title: Canine visceral leishmaniasis in the metropolitan area of São Paulo: Pintomyia fischeri as potential vector of Leishmania infantum.
abstract: American visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania infantum and transmitted mainly by Lutzomyia longipalpis. However, canine cases have been reported in the absence of this species in the Greater São Paulo region, where Pintomyia fischeri and Migonemyia migonei are the predominant species. This raises the suspicion that they could be acting as vectors. Therefore, this study sought to investigate specific vector capacity parameters of these species and to compare them with those of Lu. longipalpis s.l. Among these parameters the blood feeding rate, the survival, and the susceptibility to the development of Le. infantum were evaluated for the three species, and the attractiveness of dogs to Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei was evaluated. The estimated interval between blood meals was shorter for Lu. longipalpis s.l, followed by Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei. The infection rate with Le. infantum flagellates in Lu. longipalpis was 9.8%, in Pi. fischeri 4.8%, and in Mg. migonei nil. The respective infective life expectancies (days) of Lu. longipalpis, Mg. migonei, and Pi. fischeri were 2.4, 1.94, and 1.68. Both Pi. fischeri and Mg. migonei were captured in the kennel with a predominance (95%) of Pi. fischeri. Considering the great attractiveness of dogs to Pi. fischeri, its susceptibility to infection by Le. infantum, infective life expectancies, and predominance in Greater São Paulo, this study presents evidence of Pi. fischeri as a potential vector of this parasite in the region.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, 01246-904 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvis-Ovallos
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, 01246-904 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Dantas
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, 01246-904 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giulia Baldaconi da Silva
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bispo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul-UFMS, Campo Grande, 79070-900 MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Gutierrez
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Center of Control of Zoonosis of Bauru Municipality, 17032-340 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Rodriguez Gonçalves
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05403-000 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosely Dos Santos
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Malafronte
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, 01246-904 SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eunice Aparecida Bianchi
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Galati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000502:physiology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data