title: Phlebotominae sand flies associated with a tegumentary leishmaniasis outbreak, Tucumán Province, Argentina.
abstract: The distribution of sand flies and cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis in the area surrounding JB Alberd city, and the proximities of Catamarca province were studied, after an increase of reported cases from JB Alberdi, Tucumán province, in 2003. Of 14 confirmed cases, 57% were females and 57% were less than 15 years old, suggesting peridomestic transmission. However, 86% of them lived close to the Marapa river forest gallery and related wooded areas. Over 1,013 sand flies were collected; Lutzomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) was prevalent at all the sites (92.3%), while Lutzomyia migonei (França, 1920) (6.7%) and Lu. cortelezzii (Brèthes, 1923) (1%) were also found. The spatial distribution of Lu. neivai overlapped that of the cases, with higher abundance in microfocal hot spots close to the river in stable vegetated habitats or modified habitats with shadow and animal blood sources. The cumulative outcome of anthropic, ecological and climatic factors could have contributed to the onset of the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Diagnóstico e Investigación en Endemoepidemias, ANLIS, Ministerio de Salud, Argentina. danielsalomon@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Oscar Daniel
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Salomón
authors.forename: María Gabriela
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Isolina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Andina
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montivero
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosales
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification*; D012621:Seasons