Open AccessStudy of fauna, activity patterns and Leishmania infection rate of phlebotomine sand flies in Western Iran
Author(s) -
Saleh Khoshnood,
Mehdi Tavalla,
Seyed Mohammad Abtahi,
Asadollah Jalali-Galousang,
Mohammad Ali Mohaghegh,
Faham Khamesipour,
Seyed Hossein Hejazi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of parasitic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 0975-0703
pISSN - 0971-7196
DOI - 10.1007/s12639-020-01298-2
Subject(s) - sandfly , vector (molecular biology) , phlebotomus , fauna , psychodidae , leishmaniasis , leishmania , biology , cutaneous leishmaniasis , veterinary medicine , phlebotominae , leishmania major , visceral leishmaniasis , zoology , ecology , parasite hosting , immunology , medicine , biochemistry , world wide web , computer science , gene , recombinant dna
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a crucial vector-borne disease caused by various species of Leishmania and is transmitted by several species of sandflies. The present study was conducted to describe sand fly fauna on vectors of leishmaniasis and performing molecular identification of Leishmania isolates from them on the Iran-Iraq border. Entomological surveys were done from May to October 2016-2018 in 2 counties (Mehran and Dehloran) of Ilam province, west of Iran. Sandflies were collected by 40 Sticky Traps at each station. Samples were mounted for species identification using morphological characters of the head and abdominal terminalia. DNA was extracted from Phlebotomus papatasi females, and Leishmania isolates were identified through PCR on minicircle kDNA, followed by sequencing. A total of 5592 sandflies including 2 genera of Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia comprising 8 species of sand flies were detected. Leishmania major infection was detected in 3.33% of 300 tested female sandflies. Phlebotomus papatasi was predominant in outdoor and indoor resting places. Phlebotomus papatasi was determined as dominant vector of Leishmania major infection in Mehran and Dehloran counties, West of Iran. It seems the composition of sandfly species in the study area is almost similar to the other parts of Iran. A detailed description of the epidemiology and ecology of Phlebotomine sand flies needs to be established to accomplish effective vector control programs.