Publications

bionomic aspects of lutzomyia evansi and lutzomyia longipalpis, proven vectors of leishmania infantum in an endemic area of non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in honduras.	some lutzomyia species are the vectors of human leishmaniasis in the americas. visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are both endemic in the pacific region of honduras, but the non-ulcerative form is the more frequent clinical manifestation in this region, where lutzomyia longipalpis is the most abundant and the only incriminated vector. taxonomic identification and distribution studies of sand flies are important to understand the epidemiology and to control these neglected tropical diseases.	2018	29304878
molecular detection and identification of wolbachia in three species of the genus lutzomyia on the colombian caribbean coast.	the hematophagous habits of insects belonging to the genus lutzomyia (diptera: psychodidae), as well as their role as biological vectors of leishmania species, make their presence an indication of infection risk. in the present study, seven species of lutzomyia were identified and screened for natural infections with wolbachia.	2017	28241782
[estimation of time detection limit for human cytochrome b in females of lutzomyia evansi].	molecular biology techniques have allowed a better knowledge of sources of blood meals in vector insects. however, the usefulness of these techniques depends on both the quantity of ingested blood and the digestion process in the insect.	2017	29161490
nestedness patterns of sand fly (diptera: psychodidae) species in a neotropical semi-arid environment.	a common pattern in neotropical leishmania spp. transmission is the co-occurrence of several sand fly (sf) species at endemic foci. we collected 13 sf spp. by direct aspiration in natural resting places (nrp) and 10 sf spp. with shannon traps (st), totaling 15 spp. with both methods, at 6 locations within a semi-arid region with endemic visceral leishmaniasis transmission in falcón state, northwestern venezuela. we used null model testing of species co-occurrence and nestedness metrics estimated ...	2016	26456179
proceedings of the ix international symposium on phlebotomine sandflies (isops ix), reims, france, june 28th-july 1st, 2016.		2016	27677701
evidence for anthropophily in five species of phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) from northern colombia, revealed by molecular identification of bloodmeals.	identification of the bloodmeal sources of phlebotomine sand flies is fundamental to determining which species are anthropophilic and understanding the transmission of leishmania parasites in natural epidemiological settings. the objective of this study was to identify sand fly bloodmeals in the mixed leishmaniasis focus of the department of sucre, northern colombia. in all 141 engorged female sand flies were analyzed, after being captured in intradomiciliary, peridomiciliary and extradomiciliar ...	2016	26464046
sensitivity and specificity of parallel or serial serological testing for detection of canine leishmania infection.	in brazil, human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) caused by leishmania infantum has undergone urbanisation since 1980, constituting a public health problem, and serological tests are tools of choice for identifying infected dogs. until recently, the brazilian zoonoses control program recommended enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (elisa) and indirect immunofluorescence assays (ifa) as the screening and confirmatory methods, respectively, for the detection of canine infection. the purpose ...	2016	26910354
structural differences in gut bacteria communities in developmental stages of natural populations of lutzomyia evansi from colombia's caribbean coast.	lutzomyia evansi, a phlebotomine insect endemic to colombia's caribbean coast, is considered to be the main vector of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region. although insects of this species can harbor pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms in their intestinal microbiota, there is little information available about the diversity of gut bacteria present in lutzomyia evansi. in this study, conventional microbiological methods and molecular tools were used to assess the compositio ...	2016	27618991
lutzomyia longipalpis urbanisation and control.	since the description of lutzomyia longipalpis by lutz and neiva more than 100 years ago, much has been written in the scientific literature about this phlebotomine species. soares and turco (2003) and lainson and rangel (2005) have written extensive reviews focused on vector-host-parasite interactions and american visceral leishmaniasis ecology. however, during the last two decades, the success of lu. longipalpis in colonising urban environments and its simultaneous geographical spreading have ...	2015	26517497
effect of leishmania spp infection on the survival, life expectancy, fecundity and fertility of lutzomyia longipalpiss.l. and lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis.	we evaluated the effects of leishmaniaspp infection on several population parameters of lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato andlutzomyia pseudolongipalpis, vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in venezuela, under experimental conditions during the first post-feeding period. females of both species were allowed to feed and engorge on a suspension of fresh washed human red blood cells in foetal calf serum. these blood cells were either non-infected or infected with one of the fourleishmaniaspp strains a ...	2015	26132427
[morphological abnormalities in the cibarium of lutzomyia evansi (diptera: psychodidae, phlebotominae) caught in trujillo, venezuela].	lutzomyia evansi is a recognized vector of leishmania infantum in colombia and venezuela.	2015	26535549
