Abundance and Monthly Frequency of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in Some Municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract. The present study had the objective of estimating the abundance and monthly frequency of vector phlebotomines for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in the municipalities of Saquarema, Rio Bonito, Pirai and Rio Janeiro, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Seven sites located in these municipalities were monitored over a 10 to 12-month period. Lutzomyia migonei (Franca) Lutzomyia ( Pintomyia ) fischeri (Pinto) and Lutzomyia ( Nyssomyia ) intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) the vectors for ACL, were recorded in all four of these municipalities. In this study, it was noteworthy that Lutzomyia ( Lutzomyia ) longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) the vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was registered. In addition to these vectors, three other phlebotomine species, including Lutzomyia edwardsi (Mangabeira), Lutzomyia sallesi (Galvao & Coutinho) and Lutzomyia firmatoi (Barreto, Martins & Pellegrino) were captured in peridomestic environments at the seven monitoring sites (MS) over a 1476-hour period. A total of 23,187 specimens were captured leishmaniasis vector species accounted for 99.6% of the specimens captured. Lutzomyia ( N .) intermedia presented the highest abundance (SISA = 1.0) and was recorded at all monitoring sites, with the highest mean Williams values. Lutzomyia migonei was the second most abundant and was found at all sites except MS 6 (SISA = 0.66). Lutzomyia ( L .) longipalpis, Lutzomyia sallesi , Lutzomyia firmatoi and Lutzomyia ( P. ) fischeri were occasionally observed at the MS . These studies point to  the need for adoption of policies involving actions of health education, associated with the notion of environmental management and the basics concepts of the disease, as element of success of an integrated program of entomological surveillance and control of  American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Abundância e Frequencia Mensal de Flebotomineos (Diptera: Phlebotomiae) em Alguns Municipios do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Resumo. O presente estudo teve o objetivo de estimar a abundância e frequencia mensal de algumas especies de flebotomineos incriminados como vetores da Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA), nos municipios de Saquarema, Rio Bonito, Pirai e Rio Janeiro, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Sete sitios localizados nesses municipios foram monitorados ao longo de um periodo de 10 a 12 meses. Lutzomyia migonei (Franca), Lutzomyia ( Pintomyia ) fischeri (Pinto) e Lutzomyia ( Nyssomyia ) intermedia (Lutz & Neiva), foram registrados em todos os quatro municipios. Lutzomyia ( Lutzomyia ) longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) vetor comprovado da Leishmaniose Visceral (LV), foi registrado. Alem desses vetores, outras tres especies de flebotomineos, incluindo Lutzomyia edwardsi (Mangabeira), Lutzomyia sallesi (Galvao & Coutinho) e Lutzomyia firmatoi (Barreto, Martins & Pellegrino) foram capturados em ambiente domiciliar nos sete sitios de monitoramento (SM) durante um periodo de 1.476 horas totalizando 23.187 especimes. Especies responsaveis pela transmissao das leishmanioses totalizaram 99,6%. L. ( N .) intermedia apresentou a maior abundância (SISA = 1,0) e foi registrada em todos os SM, com os maiores valores medios de captura. Lutzomyia migonei foi a segunda mais abundante e tambem foi encontrada em todos os locais, exceto MS6 (SISA = 0,66). Lutzomyia ( L. ) longipalpis , Lutzomyia sallesi , Lutzomyia firmatoi e Lutzomyia ( P .) fischeri foram ocasionalmente observadas nas SM . Esses estudos apontam para a necessidade de adocao de politicas que envolvam acoes de educacao em saude, associados a nocao de manejo ambiental e conceitos basicos da doenca, como elemento de sucesso de um programa integrado de vigilância entomologica e controle da LTA.