Survey of sandfly fauna of the region of the municipality of Marília - SP

Abstract

Sandflies are dipteran Psychodidae, being only females hematophagous the vectors of leishmaniasis, a serious zoonosis, also classified as an anthropozoonosis - a time that the etiological agents of the illness, the protozoa of genus Leishmania, also infect humans. In Brazil, at least seven species cause the disease, which is presented in two different clinical forms: mucocutaneous and visceral. The knowledge of sandfly species in the administrative region of Marília becomes necessary, considering the present data from the Epidemiological Surveillance Center of São Paulo, which reveal the occurrence, in 14 municipalities from that region, of autochthonous cases of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL). Besides LVA, cases of American mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (LTA) are also detected in the region. In São Paulo, the LTA has become a public health problem since 1905, spreading around Bauru, and heading to the west of the estate of São Paulo. In the years of 30 and 40, epidemics occurred from Marilia, between Feio and Peixe rivers, also heading to the west of the state. Recently, the finding of L. longipalpis, vector of LVA in São João da Boa Vista - a locality with different climatic and topographic characteristics of the Paulista Plateau- infers the adaptability of species and then reinforces the need for the search of sandflies in the municipality of Marília region, to confirm that the species is already adapted to environment changes. (AU)