title: [Presence of infected vectors of Leishmania (V.) panamensis within dwellings in two endemic foci in the foothill of the middle Magdalena valley, western Boyacá, Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Case records of leishmaniasis of the years 1997 to 2003 of the department of Boyaca showed that since the year 2000 the department experienced an unusual rise in the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis that might correspond to an epidemic outbreak in the western region of the department. Age and gender distribution of cases supported a domestic transmission.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This research was designed to identify the vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the municipalities of Otanche and Pauna through their presence in dwellings and their natural infection with the same species of Leishmania isolated from patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sampling of sand flies was done with CDC traps in and around dwellings. Samples from patients and pooled females of the most abundant species of Lutzomyia were used to identify the parasite by PCR. Monoclonal antibody typing was also used to confirm the identification of the parasite in samples from patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both municipalities L. trapidoi was the most abundant anthropophilic species of Lutzomyia indoors and around dwellings. L. hartmanni and L. yuilli were also abundant in Otanche, and L. gomezi and L. panamensis in Pauna. Leishmania (V) panamensis was identified both in patients and in the sand flies: L. yuilli, L. gomezi and L. panamensis..
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings prove the presence of infected vectors of Leishmania panamensis within dwellings in the towns of Otanche and Pauna in Western Boyacá. Since L. trapidoi was the most abundant species, it may be considered as the principal vector of Leishmania (V.) panamensis. The evidence of transmission within human dwellings warrants vector control at least in this environment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.forename: Nubia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ponce
authors.forename: Yaneth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zipa
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006702:Homing Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis; D007897:Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*