1
|
Montes de Oca-Aguilar AC, Euan-Canul RD, Sosa-Bibiano EI, López-Ávila KB, Rebollar-Téllez EA, Palacio-Vargas JA, Loría-Cervera EN. Phlebotomine sand flies in rural Mayan communities of Southern Mexico: The heterogeneity of the ruralscape increases the entomological risk. Acta Trop 2024; 249:107051. [PMID: 37875169 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
In the Yucatan Peninsula, tropical preserved forests harbor a high diversity of phlebotomine sand fly species, potential vectors of Leishmania. As a result, a significant risk of contracting localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is associated with entry into these forest ecosystems. However, with the current trajectory of land use in the region, communities now live within modified landscapes which could increase their risk of contact with vectors. In this study, we characterized the sand fly fauna and its relationship with the characteristics of peridomestic habitats in two rural communities in Yucatan characterized by contrasting records of leishmaniasis. Five human dwellings in each community were randomly selected and the peridomestic landscape was characterized (i.e., type and percentage of land use). For the collection of sand flies, CDC traps were deployed in both the intra and peridomicile. Differences in alpha and beta diversity between communities and ecotopes were estimated considering three separate groups, all species together, zoophilic species, and anthropophilic species. In total, 1, 241 sand flies represented by eight species were collected from November 2021-March 2022. Both communities registered the presence of sand flies in the intra and peridomicile, and females were more abundant than males. However, the greatest diversity of species was recorded in the peridomicile of the community with the highest composition of land uses. Our study demonstrates that the transformation of the forest around the communities favors the abundance and richness of sand flies in the peridomestic environment. We discuss the limitations and implications of our findings regarding the potential risk of the emergence of peri‑rural cycles of leishmaniasis in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A C Montes de Oca-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Ave. Itzáes No. 490 × 59-A, Col. Centro, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - R D Euan-Canul
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Tecnológico de México, Campus Conkal, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E I Sosa-Bibiano
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Ave. Itzáes No. 490 × 59-A, Col. Centro, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - K B López-Ávila
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Ave. Itzáes No. 490 × 59-A, Col. Centro, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E A Rebollar-Téllez
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - J A Palacio-Vargas
- Dirección de Prevención y Protección de la Salud de los Servicios de Salud de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E N Loría-Cervera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Ave. Itzáes No. 490 × 59-A, Col. Centro, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Montes de Oca-Aguilar AC, Pavón-Mendez MI, López-Ávila KB, Sosa-Bibiano EI, Rebollar-Téllez EA, Palacio-Vargas JA, Fernández-Figueroa EA, Loría-Cervera EN. Biting rhythms and infection rates of anthropophilic sand fly species (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in sites with different land use in southern Mexico. Acta Trop 2023; 248:107014. [PMID: 37696485 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Could tropical forest conversion shape sand fly (Diptera: Phlebotominae) biting rhythms and Leishmania infection rates? Using a Shannon trap, we estimated the bite rate and infection prevalence among anthropophilic sand flies at sites with different land use in southern Mexico. We estimated the expected monthly infection rate of the Leishmania parasite along the gradient and generated information on the biting rhythm of sand flies in a poorly characterized cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic region. We used generalized mixed linear and mixed additives models to evaluate differences in the biting rate, nocturnal activity, and inoculation rate of female sand flies, as well as their relationship with the loss of forest cover and environmental disparities recorded throughout the study area. Our results show that the loss of forest cover influences the biting rhythm of sand fly species and the potential number of infectious bites with Leishmania, but the greatest entomological and potential epidemiological risk continues to be associated with sylvatic areas (amplification events). Despite this, we detected that the effect of forest cover (%) on the entomological exposure seems to be also dependent on the sand fly species, and that, albeit to a lesser extent, Leishmania parasite is circulating in disturbed landscapes through generalist and competent sand fly vector species. We also found that land use change did not affect the nocturnal activity, however we detected that important vector species were active most of the time. Contrary to our expectation, temperature and humidity did not shape the biting rhythm of sand fly species. We discuss the limitations and epidemiological implications of our findings regarding the risk of contracting leishmaniasis in southern Mexico.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A C Montes de Oca-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - M I Pavón-Mendez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - K B López-Ávila
