Lutzomyia longipalpis in Uruguay: the first report and the potential of visceral leishmaniasis transmission

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 106; no. 3; pp. 381 - 382
• Main Authors: Salomón, Oscar Daniel, Basmajdian, Yester, Fernández, María Soledad, Santini, María Soledad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01.05.2011; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Animals; Argentina; Brazil; Dogs; Female; Insect Vectors - classification; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - transmission; Lutzomyia; Lutzomyia longipalpis; Male; PARASITOLOGY; Phlebotominae; Psychodidae - classification; Psychodidae - parasitology; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Uruguay; visceral leishmaniasis; Brazil; Uruguay; Argentina; Argentina, Buenos Aires, Parana R; Uruguay; visceral leishmaniasis; Lutzomyia longipalpis
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762011000300023

Phlebotomine captures were performed in February 2010 in Salto (Salto department) and Bella Unión-Cuarein (Artigas department), Uruguay. Bella Unión is located across the Paraná River from Monte Caseros, Argentina, where a focus of canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was reported in 2009. No VL cases have ever been recorded in Uruguay and the last reported capture of Phlebotominae was in 1932 (Lutzomyia cortelezzii and Lutzomyia gaminarai). Light traps were placed in peridomestic environments, and Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis, was found in Salto and Bella Unión. This is a first report of an area of potential VL transmission in Uruguay. Active and coordinated surveillance is required immediately the Uruguay-Argentina-Brazil border area.