Abstract A sand fly fauna inventory was conducted in an ecotourism area of central Veracruz, Mexico. We recorded and analyzed the sand fly diversity at 3 different land use types (well-preserved forest, fruit-tree plantations, and human settlements) with sampling conducted 3 times in 1 year (dry, rainy, and cold seasons). A total of 891 specimens of 6 genera and 14 species was recorded. High diversity was detected in the preserved area due to a high species richness and abundance as compared with the fruit-tree plantations and human settlements, respectively. In relation to the seasons of the year, high diversity was found in the cold season as compared with the rainy and dry seasons. The variation of the Phlebotominae assemblage in space and time in the ecotourism zone is described, serving as a baseline to recommend preventive actions to settlers and travelers. Additionally, we include new species records for the state of Veracruz.

Resumen Se realizó un inventario de la fauna de flebotominos en una zona ecoturística del centro de Veracruz, México. Se registró y analizó la diversidad de flebotominos en 3 tipos diferentes de uso del suelo (bosque, plantaciones de árboles frutales y asentamientos humanos) con muestreos realizados 3 veces en 1 año (estaciones seca, lluviosa y fría). Se registró un total de 891 ejemplares de 6 géneros y 14 especies. Se detectó una alta diversidad en el área selvática debido a una alta riqueza de especies y abundancia en comparación con las plantaciones de árboles frutales y los asentamientos humanos, respectivamente. En relación con las estaciones del año, se encontró una alta diversidad en la estación fría en comparación con las estaciones lluviosa y seca. Se describe la variación del ensamblaje de Phlebotominae en el espacio y el tiempo de una zona ecoturística, sirviendo como línea de base para recomendar acciones preventivas a colonos y viajeros. Adicionalmente, se incluyen nuevos registros de especies en el estado de Veracruz.

Abstract Leishmaniases are a group of clinical manifestations that represent a health problem in Mexico. We analyzed the diversity of phlebotominae sand fly in seven localities of the municipality of Calakmul, Campeche. We collected sandflies during 2001-2007 with three methods: light CDC traps, mice-baited Disney traps, and human-baited Shannon traps. A total of 17405 phlebotomine sand flies were collected, representing nine genera and 17 species. Communities with the highest species richness were Once de Mayo and Dos Naciones. Alpha diversity was found to be highest in Dos Lagunas Sur and La Guadalupe, whereas the highest dominance was found in Unión 20 de Junio and Arroyo Negro. Likewise, the highest record for species eveness was detected in Dos Naciones and La Virgencita. In general, it was found that beta diversity exhibited the highest values (share species) 99% (≈17 species) between Union 20 de Junio-La Guadalupe, as well as between La Guadalupe-La Virgencita and Dos Naciones-Dos Lagunas Sur, respectively. Using C-score analysis, it was found that co-occurrence of species at that spatial scale was found to be random, with not significant scores for either an aggregated or dispersed occurrence. In conclusion, two are new records for the state of Campeche: Micropygomyia (Micropygomyia) cayennensis maciasi and Dampfomyia (Coromyia) steatopyga. Biodiversity estimators are effective in explaining the richness and structure of the community, arguing the utility of the Q statistic, which, not being influenced by abundant species or rare species, would result in a good estimate of heterogeneity.

Resumen Las leishmaniasis son un conjunto de manifestaciones clínicas de gran importancia en México. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la diversidad y co-ocurrencia de flebotomineos en Calakmul, Campeche. Se capturaron flebotomineos en siete localidades durante el periodo de 2001 2007, con diferentes tipos de trampas. En total se recolectaron 17.405 flebotomineos representados por nueve géneros y 17 especies. La mayor diversidad alfa se presentó en Dos Lagunas Sur y La Guadalupe, mientras que la mayor dominancia se dio en Unión 20 de Junio y Arroyo Negro. La mayor equidad se presentó en Dos Naciones y La Virgencita. Se encontró que la mayor diversidad beta se presentó entre en Unión 20 de Junio-La Guadalupe, La Guadalupe-La Virgencita y Dos Naciones-Dos Lagunas Sur con un 99%. Finalmente, el análisis de co-ocurrencia de especies, no permitió inferir alguna relación significativa entre flebotomineos. En conclusión, se reportan dos nuevos registros para Campeche: Micropygomyia (Micropygomyia) cayennensis maciasi y Dampfomyia (Coromyia) steatopyga. Los estimadores de biodiversidad son efectivos para explicar la riqueza y estructura de la comunidad, se argumenta la utilidad del estadístico Q, que, al no ser influenciado por especies abundantes o especies raras, resultaría en una buena estimación de la heterogeneidad.

