Attraction of Lutzomyia longipalpis to human skin odours.
Male and female Lutzomyia longipalpis sandfiles showed attraction to human skin emanations placed on warmed glass Petri dishes. Unfed virgin females were more strongly attracted than males, which also showed attraction. Four human subjects were tested and significant variation was found between the numbers of sandflies attracted to their skin emanations. This suggests that some individuals were more attractive than others. There was a significant difference between the response shown by sandflies from the Jacobina and Lapinha regions of Brazil, suggesting that sandflies from the Jacobina region were more anthropophilic. In addition, sandflies from Jacobina had a significantly higher level of activity than those from Lapinha. The role of sandfly attraction to humans as a risk factor in Leishmania transmission is considered.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Keele, U.K.
J G
JG
Hamilton
T M
TM
Ramsoondar
D000818:Animals; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D011576:Psychodidae; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013997:Time Factors
D002630:Chemotactic Factors