Studies on the feeding habits of Lutzomyia (N.) intermedia (Diptera, Psychodidae), vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

Estudos sobre os hábitos alimentares de Lutzomyia (N.) intermedia (Diptera, Psychodidae), vetor de leishmaniose cutânea no Brasil

ARTICLE ARTIGO

Studies on the feeding habits of Lutzomyia (N.) intermedia (Diptera, Psychodidae), vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

Estudos sobre os hábitos alimentares de Lutzomyia (N.) intermedia (Diptera, Psychodidae), vetor de leishmaniose cutânea no Brasil

Margarete Martins dos Santos Afonso^I; Almério Castro Gomes^II; Cláudio Roberto Valente Meneses^III; Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel^I

^IInstituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

^IIFaculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil

^IIICollege of Biological Sciences, University of California at Davis, Davis, U.S.A

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

The precipitin test was applied to identify the blood meal sources of Lutzomyia intermedia, collected in two distinct habitats: inside houses and in the peridomicile, in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, a transmission area of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis. The following antisera were tested: human, avian, equine, rodent, and opossum. From a total of 370 females analyzed, 128 specimens from the domicile and 59 from the peridomicile reacted with specific antisera. The anthropophily of L. intermedia was confirmed in both habitats; likewise, the feeding of this sand fly species on domestic animals, observed in previous entomological surveys, was confirmed by the strong reactivity with avian, canine, and equine antisera. However, feeding on rodents, mammals frequently found inside and around houses, represents further evidence related to the vector competence of L. intermedia, since synanthropic and sylvatic rodents have been considered a putative reservoir of L. (V.) braziliensis.

Insect Vectors; Psychodidae; Leishmaniasis

RESUMO

O teste de precipitina foi aplicado na identificação das fontes alimentares de Lutzomyia intermedia, de ambientes intra e peri-domiciliar, do Município de Mesquita, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, área de transmissão de Leishmania (V.) braziliensis. Foram testados os seguintes antisoros: homem, ave, cão, eqüino, gambá e roedor. De um total de 370 fêmeas analisadas, revelaram reatividade, contra os antisoros testados, 128 espécimes do intra-domicílio e 59 do ambiente peridomiciliar. A antropofilia de L. intermedia foi confirmada nos dois ambientes trabalhados; da mesma forma, a alimentação deste flebotomíneo em animais domésticos, observada anteriormente em levantamentos entomológicos, foi comprovada pela forte reatividade com antisoros de ave, cão e eqüino. Entretanto, a alimentação em roedores, animais sinantrópicos no ambiente domiciliar (interior e ao redor das residências), é mais uma forte evidência da competência vetorial de L. intermedia, uma vez que roedores sinantrópicos e silvestres são comprovadamente reservatórios de L. (V.) braziliensis.

Insetos Vetores; Psychodidae; Leishmaniose

Introduction

In the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lutzomyia intermedia is considered the principal vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania (V.) braziliensis ^1,2,3,4. The vector competence of L. intermedia is suggested by its distribution and frequency in areas with the occurrence of human cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis, its particularly high density in both the intradomicile and peridomicile, its anthropophily, and the fact that it has been found naturally infected with Leishmania sp. of the Peripylarian Section (sub-genus Viannia) ⁵. It is noteworthy that even though it is considered a highly anthropophilic species, it is heavily attracted to dogs and equines, as suggested by domestic reservoirs of L. (V.) braziliensis ^4,6. Studies conducted in cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission areas in the State of Rio de Janeiro in the late 1990s demonstrated the presence of L. intermedia including in remnants of the Atlantic Forest located 800 meters from households with human and canine cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis ⁷.

Accurate knowledge of the blood meal source for vectors of human pathogens provides information on the preference for hosts under natural conditions. The intensity of anthropophily is one of the essential factors in the evaluation of vector capacity, while data on the attraction to other hosts can shed light on the association between potential vectors and natural reservoirs of pathogens.

