European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SURVEY OF THE MAIN VECTORS OF LEISHMANIASIS, FAUNA OF PHLEBOTOMINE SAND FLIES (DIPTERA: PSYCHODIDAE) IN ALBORZ PROVINCE, IRAN

Abbas Bahrami*, Aliehsan Heidari1, Hojatollah Barati, Naseh Maleki-Ravasan and Faranak Firoozfar

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a predominantly rural disease with multifaceted clinical manifestations caused by infections with species of Leishmania. Sand flies are the only vectors of the various species of leishmaniasis. There are several reports on outbreaks of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the rural areas of Alborz Province. This study was aimed to determine of the vector(s) and monthly activity of sand flies in Alborz Province. Materials & Methods: Collection of sand flies were done from villages of districts of Alborz province. Sand flies were caught (outdoor and indoor places) by sticky papers from the late April and continued until the end of November, 2015. Temperature and relative humidity of collected places were registered. Results: Altogether 3040 specimens comprising 13 species (11 phlebotomus and 2 Sergentomyia) were collected and identified. Among the collected sand flies. Sex ratio of total catches of sand flies were calculated 4.23 .Two species of P. sergenti and P.tobbi with a frequencies of 45.9% and 27.6% were dominant specimens respectively. The average temperature of indoors and outdoors places were calculated 21.7°C and 20°C respectively. The average relative humidity in indoors and outdoors were 50% and 51% respectively. Discussion: Our results demonstrate the existence of important vector species of sand flies in the Alborz province, Iran. P. sergenti and P.tobbi with a height frequencies were dominant and important specimens in rural areas in Alborz province. It seems this tow species are playing the principal role in circulating of Leishmania parasites between host reservoirs and human in rural areas of this region. Further studies should focus on P. tobbi and P. sergenti to confirm if the sand flies species transmitting CL and VL in this region.

Keywords: Sand fly, fauna, Leishmaniasis, CL, VL, Alborz province.