Phlebotominae sand flies associated with a tegumentary leishmaniasis outbreak, Tucuman Province, Argentina

SALOMON OD; GABRIELA QUINTANA, MARÍA; ISOLINA FLORES,; SILVIA MOLINA,; LUCÍA MONTIVERO,; ISABEL ROSALES,

REVISTA DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE MEDICINA TROPICAL

Año: 2006 vol. 39 p. 341 - 346

0037-8682

The distribution of sand flies and cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis in the area surrounding JB Alberd city, and the proximities of Catamarca province were studied, after an increase of reported cases from JB Alberdi, Tucuman province, in 2003. Of 14 confirmed cases, 57% were females and 57% were less than 15 years old, suggesting peridomestic transmission. However, 86% of them lived close to the Marapa river forest gallery and related wooded areas. Over 1,013 sand flies were collected; Lutzomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) was prevalent at all the sites (92.3%), while Lutzomyia migonei (Franca, 1920) (6.7%) and Lu. cortelezzii (Brethes, 1923) (1%) were also found. The spatial distribution of Lu. neivai overlapped that of the cases, with higher abundance in microfocal hot spots close to the river in stable vegetated habitats or modified habitats with shadow and animal blood sources. The cumulative outcome of anthropic, ecological and climatic factors could have contributed to the onset of the outbreak