predicted altitudinal shifts and reduced spatial distribution of leishmania infantum vector species under climate change scenarios in colombia.	visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is caused by the trypanosomatid parasite leishmania infantum (=leishmania chagasi), and is epidemiologically relevant due to its wide geographic distribution, the number of annual cases reported and the increase in its co-infection with hiv. two vector species have been incriminated in the americas: lutzomyia longipalpis and lutzomyia evansi. in colombia, l. longipalpis is distributed along the magdalena river valley while l. evansi is only found in the northern part ...	2014	23988300
dna barcoding for the identification of sand fly species (diptera, psychodidae, phlebotominae) in colombia.	sand flies include a group of insects that are of medical importance and that vary in geographic distribution, ecology, and pathogen transmission. approximately 163 species of sand flies have been reported in colombia. surveillance of the presence of sand fly species and the actualization of species distribution are important for predicting risks for and monitoring the expansion of diseases which sand flies can transmit. currently, the identification of phlebotomine sand flies is based on morpho ...	2014	24454877
current and future niche of north and central american sand flies (diptera: psychodidae) in climate change scenarios.	ecological niche models are useful tools to infer potential spatial and temporal distributions in vector species and to measure epidemiological risk for infectious diseases such as the leishmaniases. the ecological niche of 28 north and central american sand fly species, including those with epidemiological relevance, can be used to analyze the vector's ecology and its association with transmission risk, and plan integrated regional vector surveillance and control programs. in this study, we mod ...	2013	24069478
sand-fly saliva-leishmania-man: the trigger trio.	leishmaniases are worldwide diseases transmitted to the vertebrate host by the bite of an infected sand-fly. sand-fly biting and parasite inoculation are accompanied by the injection of salivary molecules, whose immunomodulatory properties are actively being studied. this mini review focuses on how the interactions between sand-fly saliva and the immune system may shape the outcome of infection, given its immunomodulatory properties, in experimental models and in the endemic area. additionally, ...	2013	24312093
natural infection of didelphis aurita (mammalia: marsupialia) with leishmania infantum in brazil.	the opossum didelphis have been considered as natural hosts of leishmania parasites in the new world, suggesting an important role in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (vl). among six extant species that belong to the genus didelphis, only two (d. marsupialis and d. albiventris), have been mentioned as natural hosts of leishmania infantum in brazil and colombia. in the present paper, it is reported for the first time, the observation of intracellular parasites (amastigotes) in tissues o ...	2012	22676324
current knowledge of leishmania vectors in mexico: how geographic distributions of species relate to transmission areas.	leishmaniases are a group of vector-borne diseases with different clinical manifestations caused by parasites transmitted by sand fly vectors. in mexico, the sand fly lutzomyia olmeca olmeca is the only vector proven to transmit the parasite leishmania mexicana to humans, which causes leishmaniasis. other vector species with potential medical importance have been obtained, but their geographic distributions and relation to transmission areas have never been assessed. we modeled the ecological ni ...	2011	22049037
differential midgut attachment of leishmania (viannia) braziliensis in the sand flies lutzomyia (nyssomyia) whitmani and lutzomyia (nyssomyia) intermedia.	the interaction between leishmania and sand flies has been demonstrated in many old and new world species. besides the morphological differentiation from procyclic to infective metacyclic promastigotes, the parasite undergoes biochemical transformations in its major surface lipophosphoglycan (lpg). an upregulation of beta-glucose residues was previously shown in the lpg repeat units from procyclic to metacyclic phase in leishmania (viannia) braziliensis, which has not been reported in any leishm ...	2010	20011070
using biotic interaction networks for prediction in biodiversity and emerging diseases.	networks offer a powerful tool for understanding and visualizing inter-species ecological and evolutionary interactions. previously considered examples, such as trophic networks, are just representations of experimentally observed direct interactions. however, species interactions are so rich and complex it is not feasible to directly observe more than a small fraction. in this paper, using data mining techniques, we show how potential interactions can be inferred from geographic data, rather th ...	2009	19478956
canine leishmaniosis in south america.	abstract : canine leishmaniosis is widespread in south america, where a number of leishmania species have been isolated or molecularly characterised from dogs. most cases of canine leishmaniosis are caused by leishmania infantum (syn. leishmania chagasi) and leishmania braziliensis. the only well-established vector of leishmania parasites to dogs in south america is lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of l. infantum, but many other phlebotomine sandfly species might be involved. for quite som ...	2009	19426440
