Ecological aspects of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: 1. experimental study of the frequency of phlebotomine sandflies in artificial biotope with special reference to Psychodopygus intermedius

Abstract

The use of chicken roosts as experimental models for observing the behavior of Psychodopygus intermedius in the Ribeira River Valley region of the State of S. Paulo (Brazil), showed that there is a close association between the biotope studied and the phlebotomine sandfly. Its greater frequency along the edge of woods suggested the hypothesis of its adaptation to the edge effect. Investigation of forest and extraforest environments showed the fly's clear preference for the latter. Several of the aspects discussed in the paper partially explain the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in S. Paulo State.