Banca de DEFESA: MARCEL MIRANDA DE MEDEIROS SILVA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARCEL MIRANDA DE MEDEIROS SILVA
DATE: 05/03/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Vídeo conferência no Googlemeet (https://meet.google.com/ujc-scyj-gie)
TITLE:

BIODIVERSITY OF PHLEBOTOMINE SAND FLIES (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE), ENTOMOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE, AND THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF LEISHMANIASES IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

KEY WORDS:

leishmaniasis, biodiversity, phlebotomine sand flies, climate change, spatio-temporal modelling.

PAGES: 273
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUMMARY:

Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis remain major public health problems in Rio Grande do Norte, affecting socially vulnerable populations in areas marked by climatic variability, unplanned urbanization, and rapid land-use change. In this context, this dissertation integrates the biodiversity and bioecology of phlebotomine sand flies, entomological surveillance, and climatic anomalies and change to understand the spatio-temporal dynamics of leishmaniases in a semi-arid setting and to identify priority vectors and areas for surveillance and control. The overall objective was to analyze, in an integrated manner, the biodiversity and bioecological characteristics of sand flies, entomological surveillance, and the impacts of climatic anomalies and climate change on the spatio-temporal dynamics of visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis in the state, in order to inform control strategies in a context of socio-environmental vulnerability. The hypotheses tested included: expansion and updating of the sand fly inventory; the presence of natural Leishmania infection in species beyond the classical vectors; clustering of incidence associated with socio-environmental determinants; and divergent responses of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis to short-term climatic anomalies and projections. Methodologically, the dissertation was organized into three chapters. The first updated the inventory of Phlebotominae based on a literature review, integration of historical surveys and field collections in endemic areas, estimated natural infection by L. infantum in females using qPCR, and identified spatial clusters of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence using local indicators of spatial autocorrelation. The second formally described Evandromyia (Barrettomyia) primipotiguara sp. nov., through detailed morphological analyses of males and females and comparison with species of the Tupynambai series, highlighting the importance of protected areas as repositories of sand fly biodiversity. The third analyzed monthly incidences of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis from 2007 to 2024 using GAM and GAMM models, incorporating lagged anomalies of temperature and precipitation, as well as spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal smoothing terms, and projected relative risk under MIROC6 SSP scenarios for 2021–2040. The results showed increased diversity and expansion of sand fly occurrence areas, detection of natural infection in multiple species, development of high-incidence clusters associated with social vulnerability and canine reservoirs, climatic contraction of visceral leishmaniasis risk, and intensification and spatial reconfiguration of cutaneous leishmaniasis under short-term warming scenarios. These findings underscore the need for climate-sensitive entomological and epidemiological surveillance, aligned with social policies and land-use planning, to control leishmaniases in semi-arid regions.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: #1 - No Poverty; 3# - Good Health and Well-being; #13 - Climate Action; #15 - Life on Land.

SOCIAL IMPACTS: The thesis has the potential to generate significant social impacts by guiding the prioritization of territories and populations that are most vulnerable to leishmaniases, enabling more efficient allocation of public health resources in Rio Grande do Norte. By integrating sand fly biodiversity, social vulnerability, and climate change, the work contributes to climate-sensitive surveillance systems capable of anticipating risk scenarios and supporting more timely responses from health services. The results can inform intersectoral policies on vector control, sanitation, urban planning, and environmental protection, aligned with the One Health approach and focused on high-risk urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. In addition, by addressing the concentration of disease in socially marginalized groups and the role of degraded environments, the dissertation reinforces the need for actions that reduce structural inequalities and improve housing, working conditions, and access to care in the face of an inevitable climate change scenario.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - ANDREY JOSÉ DE ANDRADE
Externa ao Programa - 1714243 - DANIELLA REGINA ARANTES MARTINS SALHA - nullExterno à Instituição - FELIPE ARLEY COSTA PESSOA - FIOCRUZ
Interno - 1062272 - JULIO ALEJANDRO NAVONI
Presidente - 350500 - MARIA DE FATIMA FREIRE DE MELO XIMENES