Vertical stratification of sand fly diversity in relation to natural infections of Leishmania sp. and blood-meal sources in Jamari National Forest, Rondônia State, Brazil

Sand fly fauna is more diverse in the canopy than at ground level. Factors such as blood-meal sources, resting sites, and abiotic components probably contribute to high abundance in the canopy. Our results reinforce the possibility that Lu. antunesi and Lu. davisi participate in Leishmania transmission in forest environments and may play an important role in transmission from sylvatic to human hosts.