Identification and molecular characterization of Wolbachia strains and natural infection for Leishmania sp. in neotropical Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) species, leishmaniasis vectors.

Recently, Wolbachia infection has been described in leishmaniasis vector sandflies. This endosymbiont bacterium is present in 60% of insects, and has been suggested as a mechanism of biological control of vector insects, because it causes a series of changes in the invertebrate host. In addition, recent studies have shown that this bacterium can prevent the development of parasites in vector insects. In this context, the present study aims to molecularly characterize the circulating strain of this bacterium in sandflies in the State of Bahia, Brazil, as well as the natural infection rate of Leishmania sp., and to evaluate the coinfection between Wolbachia and Leishmania. Seven hundred and forty-five (745) specimens of sandflies were collected in nine municipalities of Bahia, belonging to two species, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz and Neiva, 1912) and Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes and Coutinho, 1939). The results confirm infection by the protozoan Leishmania infantum and Wolbachia in both species collected. The identified strain of Wolbachia in sandflies was wStv MI, known to lead to a phenotype of cytoplasmic incompatibility in vector insects.

Plants and intestinal parasitosis: a review on ethnopharmacological use by the Kantaruré-Batida indigenous community of Brazil / Plantas y parasitosis intestinal: una revisión sobre el uso etnofarmacológico de la comunidad indígena Kantaruré-Batida de Brasil

Indigenous knowledge is one of the most notable traditional sources about plants used to treat diseases. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the botanical features and to investigate the pharmacological properties of plants used by the Kantaruré-Batida community to treat intestinal parasitosis. Botanical characterization was performed based on integrative review andon access to 'Flora do Brasil' platform, whereas plants' pharmacological properties were investigated through systematic review. Among the 21 ethnospecies used, 48% were described as having activity against intestinal parasites. Although 52% had no such activity described, other properties can account for their use, that indicates that further studies are required. Therefore, this review reinforces the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge as tool to guide antiparasitic agent trials.

El conocimiento indígena es una de las fuentes tradicionales más notables sobre las plantas utilizadas para tratar enfermedades. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue describir las características botánicas e investigar las propiedades farmacológicas de las plantas utilizadas por la comunidad Kantaruré-Batida para tratar la parasitosis intestinal. La caracterización botánica se realizó con base en una revisión integradora y en el acceso a la plataforma "Flora do Brasil", mientras que las propiedades farmacológicas de las plantas se investigaron mediante una revisión sistemática. Entre las 21 etnoespecies utilizadas, se describió que el 48% tenía actividad contra los parásitos intestinales. Aunque el 52% no tenía tal actividad descrita, otras propiedades pueden explicar su uso, lo que indica que se requieren más estudios. Por lo tanto, esta revisión refuerza la importancia de valorar el conocimiento indígena como herramienta para guiar los ensayos de agentes antiparasitarios.

Domestic swine in a visceral leishmaniasis endemic area produce antibodies against multiple Leishmania infantum antigens but apparently resist to L. infantum infection.

In order to investigate whether pigs can be infected by Leishmania infantum, a serological and parasitological study was carried out on swine in the Jequié municipality, Northeast of Brazil. Anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies were detected in 37 out of 92 swine (40.2%), by two different assays: an anti-L. infantum lysate and an anti-K39 recombinant protein ELISA. An experimental study was also carried out to verify the susceptibility of domestic pigs to L. infantum infection. Three sows inoculated with 10(8) stationary-phase infective L. infantum promastigotes (26% metacyclic promastigotes) per kilogram of body weight produced anti-Leishmania antibodies until the end of the experiment, 11 months later. No parasites, however, could be visualized through optical microscopy of spleen, liver and bone marrow or by in vitro culture of these organs. Homogenates of these organs were also inoculated in hamsters, without producing infection. No Leishmania DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in sand flies fed on these animals. The results indicate that domestic pigs bitten by L. infantum-infected vectors in the endemic area do not display a full infection pattern, and the positive association in endemic areas between the presence of swine and infection in canines may not be ascribable to the former acting as a parasite reservoir.

Presence of triatoma tiblamaculata (pinto) nymphs in peridomiciles, in Salvador, Bahia

Chagas disease is associated with the domiciliation of infected vectors migrating from their natural ecotopes. The appearance of nymphs in the peridomicile, in Salvador, Bahia, confirms the need for epidemiological surveillance. The vectors were captured from 2006 to 2009, by the population and by epidemiological field agents with the Chagas Disease Control Program. Three hundred and sixty two nymphs of the species Triatoma tibiamaculata (Pinto, 1926) were captured in the peridomicile and 13.5 por cento of these nymphs were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909). Nymphs were near the houses, a possible risk for colonization. Surveillance of the peridomicile is an important element to prevent colonization by disease vectors...

A doença de Chagas está associada à domiciliação de vetores infectados provenientes dos ecótopos naturais. O surgimento de ninfas no peridomicílio em Salvador, Bahia, reafirma a necessidade de vigilância epidemiológica. Os vetores foram capturados de 2006 a 2009 pela população e por agentes de endemias no contexto do Programa de Controle da Doença de Chagas. Foram capturadas 362 ninfas da espécie Triatoma tibiamaculata (Pinto, 1926) no peridomicílio, 13,5 porcento das quais estavam infectadas com T. cruzi (Chagas, 1909). As ninfas estão próximas aos domicílios, o que representa um possível risco de colonização. A vigilância no peridomicílio constitui importante fator de prevenção da colonização de vetores da doença...

