Monthly Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand Flies, and Biotic and Abiotic Factors Related to Their Abundance, in an Urban Area to Which Visceral Leishmaniasis Is Endemic in Corumbá, Brazil.

The monthly distribution and abundance of sand flies are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the seasonal distribution of sand flies and the relation between their abundance and environmental parameters, including vegetation and climate. This study was conducted over a 2-year period (April 2012 to March 2014). Monthly distribution was evaluated through the weekly deployment of CDC light traps in the peridomicile area of 5 residences in an urban area of the municipality of Corumbá in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Meteorological data were obtained from the Mato Grosso do Sul Center for Weather, Climate, and Water Resources. The spectral indices were calculated based on spatial resolution images (GeoEye) and the percentage of vegetal coverage. Differences in the abundance of sand flies among the collection sites were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the strength of correlations between environmental variables was determined by calculating Spearman's correlation coefficients. Lutzomyia cruzi, Lu. forattinii, and Evandromyia corumbaensis were the most frequently found species. Although no significant association was found among these sand fly species and the tested environmental variables (vegetation and climate), high population peaks were found during the rainy season, whereas low peaks were observed in the dry season. The monthly distribution of sand flies was primarily determined by Lu. cruzi, which accounted for 93.94% of the specimens collected each month throughout the experimental period. The fact that sand flies were detected year-round indicates a continuous risk of infection to humans, demonstrating the need for targeted management and education programs

Descriptive measures of meteorological variables in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, between April 2012 to March 2014.

<p>Descriptive measures of meteorological variables in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, between April 2012 to March 2014.</p

Descriptive measures of environmental variables in relation to sampling site, in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

<p>Descriptive measures of environmental variables in relation to sampling site, in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.</p

Descriptive measures of total number of sand flies, as well as populations of <i>Ev</i>. <i>corumbaensis</i>, <i>Lu</i>. <i>cruzi</i>, and <i>Lu</i>. <i>forattinii</i>, with respect to sampling site (neighborhood).

<p>Descriptive measures of total number of sand flies, as well as populations of <i>Ev</i>. <i>corumbaensis</i>, <i>Lu</i>. <i>cruzi</i>, and <i>Lu</i>. <i>forattinii</i>, with respect to sampling site (neighborhood).</p

General characteristics of sampling sites.

<p>General characteristics of sampling sites.</p

Spatial distribution of sand fly sampling sites in the urban area of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

<p>Numbers 1–5 indicate sand fly sampling sites (neighborhoods): 1 = Center; 2 = Maria Leite; 3 = Cristo Redentor; 4 = Popular Nova; 5 = Nova Corumbá. The urban area of the municipality of Corumbá is represented by a GeoEye image in false-color composition RGB 432 (20/08/2012). Note: the map of Brazil (and the shapefile used to generate it) used for the elaboration of Fig 1 was extracted from the database of public domain of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (<a href="http://mapas.ibge.gov.br/bases-e-referenciais.html" target="_blank">http://mapas.ibge.gov.br/bases-e-referenciais.html</a>).</p

Absolute frequency of sand flies according to sex, sampling site (neighborhood), and species richness of the sampling site.

<p>Absolute frequency of sand flies according to sex, sampling site (neighborhood), and species richness of the sampling site.</p

Monthly distribution of <i>Lu</i>. <i>cruzi</i>, <i>Lu</i>. <i>forattinii</i>, and <i>Ev corumbaensis</i> and the monthly arithmetic mean of the climate variables^a in Corumbá, Mato Grosso do sul, Brazil, between April 2012 to March 2014.

<p>^a Rainfall was considered in terms of monthly accumulation.</p