Studies on natural infection by
Leishmania spp of sandflies collected in endemic and nonendemic areas can provide
important information on the distribution and intensity of the transmission of these parasites. This study sought
to investigate the natural infection by
Leishmania in wild female sandflies. The specimens were caught in the city of
Corumbá, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) between October 2012-March 2014, and dissected to investigate flagellates
and/or submitted to molecular analysis to detect
Leishmania DNA. A total of 1,164 females (77.56% of which
were
Lutzomyia cruzi
) representing 11 species were investigated using molecular analysis; 126 specimens of Lu.
cruzi were dissected and also submitted to molecular analysis. The infection rate based on the presence of
Leishmania
DNA considering all the sandfly species analysed was 0.69%; only
Leishmania (
Leishmania) amazonensis was
identified in
Lu. cruzi by the molecular analysis. The dissections were negative for flagellates. This is the first record
of the presence of
L. (L.) amazonensis DNA in
Lu. cruzi, and the first record of this parasite in this area. These findings
point to the need for further investigation into the possible role of this sandfly as vector of this parasite.
