Leishmaniasis in Brazil: VII. Further observations on the feeding habitats of Lutzomyia flaviscutellata (Mangabeira) with particular reference to its biting habits at different heights

Lu. flaviscutellata is limited in its vertical distribution to a narrow zone just above the forest floor. The very high incidence of L. mexicana amazonensis in ground loving rodents of the genera Oryzomys and Proechimys, and the location of lesions in man caused by this same parasite on the lower parts of the body would both appear to be a reflection of the limited vertical distribution of the sandfly vector. The general lack of human infections of L. m. amazonensis would appear to be associated with the general reluctance of the vector, Lu. flaviscutellata, to bite man. When man enters into an area, however, where there are tremendous numbers of Lu. flaviscutellata, such as in the wetter forests, the fly/man contact is raised to such a level that transmission of L. m. amazonensis to man is possible. Such conditions, as judged by the low incidence of L. m. amazonensis in man, would appear to be comparatively rare and do not appear to exist in the drier forests where man commonly contracts cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania of the L. braziliensis complex.