We studied the natural infection of Lutzomyia
(
Lutzomyia) sp. with Leishmania in endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Paria peninsula, state of Sucre, Venezuela. Sand flies were collected between March 2001 and June 2003, using Shannon light-traps and human bait. Of the 1291 insects captured, only two species of phlebotomines were identified:
L. ovallesi (82.75%) and
L. gomezi (17.42%). A sample of the collected sand flies (51 pools of 2-12 individuals) were analyzed by using a multiplex-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of New Word
Leishmania and
Viannia subgenera. The results showed a total of 8 pools (15.68%) infected; of these, 7 were
L. ovallesi naturally infected with
L. braziliensis (2 pools) and
L. mexicana (5 pools) and 1 pool of
L. gomezi infected by
L. braziliensis.
