title: Distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani in phytoregions of the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil.
abstract: The study had the aim of characterizing the geographical distribution of Lutzomyia whitmani s.l. in the state of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. Between 1992 and 2005, 9,600 specimens (65.1% males and 34.9% females) were caught in the rural and urban zones of 35 municipalities in regions consisting of forests, savanna and mixed vegetation with coconut plantations, sandbanks and heath. Greater abundance was observed in areas surrounding dwellings (91.6%) than inside the dwellings (8.4%). The presence of the vector in different phytoregions and in rural and urban areas favors the transmission of tegumentary leishmaniasis in these environments. This taxon may constitute a complex of species in Maranhão, which can be confirmed by molecular biology studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Praça Madre Deus no. 02, São Luís, MA, Brazil. macariorebelo@uol.com.br
authors.forename: José Manuel Macário
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rebêlo
authors.forename: Roseno Viana
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Jorge Luiz Pinto
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Gildário Amorim
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Francisco Santos
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Leonardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D011576:Psychodidae; D014197:Trees / Q000145:classification*