title: American visceral leishmaniasis dissociated from Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.
abstract: The occurrence of American visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil has always been associated with the presence of the Lutzomyia longipalpis vector. The geographic distribution of this vector in this state is related to the presence of specific geoclimatic characteristics, such as a dry climate, low elevations (< 450 m), steep slopes and rocky outcrops. The occurrence of human autochthonous cases of American visceral leishmaniasis in municipalities without these geoclimatic characteristics justifies the present study and our main goal was to test the association between the occurrence of American visceral leishmaniasis and the presence of the Lu. longipalpis. Sand flies were captured monthly from July 2006 to August 2007 using Shannon and CDC traps in two municipalities with records of autochthonous American visceral leishmaniasis and one with no record. We captured 13,112 sand flies, but no Lu. longipalpis was found. The absence of Lu. longipalpis and the possible role of another American visceral leishmaniasis vector in these localities were discussed.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brasil. pintoisrael@gmail.com
authors.forename: Israel de Souza
authors.initials: Ide S
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Claudiney Biral dos
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Adelson Luiz
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Aloísio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falqueto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002980:Climate; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission*; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification*