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Leishmaniasis in Ecuador. 2. Man/vector contacts in leishmaniasis: the case of Lutzomyia trapidoi and Lu. Gomezi

Abstract:

In two leishmaniasis endemic foci of the Pacific coast of Ecuador, where the primary forest is severely attacked by human settlements, intradomiciliary sandfly catches, with light trap and human bait, have been carried out from August 1991 to October 1992. The presumed vector Lutzomyia trapidoi was by far the dominant species inside dwellings at Paraiso Escondido in the preandean hills (86% of the anthropophilic sandfly population, and 8.5 females/night catch by light trap). Not a single Lu. gomezi was caught in this village. At La Tablada, Lu. gomezi was the dominant anthropophilic species in the coastal cordillera (83% of anthropophilic sandfly population and 3.7 females/night catch by light trap); Lu. trapidoi accounted only for 4.6% of the total catches in this village. On human bait, catches were variable depending on the day and on the season, but dominant species were always the same. The percentage of Lu. trapidoi was higher on human bait than in light trap. Blood meal identifications of engorged Lu. gomezi and Lu. trapidoi confirmed the anthropophily of these two species in the houses.