Influência de fatores abióticos na distribuição e abundância de flebotomíneos (Diptera: Psychodidae) em uma unidade de conservação da mata atlântica do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem in Brazil, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania transmitted by sand flies, small insects of the order Diptera whose females are hematophagous. The main vector of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), or kala-azar, in the Americas is Lutzomyia longipalpis while Leishmania infantum is the etiological agent. In Brazil, the Northeastern Region stands out with the highest incidence of VL cases, especially among the most disadvantaged groups of society. Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) has different vectors and etiological agents throughout the country, a wide distribution, and despite its lower severity, it causes serious disfiguring and disabling lesions all over the country, especially in the North Region. It is relevant to introduce prevention strategies, through information and consciousness of the problem, in order to modify deleterious anthropic actions. Cordel folk literature has proved to be an educational instrument with potential use to address this issue, since it attracts by its playful and informal connotations and awakens the attention of people of different age groups. This study aimed, therefore, to know the sand flies fauna at an Atlantic Forest Conservation Unit and its surroundings, as well as some factors related to their occurrence, in addition to testing the use of cordel literature as an informative tool on the subject. The study took place over three years in the internal and external area of the Nísia Floresta National Forest (Flona) located in the city of Nísia Floresta, metropolitan region of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, using Shannon and CDC traps. A cordel pamphlet in its classic format was produced, entitled "A blood drinker in the land of mandacaru - fight against kala-azar," for health educational activities among the population living in the vicinity of the Flona and students. The use of the cordel was validated through questionnaires applied to students of the Education of Young and Adults Program. The pamphlet approaches the transmission, symptoms, treatment and prophylaxis of the disease. There were collected and identified 82,638 sand flies of the species Evandromyia evandroi, Evandromyia lenti, Evandromyia walkeri, Evandromyia sallesi, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Micropygomyia schreiberi, Nyssomyia intermedia, Nyssomyia whitmani, Psathyromyia abonnenci, Psathyromyia brasiliensis, Psathyromyia shannoni, Psychodopygus wellcomei and Sciopemyia sordellii. Phlebotomines were more abundant near the soil of the wild environment, although they were also abundant near the canopy and in the rural peridomicille. L. walkeri was the most abundant species, representing 76% of all sandflies collected, and other investigations about this species are important. L. longipalpis, E. evandroi and E. lenti showed preference for anthropized environments. This study confirms the high anthropophilic behavior of P. wellcomei, which is active throughout the day in the wild, as well as its relationship with the rainy months. Based on the knowledge of the bioecology of sand flies vectors of leishmaniasis in the study area, as well as the factors involved in its occurrence, it is expected that this work may contribute to strategies for the prevention and control of leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil. The cordel literature was widely accepted by students and the experience has shown that this may be an important way for dissemination of information about visceral leishmaniasis. It is also desired that the regionalization of educational strategies through cordel literature can contribute to the dissemination of knowledge, sensitizing the community and disseminating such an important subject in public health.