also found in areas south of these rivers, these populations have never been reported to be infected and/or transmitting L. guyanensis. However, no studies on the corresponding host-parasite interactions are available. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated the interaction between Lu. guyanensis promastigotes and field-collected Lu. umbratilis sand flies from Rio Preto da Eva and Manacapuru, which are located to the north and south, respectively, of the Negro River. METHODS Procyclic and metacyclic attachment was quantified using an in vitro system. FINDINGS Low attachment of parasites to the midguts of insects collected from Manacapuru was detected. Conversely, greater binding of metacyclic parasites was observed in the midguts of insects collected from Rio Preto da Eva, and this attachment was more pronounced than that observed for procyclics (p < 0.03). MAIN CONCLUSIONS The Lu. umbratilis population from an area south of the Negro River has lower in vitro interaction with L. guyanensis. The higher attachment of L. guyanensis to midguts of insects from Rio Preto da Eva may suggest better vector competence. These findings are in accordance with previously reported epidemiological information of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) transmission in the Amazon

Morphological aspects of immature stages of Migonemyia migonei (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae), an important vector of Leishmaniosis in South America, described by scanning electron microscopy.

We describe the immature stages of Migonemyia migonei, which is the vector of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, the etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in South America, and a putative vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to refine the description of the structures of the egg, all instar larvae, and the pupa. The eggs have polygonal cells on the egg exochorion, and differences between larval and pupal chaetotaxy have been highlighted. Different sensillary subtypes-trichoidea, basiconica, coelonica and campanoformia-were observed in the larval stages. The results presented herein contribute to the taxonomy of Mg. migonei and may contribute to future studies on the phylogeny of this important vector species

Description of three new species of frog–biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) from the Central Brazilian Amazon

Three species of Corethrella Coquillett, 1902 from the state of Amazonas, Brazil are described as new to science based on female adult specimens. Corethrella cabocla Feijó, Belchior, Marialva & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses four large setae on the frons between the ventromedial area of ommatidia, a wide clypeus with 1–4 setae, a wing with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M2 and with a midlength band, and with the abdomen entirely dark brown. Corethrella ielemdei Feijó, Ramires, Lima & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses an elongated coronal suture, four large setae on the frons between the ventromedial area of ommatidia, a clypeus squarish with 42–43 setae, a wing with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M1 and with a midlength band and dark scales on the basal and subbasal areas of the anterior margin, legs with dark scales, and with the abdomen entirely dark brown. Corethrella menini Feijó, Picelli, Ríos-Velásquez & Pessoa sp. nov. possesses wings with the apex of R2 basal to the apex of M2 and a midlength band, with darker basal scales along all veins, basal band dark scales on C, Sc, R, M, and Cu and the abdomen entirely dark brown. With the addition of the new species, the numbers of frog-biting midges described in the Amazon basin, Brazil and in Neotropical region are now 31, 49 and 80 species, respectively

Distribution and diversity of mosquitoes and Oropouche-like virus infection rates in an Amazonian rural settlement.

Mosquito diversity and disease transmission are influenced by landscape modifications, i.e., vectors and pathogens previously found only in forests are now found close to human environments due to anthropic changes. This study determined the diversity and distribution of mosquitoes in forest environments in order to analyze the potential vectors of Amazonian forest arboviruses. Mosquitoes were collected by 1) vertical stratification from forest canopy and ground areas using Hooper Pugedo (HP) light traps and human attraction and 2) horizontal stratification using HP light traps in peridomicile, forest edge, and forest environments near the Rio Pardo rural settlement, Amazonas, Brazil. A total of 3,750 mosquitoes were collected, representing 46 species. 3,139 individuals representing 46 species were sampled by vertical stratification. Both the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') and equitability (J') were higher in the canopy than on the ground. 611 individuals representing 13 species were sampled by horizontal stratification. H' decreased in the following order: forest edge > forest > peridomicile, and J' was greater at the forest edge and smaller in the peridomicile environment. Moreover, H' was higher for the human attraction collection method than the HP traps. A total of 671 pools were analyzed by RT-qPCR; three species were positive for Oropouche-like viruses (Ochlerotatus serratus, Psorophora cingulata, and Haemagogus tropicalis) and the minimum infection rate was 0.8%. The composition of mosquito species did not differ significantly between anthropic and forest environments in Rio Pardo. Some mosquito species, due to their abundance, dispersion in the three environments, and record of natural infection, were hypothesized to participate in the arbovirus transmission cycle in this Amazonian rural settlement