Monthly Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand Flies, and Biotic and Abiotic Factors Related to Their Abundance, in an Urban Area to Which Visceral Leishmaniasis Is Endemic in Corumbá, Brazil

• Published in: PloS one 2016-10, Vol.11 (10), p.e0165155-e0165155
• Main Authors: Falcão de Oliveira, Everton, Casaril, Aline Etelvina, Fernandes, Wagner Souza, Ravanelli, Michelle de Saboya, Medeiros, Márcio José de, Gamarra, Roberto Macedo, Paranhos Filho, Antônio Conceição, Oshiro, Elisa Teruya, Oliveira, Alessandra Gutierrez de, Galati, Eunice Aparecida Bianchi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abiotic factors; Abundance; Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Climate; Climate and population; Climate and vegetation; Correlation; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Diptera; Dry season; Earth Sciences; Environmental parameters; Environmental testing; Epidemics; Flies; Geography; Health risks; Humans; Humidity; Infections; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - epidemiology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - parasitology; Light traps; Lutzomyia; Lutzomyia cruzi; Lutzomyia longipalpis; Mathematical analysis; Medicine and Health Sciences; Meteorological data; Monthly distribution; Parasitic diseases; People and places; Phlebotomus - growth & development; Phlebotomus - physiology; Population Density; Psychodidae; Rain; Rainy season; Remote sensing; Risk management; Seasonal distribution; Seasons; Spatial discrimination; Spatial resolution; Studies; Temperature; Urban areas; Vector-borne diseases; Vegetation; Visceral leishmaniasis; Water resources
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165155

The monthly distribution and abundance of sand flies are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors. The present study aimed to evaluate the seasonal distribution of sand flies and the relation between their abundance and environmental parameters, including vegetation and climate. This study was conducted over a 2-year period (April 2012 to March 2014). Monthly distribution was evaluated through the weekly deployment of CDC light traps in the peridomicile area of 5 residences in an urban area of the municipality of Corumbá in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Meteorological data were obtained from the Mato Grosso do Sul Center for Weather, Climate, and Water Resources. The spectral indices were calculated based on spatial resolution images (GeoEye) and the percentage of vegetal coverage. Differences in the abundance of sand flies among the collection sites were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the strength of correlations between environmental variables was determined by calculating Spearman's correlation coefficients. Lutzomyia cruzi, Lu. forattinii, and Evandromyia corumbaensis were the most frequently found species. Although no significant association was found among these sand fly species and the tested environmental variables (vegetation and climate), high population peaks were found during the rainy season, whereas low peaks were observed in the dry season. The monthly distribution of sand flies was primarily determined by Lu. cruzi, which accounted for 93.94% of the specimens collected each month throughout the experimental period. The fact that sand flies were detected year-round indicates a continuous risk of infection to humans, demonstrating the need for targeted management and education programs.