Primeiro relato da ocorrência de evandromyia sallesi e evandromyia cortelezzii (diptera: psychodidae) na região metropolitana de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / First report of the occurrence of evandromyia sallesi e evandromyia cortelezzii (diptera: psychodidae) at the metropolitan area of the city of Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil / Primer reporte de ocurrencia de evandromyia sallesi y evandromyia cortelezzii (díptera Psychodidae) en la región metropolitana de la ciudad de Salvador, estado de Bahia, Brasil

Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão e Coutinho) e Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes) na região metropolitana de Salvador, Bahia. Os flebotomíneos foram capturados com armadilhas luminosas CDC, durante um estudo investigativo em 24 localidades. A vigilância entomológica foi realizada entre setembro/2009 e março/2010, sendo coletados 13 espécimes de cinco bairros diferentes e classificados dentro do gênero Evandromyia.

This is the first report of Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão e Coutinho) and Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes) occurrence at the metropolitan area of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The sand flies were captured with CDC luminous traps, during an investigative study in 24 localities. The entomological survey was performed between September/2009 and March/2010, being thirteen specimens collected and classified into the genus Evandromyia, from five different neighborhoods.

Este es el primer relato de ocurrencia de Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão y Coutinho) y Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes) en la región metropolitana de Salvador, Bahia. Los flebotominos fueron capturados con trampas de luz CDC durante un estudio de investigación en 24 localidades. El muestreo entomológico se realizó entre Septiembre/2009 y Marzo/2010, recolectando 13 ejemplares, de cinco barrios diferentes, clasificados en el género Evandromyia.

Horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a transitional vegetation between caatinga and tropical rain forest, state of Bahia, Brazil.

A study about the horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna in two distinct ecosystems, caatinga area, endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, and the tropical rain forest area, endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis, was performed in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Lutzomyia longipalpis was predominant in the caatinga, and following it came the species L. capixaba and L. oswaldoi. In the tropical rain forest other species were found, such as L. intermedia, L. migonei, L. whitmani, L. yuilli, L.fischeri, L. damascenoi, L. evandroi, L. monticola, and L. lenti. It was found that the geographical limits of the vector species of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are clearly defined by the biological and phytogeographic characteristics.

Horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a transitional vegetation between caatinga and tropical rain forest, state of Bahia, Brazil

A study about the horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna in two distinct ecosystems, caatinga area, endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, and the tropical rain forest area, endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis, was performed in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Lutzomyia longipalpis was predominant in the caatinga, and following it came the species L. capixaba and L. oswaldoi. In the tropical rain forest other species were found, such as L. intermedia, L. migonei, L. whitmani, L. yuilli, L.fischeri, L. damascenoi, L. evandroi, L. monticola, and L. lenti. It was found that the geographical limits of the vector species of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are clearly defined by the biological and phytogeographic characteristics

Resultados preliminares de um projeto sobre a ecologia dos flebotomíneos vetores de leishmaniose tegumenar no estado da Bahia / Preliminary results of a project on the ecology of the cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors phlebotominae in the State of Bahia

Preliminary data of a project about the ecology of the Phlebotominae (sandflies) in a tegumentary leishmaniasis area of coconut plantation in the south of the State of Bahia, Brazil are presented. There are 60 dwellings far of one another, where existed 31 dogs and 229 inhabitants. Among them 41.5 per cent were Montenegro positive; 37.5 per cent from these had scars of healed ulcers and 8.8 per cent had active ulcers. 53 per cent of the house had dogs from which 22 per cent were seropositive; from the 7 dogs with ulcers only 3 were seropositive. 14 per cent of the inspected house harboured sandflies inside them. During two years of observations 72 sentinels hamsters were maintened at houses of patients with leishmaniasis ulcers, but they did not get the infection. During two years of observation, monthly collectings of sandflies were made inside house, chicken pen, curral, tree trunks and open field around a house with a patient with leishmaniasis. The following results were already obtained about the vectors: 5,614 specimens were identified as belonging to fourteen different species of sandflies. Among them Lutzomyia whitmani (92 per cent) and Lutzomyia intermedia (4.8 per cent) were the most abundant species. They are very anthropophilic and can be found inside houses and at peridomestic sites. Probably they are the principal vectors of the disease at domestic places. The other twelve species were less frequent and more found at sylvatic places in inspite they also bite the man. Generally the biting activity of most of the species of the area begins at 5 p.m. in the dusk and reaches its peak at 0 hour a.m., when begins declining until disapear at 7 a.m. L. whitmani was similarly collected with the same density in all lunar phases while L. intermedia was more abundant during the new moon phase. Most of the hundreds sandflies collected during the second year of observations, remains preserved in liquid nitrogen, watching for the adjustment of PCR molecular techniques to be processed for determination of the vector natural infection rates with leishmanias. Final results on all the project will be published as soon as the examination of such material has been processed.