Faunistic Study of Phlebotomine Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Shiraz, Fars Province, South of Iran

The fauna of sandflies is medically important in Iran and also in Fars Province. Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of pathogenic organisms, such as Leishmania, in many regions of Iran especially in Shiraz city located in Fars Province which has been a major endemic focus of leishmaniasis for many years. These insects play a significant role as vectors of different diseases especially as vector of leishmaniasis, with direct or indirect role in spread of these diseases. Objective We aimed to study the fauna of sandflies in northeastern Shiraz, a recently newfound focus of leishmaniasis. Materials and Methods Sandflies were sampled from indoor and outdoor places in house of sick people infected by leishmaniasis, using sticky papers. All sandflies were identified to species based on external and internal morphological characters of the head and abdominal terminalia, which were slide-mounted in Puree fluid. The taxa were identified using available identification keys. Results The total number of 263 sandflies belonging to three species and two genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia were identified (Phlebotomus sergenti (56%), P. papatasi (41%), Sergentomyia dentate (3%)). of 263 collected samples, 52 (20%) were female and 211 (82%) were male. 131 (49.7%) sandflies were collected from indoor and 132 (51.3%) were collected from outdoor places. 86 % of female P. papatasi and 54% of female P. sergenti were caught from indoor places. Conclusion: Given the recently reports of cutaneous leishmaniasis from northeastern Shiraz (Niayesh and Chamran Boulevard) and also high frequency of two species of sandflies, Phlebotomus papatasi and P. sergenti in this Shiraz District, in order to prevent possible transmission of the disease, control of reservoir and insect vector of the leishmaniasis are strongly recommended

Keywords:

Insect , Phlebotomus papatasi , P. sergenti , Leishmania