Light trapping of the vector Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) using the SS trap in peridomestic urban areas endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in northeast Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to use the SS trap in sampling Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva 1912) in urban peridomestic settings endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Maranhão state, northeast Brazil. Method: two SS traps, one equipped with a 520 nm green LED and another with a 470 nm blue LED, and one CDC-type light trap, were used to sample sand flies. Result: a total of 1,143 sand flies were captured, and L. longipalpis was the most frequent species (83.2%). The second and third most frequent species were Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) (8.5%) and Evandromyia sallesi (Galvão & Coutinho, 1939) (2.1%), respectively. The two former species are proven vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively, and have been frequently found in peridomestic areas with endemic disease. The third one was found for the first time in the northeastern part of the state and has already been found naturally infected with L. (L.) infantum in southeast Brazil. The SS trap equipped with 520-green LEDs attracted the most phlebotomine sand flies (14.94±2.5), followed by CDC (11.06±2.5) and SS blue light traps (9.71±1.3). Conclusion: without being statistically significant, these differences demonstrate that the SS trap is an efficient tool for collecting and monitoring L. longipalpis and other sand flies in urban peridomestic sites.