Monitoring phlebotomine sandflies in urban areas is key for epidemiological studies in susceptible populations. This paper describes sandfly fauna that were present in an urban area of the municipality of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, and were captured with Shannon and CDC light traps. During February and March of 2014, 1,442 sandflies were captured, specifically Lutzomyia cruciata (Coquillet) (98.8%), Lutzomyia cayennensis cayennensis (Floch and Abonnenc) (0.8%), Lutzomyia chiapanensis (Dampf) (0.3%) and Lutzomyia atulapai (De León) (0.1%). Lu. cruciata was the most abundant and the most frequently trapped species. This is the first record of its remarkable ability to adapt to urban green areas. The three other species trapped represent new records of geographic distribution for the study region. These results indicate the need to establish measures for reducing both human contact with this vector and the risk of possible sites of infection.

Contexto e Objetivo: A doença de Chagas é mundialmente considerada uma doença emergente, é endêmica no México e no estado de Coahuila e considerada de pouca relevância. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a soroprevalência da infecção pelo T. cruzi em doadores de sangue e cardiomiopatia chagásica em pacientes da região carbonífera de Coahuila, México.Desenho e Local: Estudo epidemiológico, exploratório e prospectivo em um hospital geral no período de janeiro a junho de 2011.Métodos: Foram realizados testes de laboratório ELISA e hemoglutinação indireta em três grupos de indivíduos: 1) doadores de sangue voluntários assintomáticos, 2) pacientes internados na área de cardiologia e 3) pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada.Resultados: Foram achados três níveis de soroprevalência: 0,31% em indivíduos doadores de sangue assintomáticos, 1,25% em pacientes cardiopatas e, em pacientes com cardiomiopatia dilatada 21,14%.Conclusão: Detectamos casos autóctones de doença de Chagas em área considerada não endêmica. Deve ser determinada sua importância na saúde pública regional e local, para estabelecer os detalhes do mecanismo de transmissão. O estudo ainda está em desenvolvimento.

Context and Objective: Chagas disease is considered a worldwide emerging disease; it is endemic in Mexico and the state of Coahuila and is considered of little relevance. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in blood donors and Chagas cardiomyopathy in patients from the coal mining region of Coahuila, Mexico.Design and Setting: Epidemiological, exploratory and prospective study in a general hospital during the period January to June 2011.Methods: We performed laboratory tests ELISA and indirect hemagglutination in three groups of individuals: 1) asymptomatic voluntary blood donors, 2) patients hospitalized in the cardiology department and 3) patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.Results: There were three levels of seroprevalence: 0.31% in asymptomatic individuals, 1.25% in cardiac patients and in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in 21.14%.Conclusions: In spite of having detected autochthonous cases of Chagas disease, its importance to local public health remains to be established as well as the details of the dynamics of transmission so that the study is still in progress.

The composition and seasonal occurrence of sandflies were investigated in coffee agroecosystems in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. Insect sampling was performed on three plantations located at different altitudes: Finca Guadalupe Zajú [1,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)], Finca Argovia (613 m a.s.l.) and Teotihuacán del Valle (429 m a.s.l.). Sandflies were sampled monthly from August 2007-July 2008 using three sampling methods: Shannon traps, CDC miniature light traps and Disney traps. Sampling was conducted for 3 h during three consecutive nights, beginning at sunset. A total of 4,387 sandflies were collected during the course of the study: 2,718 individuals in Finca Guadalupe Zajú, 605 in Finca Argovia and 1,064 in Teotihuacán del Valle. The Shannon traps captured 94.3% of the total sandflies, while the CDC light traps and Disney traps captured 4.9% and 0.8%, respectively. More females than males were collected at all sites. While the number of sandflies captured was positively correlated with temperature and relative humidity, a negative correlation was observed between sandfly numbers and rainfall. Five species of sandflies were captured: Lutzomyia cruciata , Lutzomyia texana , Lutzomyia ovallesi , Lutzomyia cratifer / undulata and Brumptomyia sp. Lu. cruciata , constituting 98.8% of the total, was the most abundant species. None of the captured sandflies was infected with Leishmaniaspp.

