title: [Molecular diagnosis of the natural infection rate due to Leishmania sp in sandflies (Psychodidae, Lutzomyia) in the Amazon region of Maranhão, Brazil].
abstract: The natural infection rate due to Leishmania was studied in three different sandfly species using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Leishmania specific primers were designed to examine whether sandfly pools were infected. In total 1,100 female sandflies separated into pools of 10 individuals, consisting of 50 pools of Lutzomyia whitmani, 43 of Lutzomyia triacantha and 17 of Lutzomyia choti, were analyzed. Among all the pools examined, four pools of Lutzomyia whitmani were positive, but none of the pools of the other two species were infected. Thus, a total infection rate of 0.4% was established in this study. A similar infection rate was found in previous studies, suggesting that Lutzomyia whitmani transmits Leishmania to mammals in Buriticupu, Maranhão.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yrla Nívea
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Pereira
authors.forename: José Manuel Macário
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rebêlo
authors.forename: Jorge Luiz Pinto
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Silma Regina Ferreira
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan