title: Phlebotomine fauna, natural infection rate and feeding habits of Lutzomyia cruzi in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil is transmitted by the phlebotomine Lutzomyia longipalpis and in some midwestern regions by Lutzomyia cruzi. Studies of the phlebotomine fauna, feeding habits and natural infection rate by Leishmania contribute to increased understanding of the epidemiological chain of leishmaniases and their vectorial capacity. Collections were performed in Jaciara, state of Mato Grosso from 2010-2013, during which time 2,011 phlebotomines (23 species) were captured (68.70% Lu. cruzi and 20.52% Lutzomyia whitmani). Lu. cruzi females were identified by observing the shapes of the cibarium (a portion of the mouthpart) and spermatheca, from which samples were obtained for polymerase chain reaction to determine the rates of natural infection. Engorged phlebotomines were assessed to identify the blood-meal host by ELISA. A moderate correlation was discovered between the number of Lu. cruzi and the temperature and the minimum rate of infection was 6.10%. Twenty-two females were reactive to the antisera of bird (28%), dog (3.30%) and skunk (1.60%). We conclude that Lu. cruzi and Lu. whitmani have adapted to the urban environment in this region and that Lu. cruzi is the most likely vector of VL in Jaciara. Moreover, maintenance of Leishmania in the environment is likely aided by the presence of birds and domestic and synanthropic animals.
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Veruska Nogueira de
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Arleana do Bom Parto Ferreira de
authors.initials: Ado B
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosemere
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cladson de Oliveira
authors.initials: Cde O
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
authors.forename: Valéria Régia Franco
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001717:Birds / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D065948:Grassland; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D012889:Mephitidae / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012377:Rodentia / Q000097:blood; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007106:Immune Sera