Natural infection of Lutzomyia rangeliana (Ortiz, 1952) (Diptera: Psychodidae) with Leishmania in Barquisimeto, Lara State, Venezuela

We collected and examined for natural infection with flagellates 1,001 female sand flies. All of them were identified by examining their genitalia. Five species were found: Lu. cayennensis (Floch and Abonnenc, 1945) 337, Lu. rangeliana (Ortiz, 1952) 293, Lu. atroclavata (Knab, 1913) 278, Lu. trinidadensis 184 and Lu. dubitans (Sherlock, 1962) 9. Except for Lu. rangeliana, which is moderately anthropophilic, all are considered to feed preferentially on rodents and reptiles. In hamsters, 17 isolates from Lu. rangeliana caused a tumor-like inflamation at the inoculation site, with histiocytes containing large number of amastigotes; after two months metastases were observed on limbs, nose, ears and tail.