Urban occurrence of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is linked to households with characteristics
conducive to the presence of sand flies. This study proposes an
ad hoc classification of households according to the
environmental characteristics of receptivity to phlebotominae and an entomological study to validate the proposal.
Here we describe the phlebotominae population found in intra- and peridomiciliary environments and analyse the
spatiotemporal distribution of the VL vector
Lutzomyia longipalpis
of households receptive to VL. In the region,
153 households were classified into levels of receptivity to VL followed by entomological surveys in 40 of those
properties. Kruskal-Wallis verified the relationship between the households’ classification and sand fly abundance
and Kernel analysis evaluated
L. longipalpis spatial distribution: of the 740 sand flies were captured, 91% were
L. longipalpis; 82% were found peridomiciliary whilst the remaining 18% were found intradomiciliary. No statistically
significant association was found between sandflies and households levels.
L. longipalpis counts were concentrated
in areas of high vulnerability and some specific households were responsible for the persistence of the infestation.
L. longipalpis prevails over other sand fly species for urban VL transmission. The entomological study may help target
the surveillance and vector control strategies to domiciles initiating and/or maintaining VL outbreaks.
