PRIMEIRO RELATO DE Achatina fulica BOWDICH, 1822, NO ENTORNO DOS LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES, BRASIL

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar o primeiro relato de ocorrência do gastrópode terrestre Achatina fulica, Bowdich, 1822, na região de entorno do Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses (PARNAM), Brasil. Os espécimes foram coletados ao lado do “lixão central”, desativado a menos de dois anos, em um bairro da Zona Urbana da sede municipal de Barreirinhas, porta de entrada ao parque, no mês de maio de 2023. Os exemplares dos gastrópodes capturados foram identificados morfológicas. Esse registro adquire grande importância no sentido de subsidiar a implantação de estratégias de vigilância e controle vetorial, pensando na proteção dos moradores locais pelo prejuízo em todos os níveis que a população deste molusco possa vir a ocasionar. E também pelo fato de Barreirinhas representar a principal via de acesso ao PARNAM, um pólo turístico nacional e internacional, visitado anualmente por milhares de pessoas

Distribuição de Lutzomyia whitmani em fitorregiões do estado do Maranhão, Brasil

The study had the aim of characterizing the geographical distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Between 1992 and 2005, 9,600 specimens (65.1% males and 34.9% females) were caught in the rural and urban zones of 35 municipalities in regions consisting of forests, savanna and mixed vegetation with coconut plantations, sandbanks and heath. Greater abundance was observed in areas surrounding dwellings (91.6%) than inside the dwellings (8.4%). The presence of the vector in different phytoregions and in rural and urban areas favors the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in these environments. This taxon may constitute a complex of species in Maranhão, which can be confirmed by molecular biology studies.El estudio tuvo por objetivo caracterizar la distribución geográfica de Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. en el estado de Maranhão, en Norte de Brasil. De 1992 a 2005, fueron capturados 9.600 especimenes (machos: 65,1% y hembras: 34,9%) en las zonas rurales y urbanas de 35 municipios situados en áreas de bosque, sabana y vegetación mixta con cocal, restinga y caatinga. La abundancia fue mayor en el peri domicilio (91,6%) con respecto al intra domicilio (8,4%). La presencia del vector en diferentes fitoregiones y en las áreas rurales y urbanas favorece la transmisión de la leishmaniasis tegumentar en esos ambientes. Es posible que ese taxón constituya un complejo de especies en el Maranhão, lo que podrá ser confirmado mediante estudios de biología molecular.O estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar a distribuição geográfica de Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. no estado do Maranhão. De 1992 a 2005, foram capturados 9.600 espécimes (machos: 65,1% e fêmeas: 34,9%) nas zonas rurais e urbanas de 35 municípios situados em áreas de floresta, cerrado e vegetação mista com cocal, restinga e caatinga. A abundância foi maior no peridomicílio (91,6%) do que no intradomicílio (8,4%). A ocorrência do vetor em diferentes fitorregiões e nas áreas rurais e urbanas favorece a transmissão da leishmaniose tegumentar nesses ambientes. É possível que esse táxon constitua um complexo de espécies no Maranhão, o que poderá ser confirmado mediante estudos de biologia molecular

Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Activity Delays Vertebrate Carcass Decomposition

Ants are among the insects involved in cadaveric decomposition processes, as they exhibit predatory and necrophagous behavior. Red ants exhibit an aggressive behavior, which impacts carcass colonization, accelerates or delays the decomposition rates and potentially confounds interpretation of the post-mortem interval. Here, we estimated the effects of Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) activity on the decomposition rate in domestic pig carcasses. We placed two pig carcasses close to S. saevissima nests, and two other pig carcasses (controls) in other locations 50 m away from the nest. Decomposition processes were delayed by at least three days for carcasses on the nest compared to those without direct exposure to ants. Our results showed that predatory activity of S. saevissima interfered with carcass colonization by scavenger insects, functioning as an ecological barrier to the establishment of immature Diptera. Such results highlight the importance of considering ecological processes that may interfere with mechanisms determining post-mortem intervals

Predominance of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis DNA in Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from an endemic area for leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil

Leishmaniasis is a serious public health concern in the Northeastern region of Brazil, where the sand fly fauna is well studied, although few species have been identified as competent vectors. The detection of Leishmania spp. parasites in wild-caught sand flies could help sanitary authorities draw strategies to avoid the transmission of the parasites and, therefore, the incidence of leishmaniases. We detected Leishmania DNA in wild-caught sand flies and correlated that data with aspects of sand fly ecology in the Caxias municipality, Maranhao State, Brazil. The sand flies were sampled in the peridomicile (open areas in the vicinity of human residences) and intradomicile (inside the residences) from July/2019 to March/2020. Leishmania DNA was detected in females, targeting a fragment of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1) from ribosomal DNA. Among the fourteen species of sand flies identified, five (Lutzomyia longipalpis, Nyssomyia whitmani, Evandromyia evandroi, Micropygomyia trinidadensis, and Micropygomyia quinquefer) harbored DNA of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The most abundant species in rural (Ny. whitmani: 35.2% and Ev. evandroi: 32.4%) and urban areas (Lu. longipalpis: 89.8%) are the permissive vectors of L. (L.) amazonensis, especially Ny. whitmani, a known vector of causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although Lu. longipalpis is the vector of L. (L.) infantum, which was not detected in this study, its permissiveness for the transmission of L. (L.) amazonensis has been reported. We suspect that visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis are caused by L. (L.) amazonensis, and the transmission may be occurring through Lu. longipalpis, at least in the urban area

Erratum to: An ecological study of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the vicinity of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão, Brazil

BACKGROUND: The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, located in Maranhão, Brazil, is a region of exceptional beauty and a popular tourist destination. The adjoining area has suffered from the impact of human activity and, consequently, has experienced outbreaks of leishmaniasis. This study aimed to evaluate the composition, abundance, species richness and seasonal distribution of sand flies in the region and to determine the constancy of the insect population. METHODS: The survey was conducted at three sites located in the municipalities of Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro between September 2012 and August 2013. Sampling was performed monthly using automatic light traps installed 1.5 m above the soil adjacent to 13 randomly selected rural dwellings. At each site, one trap was placed in the peridomicile near to animal enclosures and another (extradomicile) at 500 m from the peridomicile. RESULTS: A total of 4,474 individual sand flies were collected over the year with the highest abundance recorded during the rainy season (December to June). Nine species were collected: L. whitmani, L. longipalpis, L. lenti, L. sordellii, L. evandroi, L. flaviscutellata, L. wellcomei, L. termitophila and L. intermedia. Although peridomiciliary and extradomiciliary environments presented similar species richness, the Shannon diversity index was significantly lower in the former (H’ = 2.4) compared with the latter (H’ = 4.98). Lutzomyia whitmani and L. longipalpis were the most abundant species and were classified as constant (constancy index, CI = 100 %) along with L. lenti (CI = 58.3), L. evandroi (CI = 58.3) and L. sordellii (CI = 66.7). The remaining four species presented CI values between 25 and 50 % and were considered accessory. CONCLUSIONS: The present results confirm the present of L. whitmani and L. longipalpis in the peridomicile of houses in Lençóis National Park. The abundance of these species could explain, respectively, the endemicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis and sporadic cases of visceral leishmaniasis in the study area. However, in the case of cutaneous leishmaniasis, the presence of other sand fly vectors (in addition to L. whitmani) cannot be neglected. Finally, this study emphasizes the need for a more effective and permanent supervision to control the expansion of these vectors and leishmaniasis outbreaks