Lutzomyia wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) em Fragmento de Mata Atlântica do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil

Leishmaniasis can affect humans and animals in visceral or cutaneous forms. The cutaneous form has been associated, among other species, with Lutzomyia wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson, initially found in the Amazon region. The present study is based on monthly collections from January to December in an Atlantic Forest remnant and a peridomestic environment, using CDC light traps. This is the first systematized study of the specie in Rio Grande do Norte State. The insects were metalized under carbon tape, visualized and photographed with a scanning electron microscope. The most abundant species in the forest area was Lutzomyia walkeri Newstead followed by L. wellcomei. Of the total captured in the forest and the peridomestic environment, around 8% were L. wellcomei, the predominant species in the forest environment in the rainy season. L. wellcomei sandflies were not captured in the peridomestic environment. In the forest this species was found along with Lutzomyia whitmani Antunes & Coutinho and Lutzomyia intermedia Lutz & Neiva. Male and female Lutzomyia longipalpis Lutz & Neiva were predominant in the peridomestic environment. Microscopic analysis of the external morphology of L. wellcomei reveals details of male and female heads. Lutzomyia wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) em fragmento de Mata Atlântica do Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil Resumo. As leishmanioses podem afetar seres humanos e animais nas formas visceral e tegumentar. A forma tegumentar tem sido associada, entre outras espécies, a Lutzomyia wellcomei Fraiha, Shaw & Lainson, inicialmente encontrado na região amazônica. O estudo se baseou em coletas mensais de janeiro a dezembro em um fragmento de Mata Atlântica e em um ambiente peridomiciliar, com armadilhas luminosas CDC. Esse é o primeiro estudo sistematizado sobre essa espécie no Rio Grande do Norte. Os insetos foram identificados e analisados em relação às chuvas no local. Alguns espécimes de L. wellcomei foram metalizados sob fita de carbono, visualizados e fotografados em microscópio eletrônico de varredura. A espécie mais abundante na área de mata foi Lutzomyia walkeri Newstead seguida por L. wellcomei. Do total capturado no ambiente de mata e no peridomicílio, cerca de 8% corresponde a L. wellcomei, sendo esta a espécie predominante no ambiente de mata no período chuvoso. Flebotomíneos L. wellcomei não foram capturados em ambiente peridomiciliar. Na mata essa espécie foi encontrada juntamente às espécies Lutzomyia whitmani Antunes & Coutinho e Lutzomyia intermedia Lutz & Neiva. Machos e fêmeas Lutzomyia longipalpis Lutz & Neiva foram predominantes no ambiente peridomiciliar. A análise microscópica da morfologia externa de L. wellcomei revela detalhes da cabeça de machos e fêmeas

Experimental infection parameters in Galea spixii (Rodentia: Caviidae) with Leishmania infantum chagasi

In order to better understand the epidemiological transmission network of leishmaniasis, an endemic disease in Northeast Brazil, we investigated the susceptibility of Spix yellow-toothed cavies (Galea spixii) to the Leishmania infantum chagasi parasite. Nine cavies were experimentally infected, separated into three groups and monitored at 30, 90 and 180 days, respectively. Amastigotes were identified in the spleen slides of two cavies killed 180 days after infection. Antibodies against the L. i. chagasi were identified in one of the cavies. This demonstrates that G. spixii is in fact capable of maintaining a stable infection by L. i. chagasi without alterations in biochemical and hematological parameters of the host and without perceivable micro and macroscopic lesions

Density of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Domestic and Wild Animal Shelters in an Area of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to determine the association of sand flies with the presence of domestic and wild animals in the peridomiciliary area. The sand flies were collected using direct aspiration and CDC light traps placed in animal shelters. The results suggest that different sand flies species have different behavioral characteristics in an apparent preference for animal baits and that Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lu. evandroi were the most eclectic species regarding their biotope choice. Lu. longipalpis showed a distinct preference for horses and Lu. evandroi for armadillos

Zika virus in Brazil and the danger of infestation by Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes

Abstract Zika virus, already widely distributed in Africa and Asia, was recently reported in two Northeastern Brazilian: State of Bahia and State of Rio Grande do Norte, and one Southeastern: State of São Paulo. This finding adds a potentially noxious virus to a list of several other viruses that are widely transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Brazil. The pathology and epidemiology, including the distribution and vectors associated with Zika virus, are reviewed. This review is focused on viruses transmitted by Aedes (Stegomyia) mosquitoes, including dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and yellow fever virus, to emphasize the risks of occurrence for these arboviruses in Brazil and neighboring countries. Other species of Aedes (Stegomyia) are discussed, emphasizing their involvement in arbovirus transmission and the possibility of adaptation to environments modified by human activities and introduction in Brazil

Morphological genitalic anomaly in Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) collected in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Ximenes FM MF, Castellón EG, Freitas RA. 2002. Morphological genitalic anomaly in specimens Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato(Lutz & Neiva, 1912) collected in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Entomotropica 17(2):183-184. A morphological anomaly on the paramere (three setae) was observed in seven sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) collected in the endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis in Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Brazil

Anomalias morfológicas observadas em Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva 1912), em área de Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Anomalias morfológicas no parâmero (três setas) foram observadas em sete espécimes de Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva 1912), em área de ocorrência de leishmaniose visceral no Rio Grande do Norte, Nordeste do Brasil