title: [Feeding preference of sand flies in the Amazon, Maranhão State, Brazil].
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the blood feeding sources for sand flies based on the precipitin test in Buriticupu, Amazon Region, Maranhão State, Brazil, from July 2002 to June 2004. Single (87.6%) and double (8%) reactions and non-reactive samples (4.4%) were found. The presence of sand flies fed on human blood (6.7%) and blood of animals that are possible peridomiciliary Leishmania reservoirs helps explain the reporting of autochthonous tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in Buriticupu.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brasil.
authors.forename: Yrla Nívea
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Pereira
authors.forename: Jorge Luiz Pinto
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Elias Seixas
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lorosa
authors.forename: José Manuel Macário
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rebêlo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001938:Brazil; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000502:physiology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000502:physiology*