The diversity of sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) and the presence of Leishmania spp. DNA in potential vectors of the Mbaracayu Forest Biosphere Reserve, Canindeyu, Paraguay: New records and findings.

ABSTRACT: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease where parasites of the genus Leishmania are transmitted among hosts by sandfly vectors of the subfamily Phlebotominae. In Paraguay, studies on sandfly biodiversity are limited, even though the disease is present in its tegumentary and visceral forms. This pioneering ecoepidemiological study analyzes the diversity, abundance, and detection of Leishmania spp. DNA in sandflies from primary, secondary, and degraded forest habitats within the Mbaracayú Forest Biosphere Reserve. Over a year of sampling, 954 sandflies were captured, comprising 599 females and 355 males, belonging to 12 species, 10 of which are reported for the first time in Canindeyú. The species with the highest positivity for Leishmania spp. DNA were the Evandromyia cortelezzii complex (20.3%

SUBMITTER: Rolon MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12694836 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature