Abstract

OLIVEIRA-PEREIRA, Yrla Nívea; MORAES, Jorge Luiz Pinto; LOROSA, Elias Seixas  and  REBELO, José Manuel Macário. Feeding preference of sand flies in the Amazon, Maranhão State, Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.9, pp. 2183-2186. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2008000900024.

The objective of this study was to determine the blood feeding sources for sand flies based on the precipitin test in Buriticupu, Amazon Region, Maranhão State, Brazil, from July 2002 to June 2004. Single (87.6%) and double (8%) reactions and non-reactive samples (4.4%) were found. The presence of sand flies fed on human blood (6.7%) and blood of animals that are possible peridomiciliary Leishmania reservoirs helps explain the reporting of autochthonous tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in Buriticupu.

Keywords : Lutzomyia; Phlebotomine; Leishmaniasis.