Abstract
Recently, a new Leishnmnia amazonensis focus was described in a sub-Andean region (1,450-2,100meters above sea level) of Bolivia. In this area, three anthropophilic sandfly species were identified Lutzornyianuneztovari anglesi Le Pont & Desjeux, 1984, which represented 8699% of the captures, Lu. galatiae Le Pont etal., 1998, and Lu. slmnnoni Dyar 1929. Only Lu. nuneztovari anglesi was found naturally infected by flagellates (16of 1,715 females). Three Leishmania stocks were isolated and analyzed 6y isoenzyme electrophoresis at 11 loci. Nosignificant isoenzymatic differences were demonstrated between them and 7 stocks isolated from patients from thesame area, and previously characterized as L. amazonensis. Moreover, in a simplified protocol, the experimentalinfection of Lu. nuneztovari anglesi by L. amazonensis was successful in 92% of the surviving specimens. Thesedata are discussed in relation to the Killick-Kendrick criteria. These results strongly suggest that Lu. nunezrovarianglesi is the vector of L. amazorzeizsis at Cajuata, Inquisivi, La Paz, Bolivia.