Studies on the Feeding Habits of Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Populations from Endemic Areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil
The aim of this study was to identify potential blood feeding sources of L. (L.) longipalpis specimens from populations in Northeastern Brazil, endemic areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) and its correlation with the transmission of L. (L.) i. chagasi. The ELISA technique was applied using bird, dog, goat, opossum, equine, feline, human, sheep, and rodent antisera to analyze 609 females, resulting in an overall positivity of 60%. In all municipalities, females showed higher positivity for bird followed by dog antiserum and sand fly specimens were also positive for equine, feline, human, sheep, goat, opossum, and rodent antisera. The finding for 17 combinations of two or three types of blood in some females corroborates the opportunistic habit of this sand fly species. The results demonstrating the association between L. (L.) longipalpis and opossum suggest the need for further evaluation of the real role of this synanthropic mammal in the eco-epidemiology of AVL. 1. Introduction American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) is a serious public health problem in Brazil and presents a new epidemiological profile associated with domestic environments and, in this context, Lutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis is important considering its capacity to adapt to a wide range of impacted habitats, in addition to its sylvatic origin [1–3]. The enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) has been used to identify the feeding habits of L. (L.) longipalpis [4–6]. In light of this, studies related to feeding habits of sand fly vector L. (L.) longipalpis could contribute to a better understanding of eco-epidemiology of AVL, discussing its close association with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi reservoirs. Currently, Northeastern Brazil accounts for about 47% of human cases for AVL exhibiting both epidemiological profiles, rural and urban, with highest incidences of the disease according to the Brazilian National Leishmaniases Program (NLP) [1]. The aim of this study was to identify potential blood meal sources for L. (L.) longipalpis from some Northeastern Brazil endemic municipalities. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Sand Fly Precedence Sand flies were collected from the municipalities of Jequié (State of Bahia, BA), Sobral and Massapê (State of Ceará, CE), and Teresina (State of Piauí, PI). These municipalities were selected based on their levels and profiles of AVL transmission according to NLP: Teresina, urban and intense transmission; Sobral, rural and intense transmission; Jequié, rural and moderate transmission, and Massapê, rural and sporadic transmission [1]. Sand flies
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