Trichophoromyia auraensis: evidence for cryptic species and first record in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.

Trichophoromyia auraensis (Mangabeira, 1942) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) has a wide geographic distribution in the western region of the Amazon biome, where it is a putative Leishmania vector. Here, we reported for the first time a population of this species in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, in the eastern Amazon, from which we DNA-barcoded and compared with previously processed specimens from Acre State, in the western Amazon. For this, we analyzed the DNA barcoding fragment (658 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of Trichophoromyia species using phylogenetic gene trees, and species delimitation algorithms. The analyses of COI barcodes showed high values of genetic distance (mean K2P = 5.17) and well-supported clades/MOTUs for the eastern and western populations of T. auraensis, which may indicate a possible complex of cryptic species. The western population of this taxon merged with the close-related sand fly Trichophoromyia velezbernali Posada-López, Galvis and Galati, 2018 from Colombia, which may be associated with the recent speciation history and introgression between these populations. These evidences should be evaluated with a more comprehensive sampling in terms of analyzed populations and molecular markers.

Morphological and DNA-based description of Trichophoromyia peixotoi n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new sand fly species from the Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: Phlebotomine sand flies of the genus Trichophoromyia Barretto, 1962 are of great relevance to public health as vectors of Leishmania protozoans. A new phlebotomine species named Trichophoromyia peixotoi n. sp. is here described based on both male morphology and COI DNA barcodes. METHODS: The sand fly specimens were collected in the Parque Nacional da Amazônia (PNA), situated in the municipality of Itaituba, state of Pará, Brazil. Morphological description was done based on 10 male specimens. Five specimens were DNA barcoded for the COI gene. RESULTS: The morphological and molecular analyses allowed the delimitation of this new species from others of Trichophoromyia. Trichophoromyia peixotoi n. sp. is closely related to other species with aedeagal ducts > 4 times the length of the sperm pump, from which it may be distinguished by the gonocoxite bristles and paramere shape. CONCLUSIONS: The description of T. peixotoi n. sp. brings the number of species of Trichophoromyia to 45, including 24 for Brazil. The integrative taxonomy effort through the analysis of COI barcodes proved to be effective in the species delimitation of some Trichophoromyia spp.

New species and new records of Monohelea Kieffer (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) from Brazil.

Two new Brazilian species of Monohelea Kieffer are described and illustrated based on male specimens, Monoheleacapixaba sp. nov. from Espírito Santo and Monoheleacoimbrai sp. nov. from Rio de Janeiro. New records for M.aguirrei Tavares & Souza, M.archibaldoi Tavares & Souza and M.maculipennis (Coquillet) are given based on specimens from Espírito Santo (all three species) and Amapá (M.maculipennis only). All specimens are deposited in the Ceratopogonidae Collection of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil.

Assessing geographic and climatic variables to predict the potential distribution of the visceral leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease caused by the protozoa Leishmania chagasi, whose main vector in South America is Lutzomyia longipalpis. The disease was diagnosed in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo (ES) for the first time in 1968. Currently, this disease has been considered endemic in 10 municipalities. Furthermore, the presence of L. longipalpis has been detected in eight other municipalities where the transmission has not been reported thus far. In this study, we performed species distribution modeling (SDM) to identify new and most likely receptive areas for VL transmission in ES. The sandflies were both actively and passively collected in various rural area of ES between 1986 and 2017. The collection points were georeferenced using a global positioning system device. Climatic data were retrieved from the WorldClim database, whereas geographic data were obtained from the National Institute for Space Research and the Integrated System of Geospatial Bases of the State of Espírito Santo. The maximum entropy algorithm was used through the MIAmaxent R package to train and test the distribution models for L. longipalpis. The major contributor to model generation was rocky outcrops, followed by temperature seasonality. The SDM predicted the expansion of the L. longipalpis-prone area in the Doce River Valley and limited the probability of expanding outside its watershed. Once the areas predicted suitable for L. longipalpis occurrence are determined, we can avoid the inefficient use of public resources in conducting canine serological surveys where the vector insect does not occur.

Sand fly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Goytacazes National Forest and surrounding areas of southeastern Brazil.

Most studies of the sand fly fauna in southeastern Brazil are conducted in the peridomiciliary environment of leishmaniasis endemic regions. Therefore, to increase the knowledge about diversity and richness of sand fly conservation areas, we describe here the sand fly fauna from the National Forest of Goytacazes (NFG), state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and its surroundings areas. We also used sand fly fauna records from eight conservations units within the state of Espírito Santo to understand the similarity and relationships among them. The sand flies were simultaneously collected from June, 2008 to May, 2009 in two different environments: a preserved environment represented by the NFG and a modified environment represented by a peridomicile. To establish the similarity among the conservation units, we used a method very similar to parsimony analysis of endemism. We collected 2,466 sand fly specimens belonging to 13 species. Pressatia choti and Nyssomyia intermedia were the most abundant sand fly species. Ny. intermedia is a known vector of Leishmania braziliensis and epidemiological surveillance must be conducted in the area. We discuss aspects regarding the diversity of sand flies as well as the risk of transmission of Leishmania parasites in the area. We also provide for the first time a hypothesis of similarity relationships among conservation units within the state of Espírito Santo.