title: Monitoring of Lutzomyia longipalpis Lutz & Neiva, 1912 in an area of intense transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Brazil.
abstract: Urban increase of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is associated with the adaptation of its vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis, to environments modified by humans. The present study reports the results of an entomological monitoring of L. longipalpis and the effect of environmental variables on its population density. Sandflies were captured in the municipality of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil, from January 2005 to December 2006. Two CDC light traps were placed monthly for four consecutive nights in the peridomicile of selected households. Data analysis was based on the chi-square test and linear regression. A total of 2,087 sandflies were captured, 99.86% of which were L. longipalpis. A higher proportion of females were captured (p < 0.05). Monthly analysis of the variables temperature, relative humidity and rainfall did not show a significant influence on population density. However, there were seasonal differences: approximately 70% of sand flies were captured during the rainy season (p < 0.05). The predominant species, L. longipalpis, is present in substantial number, representing a public health risk. Therefore, because of higher prevalence during the rainy season, we recommend intensified VL control measures before and during this season to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias-PPGCV, Universidade Estadual do Ceará-UECE, Fortaleza, CEP 60740-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sthenia Santos Albano
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Amóra
authors.forename: Claudia Maria Leal
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bevilaqua
authors.forename: Edmilson de Castro
authors.initials: Ede C
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Francisco Marlon Carneiro
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Feijó
authors.forename: Paula Gabriela Melo de
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Gislayne Christianne Xavier
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Nilza Dutra
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Lorena Mayana Beserra de
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Iara Térsia Freitas
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Macedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011576:Psychodidae; D012621:Seasons