The present paper reports new distribution records of Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stål) in the municipalities of China, General Bravo, Santiago and Villaldama of the state of Nuevo Leon; whereas Triatoma rubida (Uhler) is reported for the first time in the municipality of Ocampo of the state of Coahuila, México.

A faunistic study was carried out to gain insight into the distribution, species richness and abundance of sandflies in Quintana Roo, Mexico. There was a great intra- and interregional variability in mean species richness and abundance in Quintana Roo. The northern region appeared to have the highest species richness and abundance, followed by the central and southern regions, which exhibited an equal richness between them. Also, the central region showed the lowest sandfly abundance. Each region showed a rather distinctive dominant species composition, although two species, Lutzomyia shannoni and Lutzomyia cruciata, were among the most abundant in all three regions. In fact, some of the most abundant speciesare suspected vectors of leishmaniasis at the Yucatan Peninsula. Environmental factors prevailing in the state are thought to be the main factors mediating the differences in sandfly abundances in the different regions of Quintana Roo.

Se llevó a cabo un estudio faunístico en el estado de Quintana Roo para conocer la distribución, riqueza y abundancia de los flebotominos. Se observó una gran variabilidad del promedio de especies y abundancia dentro y entre tres diferentes zonas (sur, centro y norte) en el estado. La mayor abundancia y riqueza se registró en la zona norte, en la zona centro y sur se capturaron igual número de especies, y la zona centro tuvo la menor abundancia. En cada zona fueron diferentes las especies dominantes, aunque, Lutzomyia shannoni y Lutzomyia cruciata se registraron dentro de las más dominantes distribuidas en las tres zonas. Entre las especies dominantes que se presentan en el estado se encuentran aquellas que son incriminadas como vectores de leishmaniasis en la Península de Yucatán. Los factores ambientales que se presentan en el estado son reflejados en las abundancias encontradas en las diferentes zonas de Quintana Roo.

Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille) is considered to be one of the primary vectors of Chagas disease in Southern Mexico and Central America. The objective of the present study was to obtain ecological information on T. dimidiata in two rural communities of Campeche, Mexico, where the vector is poorly studied. Our work consisted of monthly samplings carried out during one-year time at three levels: sylvatic, peridomestic and intradomestic, in order to estimate the population abundance of this species and its rate of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. Triatoma dimidiata was the unique vector of this disease collected in San Juan Bautista Sakcabchen (SJBS) and Crucero San Luis (CSL). The total of 145 individuals were captured in SJBS; from these, 26.9%, 20% and 53.1% were collected in the sylvatic, peridomestic and intradomestic area, respectively. In CSL captures yielded 108 individuals: 40.7% in the sylvatic area, 20.4% peridomestic and 38.9% intradomestic. We found no correlation between climatic variables and population abundance of T. dimidiata. Dataset obtained suggests that individuals from the sylvatic area exhibit a high rate of natural infection by T. cruzi, with monthly percentages up to 61.5% for SJBS and 50% for CSL. At the peri and intradomestic level, the reservoirs apparently play an important role in the transmission, as the seroprevalence in dogs was 61.5% y 65.4%, for SJBS y CSL, respectively. Based on these findings, it was concluded that inhabitants of both communities are at a high risk of Chagas disease infection.

Vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Campeche were studied in relation to the transmission cycle of Leishmania (Le.) mexicana. To determine how transmission of leishmaniasis occurs, we collected phlebotomine sand flies for two years. In the first year (October 1990 to November 1991) the collections were made with CDC light traps, Shannon traps and direct captures at natural shelters around the village (<200 m) of La Libertad. In the second year (February 1993 to January 1994) the catches were performed at 8 km southeast of La Libertad in the forest. Female sand flies were examined for Leishmania. During the first year, 347 sand flies of nine species were collected, most of which were Lutzomyia deleoni (61.3%). When all nine species were considered, more females than males were captured. Low densities of anthropophillic species of sand flies around the village indicated that sylvatic transmission was taking place. For the second year, 1484 sand flies of 16 species were caught. The most common were L. olmeca olmeca (21.7%), L. cruciata (19.2%) and L. ovallesi (14.1%). Similarly, more females were caught than males. Thirty-five females of five species were found infected with flagellates believed to be Leishmania sp. The highest infection rate was found in L. olmeca olmeca (7.1%) followed by L. cruciata (4.5%) and L. ovallesi (1.1%). These data plus other evidence on the epidemiology of human cases and results from reservoir studies are discussed in relation to the sylvatic transmission cycle.