Levantamento da fauna de flebotomíneos e dos aspectos ambientais no município de Uberaba-MG, área sem casos de leishmaniose visceral

Abstract

Introduction: Considered as a major public health problem and belonging to the Neglected Tropical Diseases, the leishmaniases are a long-standing challenge to health systems worldwide, given its wide geographic distribution and capacity to affect populations in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability. By understanding the extent of the problem of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil and its rapid expansion, it becomes urgent to carry out investigations in areas affected by the disease to strengthen measures aimed at reducing the number of cases in the country and prevent its spread in areas without transmission, as is the case of Uberaba, currently classified as an area without cases or silent for the disease. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the sandfly fauna and environmental aspects in different ecotopes of Uberaba. Materials and Methods: In order to meet this objective, systematic collections were made in the period from October 2021 to September 2022, using CDC light traps distributed in 11 points in the municipality. The captured sandfly was taxonomically identified and the collected females were subjected to DNA extraction and molecular testing for the detection of natural infection by Leishmania spp. Climatic data obtained from the Uberaba weather station were analyzed. Results: Seven sandflies were captured, four females (two Lutzomyia longipalpis and two Evandromyia complex cortelezzii) and three males (Lutzomyia longipalpis). All of the captured species are proven and/or suspected vectors of Leishmania spp. It was observed that the rainiest months, comprising December through February, were the months in which the specimens were captured. All other insects captured during the collection were counted and identified at the family level, corresponding to 4,556 specimens of the Order Diptera. Psychodidae was the most abundant family with 2,553 (56.03%) specimens captured regarding the possibilities of vector entry into the region, the predictive models of risk suggest, the predictive models of risk suggest, therefore, that the main areas susceptible to the presence of the vector are areas surrounding the city where there are high altitudes, lower temperatures and humid areas with the presence of large rivers. The highest risk seems to be present in the southeastern sectors of Uberaba. Conclusion: The results presented in this study may contribute to a better targeting of preventive and control measures by the responsible epidemiological agencies, especially because it is a city without autochthonous human and canine cases. Furthermore, the work developed here constituted a new theoretical-methodological effort capable of investigating entomological and environmental elements that favor the maintenance and control of the disease in the city of Uberaba.