Current knowledge on the feeding habits of L. intermedia is based on data obtained from captures using human bait or in animals, using a Castro aspirator or CDC light traps ^2,3,4,7. Therefore, in order to better define the feeding sources for females of this important American cutaneous leishmaniasis vector in Southeast Brazil, the precipitin test was applied to specimens collected in the domiciliary environment in an endemic area in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Materials and methods

Sand fly collection

Specimens were collected in a community located 600 meters above sea level in the municipality of Mesquita (22º45'37'' S; 42º26'52" N), Rio de Janeiro State. The area was described previously by Rangel et al. ⁴. Captures (a total of 17) were performed in 1999 and 2000 in the interior of dwellings where human (a total of 23 human cases were registered in the locality during this period) and canine cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis had been reported, as well as in the peridomiciliary environment (up to 10 meters from the dwelling), where domestic, synanthropic, and sylvatic animals circulate. A Castro aspirator (one capturer) and CDC-type light traps (three) were used from 18:00 to 20:00 and from 18:00 to 6:00, respectively. The sand flies were transported alive to the laboratory at the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, and the engorged females were killed by immersion in liquid nitrogen.

Screening and identification of sand flies

The specimens were screened in a cold chamber (cryolizer), and the L. intermedia specimens (engorged females) were individualized in Eppendorf tubes and stored at -15ºC. Before initiating the precipitin test, the head of each female was separated and diaphanized using 20.0% potash. Species confirmation was performed by visualization of the cibarium under a stereoscopic microscope.

Precipitin test

Identification of the blood ingested by the sand flies targeted the host group using the precipitin method, according to Templis & Lofy ⁸. The reaction consisted of adding 0.2ml of 0.85% sodium chloride solution to each Eppendorf tube, and then macerating the female sand fly. The tubes containing the females were stored under refrigeration (± 18ºC) for 24 hours. Subsequently the material was centrifuged at 2,000rpm for 10 minutes. Previously lyophilized antiserum samples (Sigma Immuno Chemicals) were reconstituted with 2.0ml of bidistilled water. Capillary tubes containing equal parts of sand fly eluate and the test antisera were kept at room temperature for 2 hours, after which the agglutination reactions were read. The choice of antisera was based on prior knowledge of the mammals commonly found in the area where the captures were performed. Thus, the specimens collected in the intradomicile were tested against human, rodent, canine, and avian antisera, while those captured in the peridomicile were tested against human, equine, opossum, avian, and rodent antisera.

Results

Of the 240 L. intermedia females captured in the intradomicile, only 128 (53.3%) had intestinal content that was reactive to the precipitin test. Among the reactive specimens that displayed strong reactivity (well-defined, opaque white clumps) to only one blood source, more than one-third (39.8%) reacted to rodent antiserum, followed by avian (23.7%), canine (20.4%), and human (16%) antisera, respectively (Figure 1).

A few sand flies reacted to more than one blood source: three of six reacted to canine/rodent antisera. Of the specimens that showed weak reactivity (pale clumps), 34.0% reacted to human antiserum, followed by rodent (25.7%), avian (22.9%), and canine (17.5%) antisera, respectively.

From the peridomiciliary environment, the intestinal content of 130 sand flies was tested, and 45.4% of the samples were reactive. Considering only strong signs of reactivity, the rodent and avian antisera predominated with 26.5% each, followed by human and equine antisera, with 23.5% each (Figure 2). For the samples with weak reactivity, the most frequent reactions were to human antiserum (32.0%), followed by rodent and avian (24.0% each) and equine (20.0%) antisera. There was no reactivity to opossum antiserum, and no double reactivity was observed.

Discussion

For better epidemiological knowledge of diseases in which the pathogens are transmitted by insects, it is essential to understand key aspects of vector ecology and behavior, especially feeding habits. Feeding behavior can define the degree of sand fly anthropophily, in addition to attraction to the parasite's natural reservoirs, two essential requirements in order for a species to be classified as transmitting diseases to humans ⁹.

Application of the precipitin test to studies on sand fly biology helped demonstrate the attraction to possible leishmania hosts, in addition to more precisely evaluating the species' anthropophily. Several studies already performed in this direction observed in Panama ¹⁰ that L. shannoni displayed a strong attraction to rodents and edentates, in addition to confirming its low anthropophily, while L. ylephiletor was only attracted to edentates; in addition, bat antiserum was associated with L. vespertiliones. Since the intestinal content of L. trapidoi reacted to different antisera, the authors considered this species an effective disease vector. In the central Amazon region, specimens of the L. shannoni group were found to have fed mostly on sloth ¹¹; this may be epidemiologically relevant (even though this specific sand fly is not considered a leishmaniasis vector), since sloth have been incriminated as reservoirs for L. (V.) guyanensis in Panama. A study in Colombia ¹², an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis, suggested that L. longipalpis displays low anthropophily but is attracted to dogs, and based on this information the authors discuss the local epidemiology. A study in Peru ¹³, showed the eclectic feeding habits of L. peruensis and L. verrucarum, although the former was more anthropophilic. A recently study on the stomach content of L. longipalpis with the precipitin test provided information backing the hypothesis on the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in an anthropic environment in the municipality of Raposa, Maranhão State, Brazil ¹⁴.

