Diversity and species composition of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a Venezuelan urban focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The present study examined the spatial and temporal abundance and diversity of phlebotomine sand flies in an area of Venezuela that is an ancient focus of leishmaniasis. The study was conducted in 6 stations in urban localities in Trujillo City, located in northwestern Venezuela (9 degrees 22' 24" N, 70 degrees 26' 08" W), which is located in a mountain range in the Andean ecoregion (altitude = 600-1,010 m). During 1995-99, entomological surveys were conducted after and before the rainy season.

Comparative vectorial efficiency of Lutzomyia evansi and Lu. longipalpis for transmitting Leishmania chagasi.

The infection rates and development of Leishmania chagasi in two sandfly species, Lutzomyia evansi and Lutzomyia longipalpis, were evaluated under natural and experimental conditions. Natural infection rates of Lu. evansi in San Andrés de Sotavento (Colombia) and Montañas de Peraza (Venezuela) (0.