Species Composition and Seasonal Activity of Phlebotominae Sand Flies in Kuhdasht City, Lorestan Province, Iran

Abstract

Background: leishmaniasis causes ninth largest burden among infectious diseases and has been known for
several hundred years in Iran. Phlebotominae sand flies are proven vectors of leishmaniasis and some other
infectious diseases such as sand fly fever, summer meningitis, vesicular stomatitis, Carri ?on’s disease and
Chandipura virus encephalitis to human and animals.
Aim: To reveal the species diversity and distribution of leishmaniasis vectors, the present study was
conducted with the aim of investigating the fauna and monthly activity of sand flies of Kuhdasht.
Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done on sand flies distribution and seasonal
activity in Kuhdasht city. Using sticky traps and light traps sand flies were collected during activity season
from the end of March to mid-December, 2016.
Results: During 8 months of study, totally 4455 sand flies (4157 with sticky trap and 298 with light trap) were
collected. Sandflies include a collection of 7 species composed of Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P
(Paraphlebotomus) sergenti, P (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P (Adlerius) halpensis, P (Paraphlebotomus)
caucasicus, P (Phlebotomus) salehi and Sergentomyia (Sergentomia) antenata. Activity of sand flies started
in late May and continued until the end of November. Phlebotomus papatasi, P. sergenti and P. alexandri
were three prevalent species in studied areas and two activity peaks were recorded in the end of June and in
early-September.
Conclusions: Regarding the presence of proven vectors of leishmaniasis in studied areas and neighboring
with important foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis, monitoring the status of vectors and epidemiology of the
disease in the city and suburb of the Kuhdasht is very important in the prevention of forming a new focus
of leishmaniasis.