cutaneous leishmaniasis due to leishmania chagasi/le. infantum in an endemic area of guarico state, venezuela.	this study reports cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) caused by leishmania chagasi/le. infantum in venezuela, with some atypical characteristics. out of 63 cases of cl in the suburbs of altagracia de orituco, guarico state, venezuela, 30 presented clinical, parasitological, immunological and epidemiological features different from those of the classical cl known in the country. the initial lesion was small and nodular, which, if not treated, might progress to a superficial ulcer. no secondary infectio ...	2009	19150102
role of the domestic dog as a reservoir host of leishmania donovani in eastern sudan.	abstract:	2009	19534802
[species of lutzomyia involved in an urban focus of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis].	a focus of leishmanias transmission was reported in the municipality of el carmen de bolívar in the province of bolívar, colombia, where both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis cases have occured. vector identification, ecology and behavior of potential vector species have not been characterized in this region, however.	2008	19034365
sergeia podlipaevi gen. nov., sp. nov. (trypanosomatidae, kinetoplastida), a parasite of biting midges (ceratopogonidae, diptera).	three strains of a trypanosomatid protozoan were isolated from the midguts of two naturally infected species of biting midges [culicoides (oecacta) festivipennis and culicoides (oecacta) truncorum] and characterized by light and electron microscopy and by molecular techniques. morphological characteristics and sequences of the 18s rrna, 5s rrna, spliced leader rna and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes indicate that the studied flagellates represent a novel phylogenetic li ...	2007	17267991
[identification of lutzomyia spp. (diptera: psychodidae) verrucarum group through electron microscopy of its eggs].	the value of colombian phlebotomine eggs for species determination was studied with a scanning electron microscope. the species diversity and medical importance of the verrucarum group were the bases to select lutzomyia youngi, lutzomyia evansi, lutzomyia columbiana and lutzomyia longiflocosa. the egg surface was poligonal. lutzomyia youngi, and lutzomyia columbiana had pentagonal or hexagonal patterns; lutzomyia evansi elongated polygons and lutzomyia longiflocosa irregular polygonal sculpturin ...	2006	11354968
first record of lutzomyia evansi (nuñez-tovar 1924) in mexico (diptera: psychodidae, phlebotominae).	the phlebotomine sand fly lutzomyia evansi is recorded in mexico for the first time. this species is a suspected vector of leishmania infantum in other parts of its geographical range and was captured in a focus of american visceral leishmaniasis where the principal vector, lu. longipalpis sensu lato, was also found. the relative public health importance of the two species in the study area (chiapas state, southern mexico) is discussed.	2004	15250463
comparative vectorial efficiency of lutzomyia evansi and lu. longipalpis for transmitting leishmania chagasi.	the infection rates and development of leishmania chagasi in two sandfly species, lutzomyia evansi and lutzomyia longipalpis, were evaluated under natural and experimental conditions. natural infection rates of lu. evansi in san andrés de sotavento (colombia) and montañas de peraza (venezuela) (0.05 and 0.2%, respectively) were similar to those previously recorded for this species in colombia and venezuela and for lu. longipalpis in many foci of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl). both sand f ...	2003	12505180
feeding success of lutzomyia evansi (diptera: psychodidae) experimentally exposed to small mammal hosts in an endemic focus of leishmania chagasi in northern colombia.	lutzomyia evansi is the vector of leishmania chagasi in northern colombia. differences in feeding success were revealed, when this phlebotomine sand fly was fed on five species of small mammal hosts from an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis. in each trial, 50 female sand flies were provided access to similar-sized depilated areas of the hind foot of each of 44 individual mammals and allowed to feed for 30 minutes. the number of engorged sand flies was counted at the end of each trial and c ...	2003	14968917
[new findings on the geographic distribution of the verrucarum group (diptera: psychodidae) in colombia].	the incrimination of sand flies belonging to verrucarum species group in the leishmaniasis transmission underscores the need for a detailed information on the geographical distribution of these species. the current listing adds 34 new records that extend significantly the knowledge of the geographical distribution of the verrucarum group in colombia. the most important new records pertain to lutzomyia spinicrassa in the tropical dry forest of the atlantic coast, lutzomyia ovallesi in the orinoco ...	2003	14582337
canine visceral leishmaniasis: dog infectivity to sand flies from non-endemic areas.	canine visceral leishmaniasis (vl), caused by leishmania infantum (leishmania chagasi in the new world), is a zoonotic, endemic disease in western europe and latin america. the potential spreading to new regions was suggested by the appearance of canine vl among foxhounds in the us. although the sand fly vectors in the major foci of transmission have been described, no information exists on other sand flies that could propagate the infection outside endemic areas. we evaluated the capacity of lu ...	2002	12002643
impact of habitat degradation on phlebotominae (diptera: psychodidae) of tropical dry forests in northern colombia.	we examined changes in the phlebotomine fauna resulting from human intervention in a tropical dry forest of northern colombia where visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases are endemic. a natural forest reserve (colosó) and a highly degraded area (san andrés de sotavento [sas]) were sampled monthly for 8 mo using shannon traps, sticky traps, and resting-site collections. overall abundances were higher in colosó (15,988) than in sas (2,324). and species richness of phlebotomines was greater in the fo ...	2002	12061439
