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. 2021 Mar;45(1):263-272.
doi: 10.1007/s12639-020-01298-2. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Study of fauna, activity patterns and Leishmania infection rate of phlebotomine sand flies in Western Iran

Saleh Khoshnood  1 , Mehdi Tavalla  2 , Seyed Mohammad Abtahi  1 , Asadollah Jalali-Galousang  3 , Mohammad-Ali Mohaghegh  4   5 , Faham Khamesipour  6 , Seyed Hossein Hejazi  1   7
Affiliations

Study of fauna, activity patterns and Leishmania infection rate of phlebotomine sand flies in Western Iran

Saleh Khoshnood et al. J Parasit Dis. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Iran; Leishmania; Phlebotomine; Psychodidae; Sand fly.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestAll authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of the area of study and sandflies population density at the sampling location
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of the area of study and sandflies population density at the sampling location
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Monthly changes of P. papatasi population from 2016 to 2018 in Mehran and Dehloran Counties, Ilam province, Iran
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Agarose gel electrophoresis of Leishmania isolates from sandflies in semi-nested PCR using the primers LINR4/LIN17and LIN19: Lanes 1–3, 5–7,9 and 11–13 L. major isolates obtained from sandflies; Lane M DNA size marker; Lane 4 and 8 negative control; Lane 10 L. major (positive control)
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