Sand-fly and mammal captures to validate current transmission cycles of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Colombia

Study Extent

Collections were made in Tauramena (Casanare), Sahagún(Cordoba), Nilo (Cundinamarca) and Icononzo (Tolima).

Sampling

The field work was developed in various sites taking into account leishmaniasis incidence as well as the ecoregion type in order to relate it with the biotic interaction networks developed. For the vector and reservoir captures field work were performed for four consecutive nights, sandfly vectors were collected with the use of CDC light traps, and mammals were captured with Shannon and Tomahawk traps. The traps were placed based on the design by Parmenter et al. 2003.

Method steps

1. Insects: the specimens were collected through the use of 12 CDC Light traps which were placed for three consecutive nights from 6 pm-6am. Each trap was hung on a tree 1 m above the ground within the sampling area. The collected insects were separated and stored in Eppendorf tubes in 90% alcohol and transported to the laboratory for taxonomic identification and molecular testing.
2. Mammals: the specimens were collected through the use of 111 traps (87 Sherman, 24 Tomahawk) which were placed, in each selected sampling area, forming a 12-armed asterisk for three consecutive nights. Nine traps were placed in each of these arms, two of which were Tomahawks, each trap being at a distance of 5 m from the next. The traps were baited with a mixture of peanut butter, oats, flour and banana which was placed every day at 6pm and the traps were checked every day at 6 am. Those traps that were positive were raised in order to move the specimen to the work area, in this space the entire procedure corresponding to the collection and storage of the samples was carried out.
3. The specimens were sacrificed with excess of Zoletil (0.5 ml / 40g), a sample of organs (heart, spleen, liver and tissue) was taken which were stored in Eppendorf tubes with 90% alcohol. The skins were separated and dried to be transported to the museum, as were the skulls that were stored in 90% alcohol and later cleaned using KOH. The taxonomic identification of the specimens was carried out based on the morphology of the skulls.

These 63 records belong to mammals (38) and insects (25), with a taxonomica coverage of 4 orders, 7 families, 19 genus and 25 species. There is a 98.41% classifed to the species level and 1.58% to genus.

1. Asilidae
   rank: family
2. Cricetidae
   rank: family
3. Didelphidae
   rank: family
4. Heteromyidae
   rank: family
5. Phyllostomidae
   rank: family
6. Psychodidae
   rank: family
7. Vespertilionidae
   rank: family
8. Insecta
   rank: class
9. Mammalia
   rank: class

Collections were made in Tauramena (Casanare), Sahagún(Cordoba), Nilo (Cundinamarca) and Icononzo (Tolima).