title: Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani s.l . (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939)(Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae): geographical distribution and the epidemiology of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil--mini-review.
abstract: The aim of the present study, in view of the widespread geographical distribution of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani s.l. in Brazil, in close association with the regions of transmission of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (V.) shawi, is to investigate the distribution of this sand fly species and American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in relationship to vegetation and landscape ecology throughout Brazil. Thematic maps were elaborated by the MapInfo programme, giving information on the spatial distribution of L. whitmani s.l., in accordance with types of vegetation and foci of ACL. With regards to the known areas of transmission of ACL in Brazil, it is notable that L. (N.) whitmani s.l. occurs in most of them, where it has been implicated as a possible vector of L. (V.) braziliensis. The presence of L. whitmani s.l. has been registered in 26 states, the one exception being Santa Catarina; in some states such as Roraima, Acre, Tocantins, and Mato Grosso do Sul this sand fly species has been recorded in a large number of municipalities. L. whitmani s.l. has been found in association with a variety of vegetation types, including the Amazonian forest, savanna ("campos cerrados"), and northeastern savanna ("caatingas nordestinas" or "savana estépica").
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Transmissores de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Entomologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. scosta@ioc.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: Simone M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cechinel
authors.forename: Valdenir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bandeira
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zannuncio
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lainson
authors.forename: Elizabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Rangel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D014197:Trees