Leishmaniasis in Brazil: II. Observations on enzootic rodent leishmaniasis in the lower amazon region—the feeding habits of the vector, Lutzomyia flaviscutellata in reference to man, rodents and other animals

Abstract

Lu. flaviscutellata shows distinct variations in its microdistribution within the Utinga forest, Belém, Brazil. Lu. flaviscutellata is attracted to, and feeds on, a wide variety of animals including rodents, marsupials and birds. Of 2,774 sandflies caught from rodents 2,731 were Lu. flaviscutellata, showing that it is the predominant species biting rodents. Of 1,523 female sandflies caught from man, only 6 were Lu. flaviscutellata, indicating that this species is not inclined to bite man. The observed biting habits of Lu. flaviscutellata in the forests of Pará, Brazil, support our previous observations that it is the major vector of leishmaniasis among rodents in Utinga, but is not important in the transmission of the disease to man in that area. We suggest that the vectors involved in the transmission of leishmaniasis to man are normally species of sandflies which readily bite both man and reservoir hosts.