The phlebotomine sandflies of Portugal. XIII - Occurrence of Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot, 1917 in the Arrabida leishmaniasis focus

Abstract

In a survey carried out during the summer in 2002 and 2003, in the canine and vulpine leishmaniasis focus of Arrabida, 665 phlebotomine sandflies were caught. 13.83 % were P. ariasi, 58.65 % P. perniciosus, 0.45 % P. sergenti and 27.07 % S. minuta. Despite the low abundance, the finding of the three adults P. sergenti (two males in Aldeia Grande and one female in Quinta da Ramada) confirm the colonization of the Arrabida leishmaniasis focus by this species, which presence had been previously reported but thought accidental. The abundance of P. ariasi observed at this time is significantly different from that in previous years (Pires, 1984 and Fernandes pers. com., 1994). The occurrence of P. sergenti in this region, in association with the decrease in abundance of P. ariasi, may reflect an increased aridness of this region, a consequence of current climate and environmental changes.