presence of lutzomyia evansi, a vector of american visceral leishmaniasis, in an urban area of the colombian caribbean coast.		2001	11280058
effect of a second bloodmeal on the oesophagus colonization by leishmania mexicana complex in lutzomyia evansi (diptera: psychodidae).	migration and colonization of the oesophagus by leishmania mexicana parasites were enhanced after digestion of a second bloodmeal intake in lutzomyia evansi. this event has epidemiological significance since it affects the infection susceptibility of this sand fly species, which is a proven vector of l. chagasi in colombian and venezuelan visceral leishmaniasis foci. also, it may explain the host seeking behaviour displayed by some partially bloodfed flies found inside houses.	2001	11313632
the re-emergence of american visceral leishmaniasis in an old focus in venezuela. ii. vectors and parasites.	as part of an epidemiological study in an old focus of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) in venezuela (guayabita, aragua state), a longitudinal entomological survey (january 1993-june 1994) was carried out. a total of 3,239 males and 6,043 females belonging to 11 phlebotomine sandfly species were collected. the two recognised vectors of avl in the new world, lutzomyia evansi and lu. longipalpis were found to be sympatric. lutzomyia evansi was the dominant species (86.4%), almost ten fold tim ...	1999	10416185
widespread atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by leishmania (l.) chagasi in nicaragua.	leishmania chagasi, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (vl) in the americas, has recently been associated with atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl) in central america; however, little comprehensive information about this disease is available. clinical, epidemiologic, and parasitologic characteristics of 252 acl cases and 44 vl cases in nicaragua were analyzed. visceral leishmaniasis is primarily associated with malnourished children less than five years of age, whereas acl is found ...	1999	10497975
seasonal and nocturnal domiciliary human landing/biting behaviour of lutzomyia (lutzomyia) evansi and lutzomyia (psychodopygus) panamensis (diptera; psychodidae) in a periurban area of a city on the caribbean coast of eastern venezuela (barcelona; anzoátegui state).	in recent years, in addition to american cutaneous leishmaniasis (acl), a significant number of cases of american visceral leishmaniasis (avl) have been reported in periurban areas of barcelona city (anzoátegui state, venezuela). we studied the bionomics of lutzomyia (lutzomyia) evansi and lutzomyia (psychodopygus) panamensis, possible vectors of avl and acl, respectively, in el rincón, a periurban village of that city. to evaluate the seasonal domiciliary landing/biting activity of sandflies on ...	1999	10674076
rearing and colonization of lutzomyia evansi (diptera: psychodidae), a vector of visceral leishmaniasis in colombia.	the sandfly lutzomyia evansi from a focus of visceral leishmaniasis in northern columbia was reared and maintained under laboratory conditions for five generations. the average time for total development was 41.9 days (range = 35.1-49.6) at 25 degrees c and 89-95% of relative humidity. the mean number of eggs laid was lower in laboratory bred females either in pots (13.2 eggs/female) or vials (29.9 eggs/female) than in wild caught females (33.4 eggs/female). immature mortality, mainly due to fun ...	1998	9698906
bionomics of lutzomyia evansi (diptera: psychodidae) vector of visceral leishmaniasis in northern columbia.	the feeding behavior, seasonality, and natural infection rate of lutzomyia evansi (nuñez-tovar) with leishmania chagasi (cuna & chagas) was studied during a 12-mo period at 2 hamlets, el contento and vidales. sand fly abundance in extra-, peri-, and intradomestic habitats was evaluated with sticky traps and cdc light traps, whereas human bait and shannon trap collections were made only in peridomestic habitats. all trapping methods showed a clear predominance of l. evansi throughout the year. sa ...	1996	8667372
didelphis marsupialis, an important reservoir of trypanosoma (schizotrypanum) cruzi and leishmania (leishmania) chagasi in colombia.	the role of didelphis marsupialis as a reservoir of zoonotic hemoflagellates was examined in two ecologically distinct settings in colombia. while 72% (12 of 18) of the opossums collected in the tropical rain forest harbored trypanosoma cruzi, other mammals in the area had lower infection rates: 1.3% (proechymis semispinosus [spiny rat]; 13% tylomys mirae [climbing rat]; and 6% rattus rattus). trypanosoma cruzi isolates from d. marsupialis were similar to zymodeme 1 (z1), and two of four phenoty ...	1994	8203703
lutzomyia evansi, an alternate vector of leishmania chagasi in a colombian focus of visceral leishmaniasis.		1990	2278068
abundance of lutzomyia longipalpis in urban households as risk factor of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.	urban occurrence of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is linked to households with characteristics conducive to the presence of sand flies. this study proposes an ad hoc classification of households according to the environmental characteristics of receptivity to phlebotominae and an entomological study to validate the proposal. here we describe the phlebotominae population found in intra- and peridomiciliary environments and analyse the spatiotemporal distribution of the vl vector lu ...	0	27223866