BackgroundThe transmission dynamics of leishmaniasis are complex. There is also a lack of information about the ecological relationships between the vector/host/parasite at a more local and specific level. The Andean region concentrates more than 50% of Colombia’s cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases. The study of the ecological interactions of sand flies through the identification of blood sources has provided information on the female’s opportunistic behavior, feeding on various hosts. Therefore, this study aimed to determine sand flies’ ecological interactions withLeishmaniaparasites and their blood sources in an endemic area of CL.ResultsA total of 4,621 sand flies were collected, comprising 20 species, in which the most abundant wereNyssomyia yuilli yuilli(55.4%),Psychodopygus ayrozai(14.5%) andPs.panamensis(13.4%). Sequences of 12S gene fragment were analyzed using the BLASTn search tool. Blood-meal source identification was successfully performed for 47 sand flies, detecting seven vertebrate species, human and armadillo being the most frequent.LeishmaniaDNA was amplified in four female pools, constituted byNy.yuilli yuilliandPs.ayrozai, and the identification through RFLP detectedLeishmania (Viannia) panamensisin the positive pools.ConclusionsThe interactions between the sand fly species, local mammalian fauna and theLeishmaniaparasite in this active focus of CL, provide evidence of the potential role of two different species in the maintenance of the parasite transmission, important information for the understanding of the ecoepidemiology and transmission dynamics of the disease in Andean endemic areas. However its necessary further evaluations of the vector and host competence in the transmission and maintenance ofLeishmaniaspp, in these complex and diverse areas.