[Phlebotomus of Portugal. I--Natural infestation of Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir, 1921 and Phlebotomus perniciosus Newstead, 1911, by Leishmania in the zoonotic focus of Arrábida (Portugal)].

The author presents the results of a sandfly survey carried out in the zoonotic focus of Arrábida for search of kala-azar vectors. The total of 195 dissected females belonged to the species Sergentomyia (S.) minuta. Phlebotomus (L.) ariasi and Phlebotomus (L.) perniciosus. Only the last two species were found parasitized by Leishmania promastigotes: 2 females of P. ariasi (4.88%) and 3 females of P. perniciosus (2.01%). This is the first finding of natural infection of P. ariasi in Portugal.