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E I Sosa-Bibiano
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E A Rebollar-Téllez
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - J A Palacio-Vargas
- Dirección de Prevención y Protección de la Salud de los Servicios de Salud del Estado de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E A Fernández-Figueroa
- Núcleo B de Innovación en Medicina de Precisión, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico
| | - E N Loría-Cervera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lopez Y, Arana B, Rizzo N, Duran E, Acosta-Serrano Á, Mendizabal-Cabrera R. A neglected among the neglected: a review of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guatemala. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2023; 117:609-616. [PMID: 37103337 PMCID: PMC10472881 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic vector-borne disease affecting mostly low- and middle-income countries. CL is endemic in Guatemala, where an increase in the number of cases and incidence and a changing disease distribution in the past decade have been reported. Important research was conducted in Guatemala in the 1980s and 1990s to understand the epidemiology of CL and two Leishmania species were identified as the aetiologic agents. Several species of sand flies have been reported, five of which are naturally infected with Leishmania. Clinical trials conducted in the country evaluated different treatments against the disease and provided solid evidence for CL control strategies that are applicable worldwide. More recently, in the 2000s and 2010s, qualitative surveys were conducted to understand community perceptions of the disease and to highlight the challenges and enablers for disease control. However, limited recent data have been generated regarding the current CL situation in Guatemala, and key information necessary for effective disease control, such as incrimination of vectors and reservoirs, is still lacking. This review describes the current state of knowledge of CL in Guatemala, including the main parasite and sand fly species, disease reservoirs, diagnosis and control, as well as the perceptions of communities in endemic regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaimie Lopez
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11–95, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
| | - Byron Arana
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11–95, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
| | - Nidia Rizzo
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11–95, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
| | - Erick Duran
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, 3-45, 6a Avenida 3, Guatemala City 01011, Guatemala
| | | | - Renata Mendizabal-Cabrera
- Center for Health Studies, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 18 Avenida 11–95, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
de Oca-Aguilar ACM, Rebollar-Téllez EA, Sosa-Bibiano EI, López-Avila KB, Torres-Castro JR, Loría-Cervera EN. Effect of land use change on the phlebotomine sand fly assemblages in an emergent focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Yucatan, Mexico. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106628. [PMID: 35952923 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
As land use intensifies in tropical forests, it is expected that species assemblages will be modified and that key functions of these ecosystems will be affected. The latter scenario is important from a public health perspective, because the land use change has been linked the outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we evaluated the response of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) assemblages and their pattern of co-occurrence in four sites with different land use in an emerging cutaneous leishmaniasis focus in Yucatan, Mexico. Our hypothesis is that the conservation status (as forest cover) will positively influence the structure and composition of sand flies' assemblages. Using three different traps over a period of five months, a sampling effort of 1, 440 night-traps was performed. A total of 7, 897 sand fly specimens belonging to six genera and 10 species were collected. Our hypothesis was partially achieved since sand fly diversity increased as forest cover increased and vice versa, however random patterns of co-occurrence in assemblages were detected among sites. Even though the high abundance of sand flies in the forest fragment suggests an amplification effect, our results show that different vector species directly dominate in each site. We discuss the potential implications of the nestedness of species dominance. We suggest that in this emerging focus and under the land use gradient, Lutzomyia cruciata and Psathyromyia cratifer could play a pivotal role in maintaining the transmission cycles of Leishmania. The apparent generalist or colonialist profile of Lu. cruciata in disturbed areas deserves attention, due to the potential risk of leishmaniasis "domiciliation". This information is essential to understand the eco-epidemiology of leishmaniasis and the factors associated with its emergence in Yucatan, Mexico.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A C Montes de Oca-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - E A Rebollar-Téllez
