ARS | Publication request: Biology and distribution of Lutzomyia apache as it relates to VSV

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: September 4, 2008
Publication Date: October 1, 2008
Citation: Reeves, W.K. 2008. Biology and distribution of Lutzomyia apache as it relates to VSV. Meeting Abstract.

Technical Abstract: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Lutzomyia apache was incriminated as a vector of vesicular stomatitis viruses(VSV)due to overlapping ranges of the sand fly and outbreaks of VSV. I report on newly discovered populations of L. apache in Wyoming from Albany and Fremont Counties. Attempts to isolate viruses isolations from field caught flies were not successful and we did not detect DNA from vertebrate blood meals or pathogens such as Bartonella. Several insect pathogens or symbiotes were detected in the sand flies including Rickettsia, gregarines, and ectoparasitic mites. Females of L. apache did not feed on sheep or chicken blood in the laboratory. However, wild caught flies fully engorged on lizard blood. Blood feeding on reptiles is known for all other Nearctic species in the subgenus Helcocyrtomyia. Blood feeding on a reptile and the lack of attraction to mammalian and avian blood indicates that L. apache is unlikely to be a natural vector of vesicular stomatitis.