In this paper, we develop a mathematical model to study the transmission dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis. Three populations: dogs, sandflies and humans, are considered in the model. Based on recent studies, we include vertical transmission of dogs in the spread of the disease. We also investigate the impact of asymptomatic humans and dogs as secondary reservoirs of the parasites. The basic r...

Description of Lutzomyia robusta, n. sp. (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) from interandean areas of Peru and Equador. Lutzomyia robusta, n. sp., probable vector of human bartonellosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis, is described and illustrated. This species presents strong affinity with L. serrana (Damasceno & Arouck, 1949) but they can be distinguished by variance analysis of four male char...

A male of a new species Micropygomyia (Micropygomyia) ancashensis sp. nov. and a female of the Lutzomyia (Helcocyrtomyia) chavinensis Pérez & Ogusuku, 1999 captured in the Antonio Raymondi province, department of Ancash, Peru are described and illustrated. The new species belongs to the cayennensis series, being closest to Mi. lewisi (Feliciangeli Ordoñez & Férnandez) though presenting highly s...

Phlebotominae includes some vector species, mainly that of leishmaniases, with a very old host-parasite relationship. Some species fossils of this subfamily have been recently described and this paper presents the description of a new sand fly Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) paleotownsendi sp. nov in amber. The gonostyle present four spines, being one apical, one external superior implanted close to the...

The Entomology Laboratory of the School of Public Health of the University of São Paulo is now completing fifty years of uninterrupted activity dedicated to research along the lines developed in the field of the great endemic diseases that devastate Brazil. Having begun with taxonomic studies, attention was then soon drawn to those relating to the biology and ecology of vectors, especially to C...

The taxonomic status of Phlebotomus breviductus Barretto, 1950 was evaluated based on the morphological and morphometric analysis of the male holotype described from Fazenda Jerusalém, located in the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo state, Brazil. After measuring, drawing and photographing the holotype, we concluded that the head and wing of this specimen belong to Trichopygomyia sp., but...

INTRODUCTION Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease of increasing importance in northeastern Brazil. It is known that sandflies, which spread the causative parasites, have weather-dependent population dynamics. Routinely-gathered weather data may be useful for anticipating disease risk and planning interventions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We fit time series models using m...

A new species of parthenogenetic, autogenic and apparently extremely endemic phlebotomine is described from a sandstone cave located in primary terra firme forest to the North of the city of Manaus. Specimens were collected in the aphotic zone of the Refúgio do Maruaga cave by light trap and reared from bat guano. The adult morphology suggests a closer relationship to some Old World Phlebotomin...