Land use and cover changes and sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) assemblages in an emerging focus of leishmaniasis

The dataset documents the relationship between changes in land use and
occupation and the diversity and abundance of phlebotomines, the vectors
of leishmaniasis, in a rural area of the municipality of Codó, Maranhão.
It integrates spatial and entomological information collected between 2012
and 2023, providing a comprehensive basis for environmental,
epidemiological and vector management analyses. The land use and
occupation data was obtained from Sentinel-2 satellite images, processed
in QGIS software (version 3.10) and classified using the Orfeo Toolbox
Processing (OTB) tool. The images represent the years 2012, 2014, 2021 and
2023 and include variables such as the density and fragmentation of
vegetation cover, as well as the expansion of built-up areas. This
information was made available in geospatial formats, such as Geotiff and
shapefiles, allowing detailed analysis of temporal changes in the
landscape. Entomological data was collected bimonthly between August 2022
and June 2023. Phlebotomines were captured using CDC and Shannon traps
(white and black) installed in peri- and extra-domicile environments. The
set includes information on species identification, number of individuals
captured by trap type and environment, as well as data on total and
relative abundance. This data is organized in CSV files and descriptive
reports. A total of 3,375 phlebotomines were captured, of which
Psychodopygus wellcomei was the most abundant species (78.19%), followed
by Nyssomyia whitmani (7.53%). Ny. whitmani predominated in the
peridomicile (84.97%), while Ps. wellcomei was more frequent in the
extradomicile (96.51%). This set of data is of high scientific relevance,
providing unprecedented support for studies on the relationship between
habitat fragmentation and disease vector dynamics. It also has great
potential for reuse and can be applied in various areas, such as public
health planning, teaching and research. It can support the development of
vector surveillance and control strategies, as well as serving as a basis
for predictive models of leishmaniasis transmission. The data is made
available in accordance with ethical and legal standards. It does not
include sensitive or identifiable information about human beings,
guaranteeing compliance with applicable legislation. The entomological
collections were carried out with the authorization of regulatory bodies
and in compliance with Brazilian environmental legislation. To access the
data, it is necessary to request permission and ensure proper citation of
the original study. This dataset is a valuable resource for understanding
the interactions between anthropogenic changes in the landscape and vector
dynamics. It offers insights into environmental impacts and enables more
effective approaches to leishmaniasis control in tropical rural areas,
contributing to the advancement of public health and environmental
conservation policies.