NAMRU SIX in Lima Peru (South America) requires to develop a study in Peru. The purpose of this acquisition is to provide Research and Development Services in support of the study "Co-occurrence of leishmaniasis and bartonellosis in the Peru-Ecuador fron

The Naval Medical Research Unit 6 intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 to Universidad Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, Urb. Ingenieria, Lima, Peru for the performance of the described requirement. This contract will provide Research and Development Services in support of the study "Co-occurrence of leishmaniasis and bartonellosis in the Peru-Ecuador frontier: characterization of sand fly vectors and potential reservoirs in rural villages and military outposts".

The long-term goal of the research conducted under this agreement is to conduct research studies under austere field conditions in leishmaniasis-endemic communities in the Peru-Ecuador border as well as deep, remote jungle areas of the Peruvian Amazon and at our laboratory in Lima, Peru. Conducting our research in these study areas requires flexible support that can expand and retract on short notice.

Deliverables:

- Preparation and submission of research protocol in Spanish to local authorities.
- Preparation of purchase orders for supplies and equipment for field and laboratory work.
- Coordination of field collections with local authorities and training of local ministry of health personnel participating in sand fly collections.
- Collection of sand flies in study sites (3 collections per site) and sand fly morphological species identification (250-500 specimens per collection per site).
- Preparation and shipment of entomological samples, materials and equipment to and from field sites.
- Conduct molecular studies to determine natural infection of sand flies with Leishmania and Bartonella (400-600 pools).
- Conduct molecular studies to determine blood meal sources in sand flies from all collections (100-200 specimens).
- Conduct molecular studies for taxonomic discrimination between morphologically similar Lutzomyia species (30 specimens).
- Consolidate and analyze data on sand fly species identification, distribution, and leishmniasis and bartonellosis natural infection.