L. intermedia is considered a sand fly with variable feeding behavior in terms of its blood source; its dispersion in varied environments ranging from the interior of dwellings to remnants of the Atlantic Forest places it in association with both domestic and sylvatic animals. This may occur due to this sand fly's behavior plasticity, since it adapts easily to environmental alterations, making it virtually predominant in the new epidemiological profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis ¹⁵, contrary to other sand flies, which have begun to appear less frequently ¹⁶. Rangel et al. ^3,4 observed this sand fly biting domestic animals (especially dogs) in the peridomicile.

Based on our studies, L. intermedia may be feeding spontaneously on any of the animals whose antisera were tested in this analysis, i.e., humans, dogs, horses, rodents, and birds, but not opossums. The variety of the blood content clearly reinforces the sand fly's eclectic feeding habits in terms of food sources and corroborates the data on this vector's activity in the peridomiciliary environment and its association with domestic reservoirs ⁴. Although we found a small percentage of specimens that reacted to more than one antiserum, this suggests the habit of "tasting" before actually performing the blood meal. The fact that L. intermedia appears to be so eclectic in its food sources may explain the low percentage of reactivity to human antiserum. Still, this sand fly's anthropophily was confirmed in both the domiciliary and peridomiciliary environments, thus reinforcing its important role as a vector for L. (V.) brazileiensis in Southeast Brazil ^2,3,4,17.

In 1990, Rangel et al. ⁴ had already described a domestic cycle of cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in the State of Rio de Janeiro, suggesting dogs and horses as probable domestic reservoirs for L. (V.) braziliensis, but without discarding the existence of a primary sylvatic cycle. A recent study ⁷ in the same region in the State of Rio de Janeiro points to the existence of a primary cycle in remnants of the Atlantic Forest, involving L. (V.) braziliensis and L. intermedia and suggesting that the sloth Bradypus variegatus participates in this chain as the primary reservoir, according to previously observed evidence ¹⁸, based on molecular parasitic detection.

However, studies in the State of Pernambuco (Northeast Brazil) in Atlantic Forest areas proved the importance of synanthropic (Rattus rattus) and sylvatic rodents (Bolomys lasirius) as reservoirs of L. (V.) braziliensis through the isolation and characterization of the parasite in a transmission cycle involving L. whitmani ¹⁹. Studies conducted in Serra dos Carajás ²⁰, in the State of Pará, suggested that the principal reservoir of L. (V.) braziliensis would be terrestrial mammals, probably rodents, considering the ground-level flight of the vector in the region, L. wellcomei, like L. intermedia.

There is a noteworthy and frequent presence of rodents (R. rattus) in the area covered by the current study, the results of which clearly proved the attraction of L. intermedia to rodents. A preliminary survey conducted in the Pedra Branca Forest Reserve, very close to the study area, showed the occurrence of some small mammals: Didelphis aurita, Metachirus nudicaudatus, Micoureus demerarae, Gracilinanus agilis, Monodelphis americana, Akodon cursor, Oligoryzomys nigripes, and Sphiggurus insidiosus (D'Andrea PS, personal communication; 2005).

Considering the above-mentioned findings in Pernambuco, and working with the hypothesis that rodents could also be playing an important role as reservoirs for L. (V.) braziliensis here in Rio de Janeiro, representing links between the sylvatic and domestic environments, the data presented here are further evidence of the participation by L. intermedia in this parasite's transmission chain, thus favoring the transmission in both intradomicilary and peridomiciliary habitats.

Contributors

A. C. Gomes performed the precipitin tests and analyzed the resulting data. M. M. S. Afonso conducted the sand fly captures, together with C. R. V. Meneses, and contributed to the insect processing and the precipitin tests and data analysis. E. F. Rangel coordinated the project, conducted captures, processed the insects, and contributed to the data analysis from the precipitin tests.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Simone Miranda da Costa from the Department of Entomology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and Wagner Alexandre Costa, from the Health Surveillance Secretariat, Brazilian Ministry of Health, for their collaboration in field collection of specimens.

