Abstract Sand flies, vectors capable of transmitting Leishmania spp. and causing leishmaniasis, have been a concern in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, where canine leishmaniasis (CanL) has been documented since 1985. Notably, there has been a surge in CanL cases since 2017, with two autochthonous cases of human visceral leishmaniasis reported in the area in 2021. This study aimed to identify the sand fly fauna potentially involved in disease transmission. Modified Centers for Disease Control light traps were deployed in three neighborhoods of the city where CanL cases had been previously reported, spanning January 2021 to December 2022. Of the 89 collections conducted, 119 sand flies belonging to five species were captured: Pintomyia fischeri (76/119, 63.86%), Migonemyia migonei (23/119, 19.33%), Lutzomyia longipalpis (16/119, 13.45%), Brumptomyia sp. (2/119, 1.68%), and Psathyromyia lanei (2/119, 1.68%), predominantly between February and April in 2021 and 2022. Polymerase chain reaction testing on all female specimens yielded negative results for Leishmania spp. DNA. Although Leishmania spp. was not detected in these vectors, these findings underscore the imperative to implement measures aimed at curtailing the proliferation of these insects. spp Sul (CanL 1985 Notably 2017 transmission 202 2022 8 conducted 11 captured 76/119, 76119 76 (76/119 63.86%, 6386 63.86% , 63 86 63.86%) 23/119, 23119 23 (23/119 19.33%, 1933 19.33% 19 33 19.33%) 16/119, 16119 16 (16/119 13.45%, 1345 13.45% 13 45 13.45%) sp 2/119, 2119 2 (2/119 1.68%, 168 1.68% 1 68 1.68%) DNA insects 198 201 20 76/119 7611 7 (76/11 638 63.86 6 23/119 2311 (23/11 193 19.33 3 16/119 1611 (16/11 134 13.45 4 2/119 211 (2/11 1.68 76/11 761 (76/1 63.8 23/11 231 (23/1 19.3 16/11 161 (16/1 13.4 2/11 21 (2/1 1.6 76/1 (76/ 63. 23/1 (23/ 19. 16/1 (16/ 13. 2/1 (2/ 1. 76/ (76 23/ (23 16/ (16 2/ (2 (7 (1 (
Resumo Os flebotomíneos, vetores capazes de transmitir Leishmania spp. e causar leishmaniose, têm sido uma preocupação na região central do Rio Grande do Sul, onde a leishmaniose canina (CanL) é documentada desde 1985. Notavelmente, houve um aumento nos casos de CanL desde 2017, com dois casos autóctones de leishmaniose visceral humana relatados na área, em 2021. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar a fauna de flebotomíneos potencialmente envolvida na transmissão da doença. Armadilhas luminosas modificadas, do Centro de Controle de Doenças, foram implantadas em três bairros da cidade onde casos de CanL haviam sido relatados anteriormente, no período de janeiro de 2021 a dezembro de 2022. Das 89 coletas realizadas, 119 flebotomíneos de cinco espécies foram capturados: Pintomyia fischeri (76/119, 63,86%), Migonemyia migonei (23/119, 19,33%), Lutzomyia longipalpis (16/119, 13,45%), Brumptomyia sp. (2/119, 1,68%) e Psathyromyia lanei (2/119, 1,68%), predominantemente, entre fevereiro e abril de 2021 e 2022. Testes de reação em cadeia da polimerase em todos os espécimes fêmeas resultaram negativos para DNA de Leishmania spp. Embora Leishmania spp. não tenha sido detectada nesses vetores, esses achados destacam a necessidade imperativa de implementar medidas destinadas a conter a proliferação desses insetos. spp Sul (CanL 1985 Notavelmente 2017 área doença modificadas Doenças anteriormente 202 2022 8 realizadas 11 capturados 76/119, 76119 76 (76/119 63,86%, 6386 63,86% , 63 86 63,86%) 23/119, 23119 23 (23/119 19,33%, 1933 19,33% 19 33 19,33%) 16/119, 16119 16 (16/119 13,45%, 1345 13,45% 13 45 13,45%) sp 2/119, 2119 2 (2/119 1,68% 168 1 68 1,68%, predominantemente insetos 198 201 20 76/119 7611 7 (76/11 638 63,86 6 23/119 2311 (23/11 193 19,33 3 16/119 1611 (16/11 134 13,45 4 2/119 211 (2/11 1,68 76/11 761 (76/1 63,8 23/11 231 (23/1 19,3 16/11 161 (16/1 13,4 2/11 21 (2/1 1,6 76/1 (76/ 63, 23/1 (23/ 19, 16/1 (16/ 13, 2/1 (2/ 1, 76/ (76 23/ (23 16/ (16 2/ (2 (7 (1 (