New Ecoregional and Altitudinal Reports of Leishmaniosis Vectors (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Southern Bolivia

Arias A.M.M.; Baldiviezo C.D.V.; Zambrana M.C.; Medrano L.O.; Quintana M.G.; Salomón O.D. · Revista Cubana de Medicina Tropical (2026)

Resumen

Introduction: The present study allows to estimate the potential role of the diversity of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) species, and their eco-epidemiological aspects as vectors of leishmaniosis, mainly in regions where there is a suspected emergence or re-emergence of cases. Objective: Characterizing the diversity of Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) species and their eco-epidemiological aspects. Methods: This study was conducted in the town of Caraparí, approximately 800 masl, within an inter-andean region in Tarija department from southern Bolivia. The captures were realized between October 2023 and June 2024 in households located on the outskirts of the urban area, using REDILA-BL light traps, and then, standardized microscopy techniques were applied to identify sandflies. Results: 443 individuals were captured, of which 435 were classified in five species: Lutzomyia cruzi, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Migonemyia migonei, Nyssomyia neivai, and Micropygomyia peresi. Considerably, Lu. cruzi was the dominant species, representing 52.6% of total captures, followed by Ev. cortelezzii and Mg. migonei. The highest phlebotomine sandfly presence was observed between the moistest months (March and April), at dwellings with several inhabitants and different types of domestic animals. Conclusions: The presence of medically important species, such as Ny. neivai (vector of cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniosis) and Lu. cruzi (vector of visceral leishmaniosis) at a new ecoregion and altitudinal level, suggests an entomological risk for transmission in this region. This study provides new data of distribution of these vectors in southern Bolivia and underscores the need for continuous surveillance and control measures. Esta obra está bajo una licencia: https://creativecomons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es_ES

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia