title: Spatial distribution and environmental factors associated to phlebotomine fauna in a border area of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mato Grosso do Sul has been undergoing a process of urbanization which results in loss of native vegetation. This withdrawal makes vectors of man and domestic animals closer, causing changes in the epidemiology of diseases such as American Visceral Leishmaniasis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the phlebotomine fauna and environmental issues related to the transmission of AVL in Ponta Porã, Mato Grosso do Sul, between 2009 and 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vegetation of the urban area was evaluated by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the phlebotomine fauna of the city consists of five species, especially Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912), the vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. Predominance of males was observed. The insects were captured in greater quantity in the intradomicile. Lu. longipalpis was the most frequent and abundant species, present throughout the year, with a peak population after the rainy season. Vectors can be found in high amounts in forest and disturbed environments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding of Lu. longipalpis in regions with little vegetation and humidity suggests that the species is adapted to different sorts of environmental conditions, demonstrating its close association with man and the environment it inhabits. The tourist feature of Ponta Porã reinforces its epidemiological importance as a vulnerable city. The geographical location, bordering Paraguay through dry border, makes possible the existence of a corridor of vectors and infected dogs between the two countries.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitary Diseases, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campus Universitário, s/n, Caixa Postal 549, CEP 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. racheloliveira_83@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Rachel Oliveira
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Baldomero Antonio Kato
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Geucira
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cristaldo
authors.forename: Sonia Maria Oliveira
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Antonio Conceição Paranhos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Alisson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Mirella Ferreira
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: da Cunha Santos
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010239:Paraguay; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*