Chapter 1: Phlebotominae Sand Flies, Medical Importance -- Chapter 2: Classification, Morphology and Terminology of adults  and Identification of the American taxa -- Chapter 3: Molecular and biochemical markers for investigating the vectorial roles of Brazilian sand flies -- Chapter 4: Regional Distribution and Habitats of Brazilian Phlebotomine Species -- Chapter 5: Bionomy. Biology of Neotropical Phlebotomine Sand flies -- Chapter 6: The biology of the Leishmania-sand fly interaction. Chapter 7: Sand fly vectors of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Brazil -- Chapter 8: The eco-epidemiology of American visceral leishmaniasis, with particular reference to Brazil -- Chapter 9: Brazilian Phlebotomines as hosts and vectors of viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa (excluding those belonging to the genus Leishmania) and nematodes -- Chapter 10: Methods for Capturing, Processing and Preserving Phlebotomine -- Chapter 11: Leishmaniasis Vector Surveillance and Control in Brazil: A challenge to Control Programs.

This is the first English-language book dedicated to Brazilian sand flies and their medical importance. No other country has so many species of these haematophagous insects as Brazil and their diversity has reached an astonishing level. The book contains comprehensive chapters, written by Brazilian experts on their regional distribution, their ecology and their importance as vectors of pathogens and parasites. Methods for sampling, processing and preserving phlebotomines are reviewed as are perspectives on surveillance and leishmaniasis vector control. A novel classification is presented whose aim is to help investigators identify the species that they are working with more efficiently.