Detection of Leishmania DNA and identification of blood meal sources in sand flies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) from an Amazonian endemic area of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in the state of Acre, western Amazonia, but natural vectors and reservoirs are poorly known. This study investigated Leishmania infection and blood meal sources in sand flies in the town of Sena Madureira. Sand flies were captured using CDC light and Shannon traps. Leishmania DNA was detected using PCR targeting hsp70; using PCR against cytb from engorged females’ blood samples. A total of 560 sand flies from 12 genera were collected, with Psychodopygus representing 56.6% of specimens.Leishmania DNA was detected in 12 samples, sequencing confirmed L. (Viannia) braziliensis infection in Nyssomyia fraihai and Psychodopygus hirsutus. Blood-meal testing identified cytb sequences matching human (5 flies), Tamandua tetradactyla (2 flies), and Cebus unicolor DNA (1 fly). This study provides new evidence ofLeishmaniacirculation in anthropic environments, highlighting potential risk for human infection and provides new methods for understanding leishmaniasis transmission.