FIOCRUZ | Molecular and morphometric study of Brazilian populations of Psychodopygus davisi

Study Extent

Sand flies were collected between 2011 and 2019 in 15 collection sites of different municipalities. Most of P. davisi collection sites are in the Amazon biome, except for Taquaruçu do Porto, located in the Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah) and Santa Leopoldina, located in Atlantic Forest. Psychodopygus claustrei specimens were only collected in the Amazon biome.

Sampling

Collections were carried out with CDC-type light traps in forest or peridomicile environments of human dwellings, where they were placed for two consecutive days at 5 pm and removed around 9 am on the last day. Insects were kept in 70% alcohol at -20° C, and after screening sand flies were dissected. Heads and abdomens were mounted onto slides containing Berlese for optical microscopy, and legs were placed individually in 0.2 mL microtubes for further amplification of the molecular marker used. Specimens were identified at species level following classification and taxonomic key proposed by Galati (2018).

Method steps

1. Insects were field-collected, processed and identified in the lab.

Psychodopygus davisi

1. Psychodopygus davisi
   common name: sand fly rank: species

Brazil