Establishment of a laboratory colony of Pressatia choti (Diptera: Psychodidae), a suspected vector of Leishmania braziliensis

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pressatia choti is a common sand fly found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, which is suspected to be involved in the transmission of Leishmania braziliensis. Herein, we aimed to establish a Pr. choti laboratory colony.

Methods:

Wild-caught female sand flies were blood fed on hamsters and maintained under controlled conditions (temperature: 26 °C; relative humidity: 70%).

Results:

Of the 301 collected female sandflies, 288 were identified as Pr. choti. The life cycle duration ranged from 31 to 56 days.

Conclusions:

We successfully established a Pr. choti colony, whose biological parameters were similar to those of other neotropical sand flies.

Keywords:
Pressatia choti; Life cycle; Lutzomyia spp