- Laboratorio de Entomología Médica, Departamento de Zoología de Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
| | - E I Sosa-Bibiano
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - K B López-Avila
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - J R Torres-Castro
- Dirección de Prevención y Protección de la Salud de los Servicios de Salud del Estado de Yucatán, Mexico
| | - E N Loría-Cervera
- Laboratorio de inmunología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ocampo CB, Guzmán-Rodríguez L, Moreno M, Castro MDM, Valderrama-Ardila C, Alexander N. Integration of phlebotomine ecological niche modelling, and mapping of cutaneous leishmaniasis surveillance data, to identify areas at risk of under-estimation. Acta Trop 2021; 224:106122. [PMID: 34480871 PMCID: PMC9017289 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Passive surveillance systems are thought to under-estimate the true incidence of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) by two- to five-fold. Ecological niche models based on remotely sensed data can identify environmental factors which favor phlebotomine vectors. Here we report an integrated approach to identifying areas at risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis by applying spatial analysis methods to niche model results, and local surveillance data, in two locations in Colombia with differing vector ecology. The objective was to identify townships in which later phases of the project could implement community-based surveillance to obtain direct estimates of under-reporting. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out in one municipality in each of two departments of the Andean region of Colombia: Pueblo Rico in Risaralda, and Rovira in Tolima. Niche mapping by maximum entropy, based on published and unpublished existing locations of Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) longiflocosa and Psychodopygus panamensis, and using variables on land cover, climate and elevation. Field catches were done in each municipality to test predictions of high relative probability of presence. The niche model results were included as a predictor in a conditional autoregressive spatial model, in which the outcome variable was the number of cases by township, as detected by passive surveillance. RESULTS Having rarefied 173 geolocated records, 46 of Pi. longiflocosa and 57 of Ps. panamensis were used for the niche modelling. At the national level, both species had high relative probability of presence on parts of the slopes of the three Andean cordilleras. Pi. longiflocosa also has a high relative probability of presence in the higher parts of the Magdalena valley, as does Ps. panamensis in some areas close to the Caribbean coast. At the local level, field catches confirmed that Pi. longiflocosa was the most abundant species in Rovira, and likewise Ps. panamensis in Pueblo Rico. The spatial regression showed that the incidence of ACL, according to surveillance, was positively, but not statistically significantly, associated with the relative probability of presence from the risk model. CONCLUSIONS These niche maps bring together published and unpublished results on phlebotomine species which are important vectors in Colombia. Maps of the fitted values of incidence were used to guide the selection of townships in which further phases of the study will attempt to quantify the extent of under-estimation of ACL incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara B Ocampo
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, CIDEIM. Cali, Colombia; Universidad Icesi., Cali, Colombia; Ministerio de Ciencia Tecnología e Innovación (Minciencias), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Lina Guzmán-Rodríguez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, CIDEIM. Cali, Colombia
| | - Mabel Moreno
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, CIDEIM. Cali, Colombia
| | - María Del Mar Castro
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, CIDEIM. Cali, Colombia; Universidad Icesi., Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Neal Alexander
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, CIDEIM. Cali, Colombia; Universidad Icesi., Cali, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Salgueiro MM, Pimentel MIF, Miranda LFC, Cunha E Silva RR, Oliveira LFA, Lyra MR, Saheki MN, Valete-Rosalino CM, Martins ACC, Schubach AO, Marzochi MCA, Bedoya-Pacheco SJ. Parasite species variation and impact of spatial displacement of the population on cutaneous leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 116:70-79. [PMID: 34125907 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous leishmaniasis results from complex interactions between human beings, vectors and the environment. Parasitic species differ in epidemiological and geographical contexts. METHODS We studied a retrospective cohort of 696 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis treated at a reference centre in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2000 and 2015. We analysed displacements due to work, leisure and migrations with identification of Leishmania species. RESULTS The geographic distribution of autochthonous cases showed that >95% of infections occurred in urban areas. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, most cases were concentrated in the cities surrounding forest parks and nature conservation areas. The same applies to the city of Rio de Janeiro, where these infections occurred in the neighbourhoods surrounding some mountain and forest areas. The non-displacement group included 575 (82.6%) patients and the displacement group included 121 (17.4%) patients. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis predominated in both groups. Other species were found in the displacement group. CONCLUSIONS The disordered urbanization of the state of Rio de Janeiro in recent decades has created conditions for the emergence of urban foci of transmission close to forest areas. Changes in the environment, movement of infected individuals and adaptation of sandflies may have contributed to this.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariza M Salgueiro
