Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) is a member of the Japanese-encephalitis virus serocomplex of the genus Flavivirus. SLEV is broadly distributed in the Americas and the Caribbean Islands, where it is usually transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Culex and primarily to birds and mammalian-hosts. Humans are occasionally infected by the virus and are dead-end hosts. SLEV causes encephalitis in temperate regions, while in tropical regions of the Americas, several human cases and a wide biological diversity of SLEV-strains have been reported. The phylogenetic analysis of the envelope (E) protein genes indicated eight-genotypes of SLEV with geographic overlap. The present paper describes the genotyping of two SLEV viruses detected in mosquito-pools collected in northern Colombia (department of Cordoba). We used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to amplify a fragment of theE-gene to confirm the virus identity and completeE-gene sequencing for phylogenetic analysis and genotyping of the two-SLEV viruses found circulating in Córdoba. This is the first report of SLEV genotype IV in Colombia (Córdoba) in mosquitoes from a region of human inhabitation, implicating the risk of human disease due to SLEV infection. Physicians should consider SLEV as a possible aetiology for undiagnosed febrile and neurologic syndromes among their patients who report exposure to mosquito-bites.

La fragmentación de los ecosistemas se asocia, generalmente, con procesos de intervención antrópica, que modifican el paisaje y afectan los patrones de distribución de insectos de importancia médica. En este sentido se realizó un listado de especies pertenecientes al géneroLutzomyia, potenciales vectores de diferentes especies del parásitoLeishmania, en el centro Agropecuario Cotové, un área intervenida, en el municipio de Santa Fe de Antioquia, departamento de Antioquia. Los muestreos se realizaron empleando trampas de luz tipo CDC, Shannon, búsqueda activa diurna y trampas de papel. Un total de seis especies deLutzomyia fueron identificadas, resaltando la presencia deL. gomezi, altamente antropofílica e implicada en la transmisión de leishmaniasis cutánea en diferentes regiones de Colombia. También sobresalen por sus antecedentes de infección natural porLeishmania spp., en ambientes selváticos y urbanos, L. cayennensis cayennensis, L. lichyi yL. micropyga. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren un riesgo potencial y la necesidad de evaluar la posible circulación del parásito en esta zona de creciente actividad turística y agropecuaria de Colombia.

Fragmentation of ecosystems is generally associated with human intervention processes that modify the landscape and affect the distribution patterns of species with medical importance. A survey ofLutzomyia species, potential vectors ofLeishmania, was conducted in the agricultural center Cotové, a disturbed area in the municipality of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Department of Antioquia. Sampling was accomplished using CDC light traps, Shannon traps, active daily searches, and oiled paper traps. Six species of sandflies were identified, highlighting the presence ofLutzomyia gomezi, a highly anthropophilic species involved in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in different regions of Colombia. It is also important to highlight the presence ofL. cayennensis cayennensis, L. lichyi andL. micropyga, all of which have antecedents of natural infection withLeishmania spp. in jungle and urban environments. Our findings suggest a potential risk and the need to assess the possible circulation of the parasite in this area of growing tourism and agriculture in Colombia.