Study on species composition and seasonal activity of sand flies in a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis, Azarshahr District, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Abstract

This survey was carried out from April to October 2010 in order to determine the species composition, relative abundance, the activity periods of Phlebotomine sand flies, common sand flies in resting places and to specify the risk period of leishmaniasis in Azarshahr district, East Azerbaijan province, Iran.Sand flies were collected using sticky traps biweekly from selected villages indoors and outdoors. Species identification using keys was carried out. The density was calculated using the formula number of specimens/m2 of sticky traps and number of specimens/ number of traps. Totally, 5557 specimens comprising16 Species (14 Phlebotomus, and 2 Sergentomyia) were indentified. The activity of the species extended from April to October. Common Sand-flies in resting places were ph. Papatasi, ph. Sergenti and ph. Mongolensis. The monthly average density was 37.6, 41.1, 40.23, 30.38 and 30.67 for Almalodash, Jaragil, Segaiesh, Amirdizaj and Germezigol respectively. The population dynamics of sand flies in Azarshahr were greatly affected by climatic factors. Our results showed that the highest activity of the collected sand fly species occurs in third week of August that could help health authorities for predication period of maximum risk of VL transmission and successful implementation of a control program.