The objective of this study was to determine the blood feeding sources for sand flies based on the precipitin test in Buriticupu, Amazon Region, Maranhão State, Brazil, from July 2002 to June 2004. Single (87.6%) and double (8%) reactions and non-reactive samples (4.4%) were found. The presence of sand flies fed on human blood (6.7%) and blood of animals that are possible peridomiciliary Leishmania reservoirs helps explain the reporting of autochthonous tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in Buriticupu.
Lutzomyia; Phlebotomine; Leishmaniasis