Submitted on 07/Dec/2004

Final version resubmitted on 11/Mar/2005

Approved on 18/Mar/2005

• 1. Aragão H. Leishmaniose tegumentar e a sua transmissão pelo Phebotomus Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1922; 82:143.
• 2. Araújo Filho NA. Epidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar na Ilha Grande [Tese de Doutorado]. Rio de Janeiro: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; 1979.
• 3. Rangel EF, Souza NA, Wermelinger ED, Azevedo ACR, Barbosa AF, Andrade CA. Flebótomos de Vargem Grande, foco de leishmaniose tegumentar no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1986; 81:347-9.
• 4. Rangel EF, Azevedo ACR, Andrade CA, Souza NA, Wermelinger E D. Studies on sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a focus of Cutaneous Leishmanisis in Mesquita, Rio de Janeiro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1990; 85:39-45.
• 5. Rangel EF, Souza NA, Wermelinger ED, Barbosa AF. Infecção natural de Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) em área endêmica de leishmaniose tegumentar no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1984; 79:395-6.
• 6. Aguilar CM, Rangel EF, Garcia L, Fernandez E, Momen H, Grimaldi Filho G, et al. Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis associated with domestic animals in Venezuela and Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1989; 84:19-28.
• 7. Meneses CRV, Azevedo ACR, Costa WA, Costa SM, Rangel EF. Ecology of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. J Vector Ecol 2002; 27:207-14.
• 8. Templis CH, Lofy MF. A modified precipitin method for identification of mosquito blood-meal. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1963; 12:825-31.
• 9. Killick-Kendrick R. Phlebotomine vectors of leishmaniases: a review. Med Vet Entomol 1990; 4:1-24.
• 10. Tesh RH, Chaniotis BN, Aranson MD, Johnson KM. Natural host preferences of Panamanian phlebotomine sandflies as determined by precipitin test. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1971; 20:150-6.
• 11. Christensen HA, Aias JA, Vasquez AM, Freitas RA. Hosts of sandfly vectors of Leishmania brasiliensis guyanensis in the central Amazon of Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1982; 31:239-42.
• 12. Morrison AC, Ferro C, Tesh RB. Host preference of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis at an endemic focus of American visceral leishmaniasis in Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1993; 49:68-75.
• 13. Ogusuku E, Perez JE, Paz L, Nieto E, Monje J, Guerra H. Identification of bloodmeal sources of Lutzomyia spp. in Peru. Ann Trop Med Parasit 1994; 88:329-35.
• 14. Dias FOP, Lorosa ES, Rebêlo JMM. Fonte alimentar sanguínea e a peridomiciliação de Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Psychodidae, Phebotominae). Cad Saúde Pública 2003; 19:1373-80.
• 15. Rangel EF. Transmission of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in peridomestic foci in Rio de Janeiro State and other similar situations compared to the classical epidemiology in Amazon region. In: Proceedings from a Research Seminar on Tropical Diseases, Society and the Environment. v. 2. Geneva: Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases/SAREC; 1995. p. 103-10.
• 16. Tolezano JE, Marcoris SAG, Diniz JMP. Modificação na epidemiologia da leishmaniose tegumentar no Vale do Ribeira, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Rev Inst Adolfo Lutz 1980; 40:49-54.
• 17. Forattini OP. Entomologia médica. São Paulo: Edgard Blugher; 1973.
• 18. Pirmez C, Oliveira Neto MP, Franco A, Menenses C, Rangel EF, Mayrink AJ, et al. Edentates as a possible reservoir of L. (V.) brasiliensis in an endemic area of Rio de Janeiro. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1996; 92:119.
• 19. Brandão SP, Brito ME, Carvalho FG, Ishikawa E, Cupolillo E, Floeter-Winter L, et al. Wild and synanthropic hosts of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in the endemic cutaneous leishmaniasis locality of Amaraji, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2003; 97:291-6.
• 20. Lainson R, Shaw JJ. New World leishmaniases the neotropical Leishmania species. In: Collier L, Balows A, Sussman M, editors. Topley and Wilson's microbiology and microbial infections. London: Arnold; 2003. p. 241-66.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  09 Jan 2006
• Date of issue
  Dec 2005

History

• Accepted
  18 Mar 2005
• Reviewed
  11 Mar 2004
• Received
  07 Dec 2004