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês F Pimentel
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciana F C Miranda
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafael R Cunha E Silva
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Métodos Quantitativos em Saúde, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21041-210, RJ, Brazil
| | - Liliane F A Oliveira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo R Lyra
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Mauricio N Saheki
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia M Valete-Rosalino
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.,Productivity grant (PQ) of the "Programa de Produtividade em Pesquisa", Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, SHIS QI 01, Conjunto B, Blocos A, B, C e D, Edifício Santos Dumont, Lago Sul, Brasília, CEP: 71.605-001, DF, Brazil.,Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Bloco K, 2º andar, Sala 49 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21044-020, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina C Martins
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Armando O Schubach
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.,Productivity grant (PQ) of the "Programa de Produtividade em Pesquisa", Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, SHIS QI 01, Conjunto B, Blocos A, B, C e D, Edifício Santos Dumont, Lago Sul, Brasília, CEP: 71.605-001, DF, Brazil
| | - Mauro C A Marzochi
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21040-900, RJ, Brazil.,Productivity grant (PQ) of the "Programa de Produtividade em Pesquisa", Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, SHIS QI 01, Conjunto B, Blocos A, B, C e D, Edifício Santos Dumont, Lago Sul, Brasília, CEP: 71.605-001, DF, Brazil
| | - Sandro J Bedoya-Pacheco
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Métodos Quantitativos em Saúde, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21041-210, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Diversity, Co-Occurrence, and Nestedness Patterns of Sand Fly Species (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Two Rural Areas of Western Panamá. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020113. [PMID: 33525399 PMCID: PMC7912352 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Sand flies are insects that can transmit the parasites causing leishmaniasis, a major neglected tropical disease. In the Americas, these insects are highly diverse, and unlike what is observed for other vector-borne diseases, many species co-occur in sites where this disease affects human populations. Here, we present results from a two-year-long study where we study how the number of species changes in two rural areas of Western Panamá with different land use cover and through the dry and wet seasons. We found that species number increased during the wet season and in plots with higher natural forest cover and that species number decreased in both areas in plots when the forest cover decreased, with some species changing through the seasons, and some species disappearing when comparing the sand fly faunas of the most forested with less forested plots. However, our results suggest that seasonality, or the change from a dry to rainy season, can be a more important driver of the number of species locally observed in the studied areas. Abstract Cutaneous Leishmaniasis transmission in the New World is observed in areas with rich sand fly species’ faunas. The diversity and composition of sand fly species can change in response to seasonal weather and land use changes. Here, we present results from a two-year-long study where we collected, using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps, sand flies from two rural areas, Las Pavas (LP) and Trinidad de las Minas (T) in western Panamá. Over 710 trap-nights, we collected 16,156 sand flies from 15 genera and 35 species. We identified 34 species in T, and the most abundant species collected was Nyssomyia trapidoi (Fairchild and Hertig, 1952) (n = 2278, 37%), followed by Psychodopygus panamensis (Shannon, 1926) (n = 1112, 18%), and Trichopygomyia triramula (Fairchild and Hertig, 1952) (n = 1063, 17%). In LP, we identified 26 species, and the most abundant species collected were Ty. triramula (n = 4729, 48%), and Ps. panamensis (n = 3444, 35%). We estimated a higher species’ richness in T (Chao2 ± S.E.: 36.58 ± 3.84) than in LP (27.49 ± 2.28). In T, species’ richness was significantly higher in the rainy season, but no seasonal differences were observed in LP. Species’ assemblages were nested in the two areas. Phlebotomine sand fly species’ abundance increased at the two sites during the rainy season. Our data suggest that seasonality is more important than land use as a factor driving sand fly species’ diversity at the studied sites.
Collapse
|