Identification of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) and blood meal sources in periurban areas of Ji-Paraná municipality, Western Brazilian Amazon

Leishmaniases is a disease caused by Leishmania protozoans which are transmitted to vertebrates by the bite of female sand flies. Epidemiological surveillance depends on the identification of vector species and their reservoirs, and identifying sand fly blood meal sources can be an effective means of identifying potential reservoirs in the Leishmaniasis transmission cycle. In Rondonia State, approximately 1,000 new cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occur annually. In Ji-Paraná municipality, which is located in the eastern mesoregion of Rondonia, 418 cases of CL have been registered since 2007; in spite of this, there is not much information about Leishmania infection, sand fly vectors and, their blood sources that occur there. Here, Torchitte et al verify these insects and possible blood meals in Ji-Paraná municipality.