Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Leishmania Sp. in Sandflies of the Paraná River Islands, Southern Brazil.

Leishmaniases are classified as tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Brazil is among the countries with the highest number of TL and VL cases. This study was undertaken to standardize the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of the genus Leishmania in sandflies of endemic regions, on islands in the Upper Paraná River, northwestern Paraná.

[Diversity, distribution and abundance of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Parana State, Southern Brazil].

Due to the spread of Visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian territory, this research was undertaken with the objective to identify the sandfly fauna and aspects of the species behavior in forest and anthropic environments in Paraná State, Brazil. The sandfly captures were sporadically carried out in 37 municipalities of the Paraná state, during the period from March 2004 to November 2005. Each municipality was once visited, when Falcão traps were installed during three consecutive nights in forested fragments and anthropic environments; captures with Shannon traps installed in forests and edge of forests, inspection of walls and electric aspiration in domiciles and forested areas were sporadically undertaken.