First record of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the Argentine northwest

Abstract

In 2004, the urban presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis was recorded for the first time in Formosa province. In 2006, Misiones recorded the first autochthonous case of human urban visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in presence of the vector and cases of canine VL, after which the vector began to spread mainly in the Argentine northeast. Between 2008 and 2011, three VL cases were notified in Salta province, without a recorded presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis. Captures of Phlebotominae were made in Tartagal, Salta in 2013 and the presence of Lu. longipalpis was first recorded then in the northwest of Argentina. Systematic sampling is recommended so as to observe distribution and dispersion patterns and stratify the risk of VL transmission in the region.