Epidemiology of leishmaniasis in French Guiana.

Lutzomyia umbratilis is confirmed as the vector of Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis, the cause of "pian bois" in man in French Guiana. Although spending most of the year in the forest canopy, this sandfly is abundant at ground level for about two weeks at the beginning of the long rainy season. The maximum number of infective bites per man per hour (3.9) was reached at the end of November 1979. Infections were found in one of seven Potos flavus, seven of 15 Choleopus didactylus and two of 19 rodents examined. C. didactylus seems likely to be the main reservoir.