Determinacion del azucar preferencial en la dieta de Lutzomyia evansi (Nu eztovar) (Diptera: Psychodidae) Determination of the preferred sugar in the diet of Lutzomyia evansi (Nu eztovar) (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Los azucares han sido se alados por jugar un papel clave en la biologia y relacion parasito Leishmania - hospedador. Bajo condiciones experimentales se preciso el azucar de preferencia en la dieta de Lutzomyia evansi vector alterno de Leishmania chagasi. A hembras de una colonia de L. evansi y hembras silvestres, postdeprecion de azucares naturales, se les ofreciò a la vez y durante 72 h: fructosa, sacarosa, melezitosa. glucosa, galactosa y maltosa debidamente marcados con colorantes vegetales; bajo lupa binocular se determino el azucar ingerido por el color presente. Los resultados se compararon con los obtenidos con hembras de colonia de L. longipalpis. De 618 hembras de L. evansi ensayadas, en 340 se detecto fructosa (55%) indistintamente del colorante empleado seguido por melezitosa (18,6%) y sacarosa (15,5%). Resultados similares fueron obtenidos con 199 hembras de colonia. En contraste, L. longipalpis prefirio sacarosa (34%), seguida de glucosa (29%) y fructosa (24%). La prueba de antrona evidencio en hembras silvestres la presencia de fructosa en 55,5% de la muestra. Estos hallazgos son relevantes para la biologia de la especie y pudieran ser significativos en el establecimiento y patron de desarrollo del parasito dentro del insecto vector. Sugars have been shown to play an important role in the biology and relationship between the host and parasitic Leishmania. Under experimental conditions the preferred sugars in the diet of Lutzomyia evansi, alternate vector of Leishmania chagasi. were determined. After the depletion of their natural sugars, females from the wild and females from a colony of L. evansi were periodically offered, over a period of 72 hours, fructose, saccarose, melezitose, glucose, galactose and maltose, identified by different vegetable colorings; the ingested sugar was determined by its color under a binocular magnifying glass. The results were compared with those from a colony of L. longipalpis. Of 618 wild L. evansi studied, fructose was detected in 340 females (55%), regardless of the color used, followed by melezitose (18,6%) and saccarose (15,5%). Similar results were obtained from 199 females from the colony. In contrast, L. longipalpis preferred saccarose (34%), followed by glucose (29%) and fructose (24%). The anthrone test detected the presence of fructose in 55,5% of the sample of females from the wild. These discoveries are relevant to the biology of the species and could be significant in the establishment and pattern of parasite development inside the insect vector.