Ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) and possibilities of the existence of visceral leishmaniasis in Costa Rica

A semiarid area of northwest Costa Rica where Lutzomyia longipalpis is common in corrals around houses is described. Monthly captures of the sandfly during two consecutive years for fixed periods of time indicated that the insect bites avidly cows, horses, pigs, dogs and humans. From a total of 14,215 specimens, 90.5% were males and the species is markedly more abundant during the dry season decreasing considerably when rain comes. The possibility that visceral leishmaniasis could become in the future established in the area is discussed, in view of the fact that it already exists endemically in other Central American countries.