Toro Toro (T) and Yungas (Y) have been described as genetically well differentiated populations of the Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) complex in Bolivia. Here we use geometric morphometrics to compare samples from these populations and new populations (Bolivia and Nicaragua), representing distant geographical origins, qualitative morphological variation ("one-spot" or "two-spots" phenotypes), ecologically distinct traits (peridomestic and silvatic populations), and possibly different epidemiological roles (transmitting or nor transmitting Leishmania chagasi). The Nicaragua (N) (Somotillo) sample was "one-spot" phenotype and a possible peridomestic vector. The Bolivian sample of the Y was also "one-spot" phenotype and a demonstrated peridomestic vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The three remaining samples were silvatic, "two-spots" phenotypes. Two of them (Uyuni and T) were collected in the highlands of Bolivian where VL never has been reported. The last one (Robore, R) came from the lowlands of Bolivia, where human cases of VL are sporadically reported. The decomposition of metric variation into size and shape by geometric morphometric techniques suggests the existence of two groups (N/Y/R, and U/T). Several arguments indicate that such subdivision of Lu. longipalpis could correspond to different evolutionary units.

This is the first report of adult and nymphs (20 nymphs of all stages and 4 adults) of Microtriatoma trinidadensis (Lent 1951) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) collected in peridomestic environment, in the department of La Paz, Bolivia. These specimens were associated to Rhodnius stali Lent, Jurberg & Galvão 1993. The exceptional finding of M. trinidadensis in peridomestic environment, illustrates the general tendency of triatominae to adapt to human dwellings and dependences.

Primary systemic amyloidosis or AL-amyloidosis is an uncommon disease characterized by the accumulation in vital organs of a fibrillar protein consisting of monoclonal light chains. It is a plasma-cell dyscrasia related to multiple myeloma where clonal plasma cells in the bone marrow produce immunoglobulins that are amyloidogenic. A monoclonal component is present in the serum or urine of 90% of patients. The presentation of most patients with AL amyloidosis is usually related to congestive heart failure, nephrotic syndrome o peripheral neuropathy, but there are unusual features suggesting giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR). Although in the majority of AL cases the plasma cells clone is small, the assumption is that the outcome of the disease is uniformly fatal (median survival 12-15 months) and treatment is analogous to those used in malignant proliferative disease. We describe a patient with AL amyloidosis who presented with manifestations of GCA and PMR, and we review the main characteristics of primary amyloidosis.

La amiloidosis primaria o amiloidosis AL es una discrasia de células plasmáticas difícil de diferenciar del mieloma múltiple, que se caracteriza por el depósito de una proteína fibrilar de cadenas ligeras monoclonales en tejidos y órganos. Es una enfermedad poco frecuente, en la que un clon de células plasmáticas en la médula ósea produce inmunoglobulinas amiloidogénicas. En el 90% de los casos se detecta por inmunoelectroforesis inmunoglobulinas monoclonales en sangre u orina. Habitualmente se manifiesta como insuficiencia cardiaca, síndrome nefrótico o neuropatía periférica, pero excepcionalmente pueden existir síntomas sugestivos de arteritis de células gigantes (ACG) o polimialgia reumática (PMR). Aunque el número de clones de células plasmáticas en la médula ósea suele ser pequeño, la actitud terapeútica es la de una enfermedad proliferativa maligna, siendo la supervivencia media de 12 a 15 meses. Presentamos un paciente cuya primera manifestación de amiloidosis primaria fueron síntomas de ACG y PMR, y revisamos las principales características de esta enfermedad.