CHAPTER 2 

 SAND FLIES ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS 

 IN TEXAS: OBSERVATIONS ON THEIR BIOLOGY WITH SPECIAL 

 REFERENCE TO Lutzomyia diabolica (HALL) 



Introduction 

 General 



Recent reports of human cutaneous leishmaniasis acquired in south 

 central Texas strongly suggest that the disease is endemic there (Shaw 

 et aj_., 1976; Gustafson et ah, 1984). Because sand flies are the 

 only known natural vectors of leishmaniasis, a knowledge of their 

 field biology and host associations is of paramount importance in 

 epidemiologic studies of this disease. Six species of sand flies are 

 known to occur in Texas; these are Lutzomyia anthophora (Addis), Lu. 

 cal ifornica (Fairchild and Hertig), Lu. diabol ica (Hall), Lu. oppidana 

 (Dampf), Lu_. texana (Dampf), and Lu. vexator (Coq.) (Young and 

 Perkins, 1984). Only one, Lu_. diabol ica , is known to be 

 anthropophil ic. This field study is the first to investigate sand 

 flies in Texas associated with specific human case sites of cutaneous 

 leishmaniasis. 



The investigation was initiated in 1982 with a survey trip in 

 late spring and early summer (4-28 June) to south central Texas. The 

 principal study site was Garner State Park near Concan in Uvalde 

 County. Secondary sites included Rio Frio in Real County, Seminole 

 Canyon State Park in Val Verde County, and Fawcett Boy Scout Camp near 



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