Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Qum (Aug 2011)
Fauna and Monthly Activity of Sand Flies at Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmanianisis Focus in Qomrooddistrict of Qom Province in 2009
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a parasitological disease transmitted by female sand flies. There are several endemic foci of disease in different parts of Iran. The disease is mostly reported from central part of Qom Province including the villages Ghanavat and Qomrood. It is clear that knowledge on sand flies ecologyhas the main role in planning the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). This study was carried out to determinecutaneous leishmaniasis vectors in Gomrood district of Qom provincein 2009. Methods: The present study was a descriptive, cross-sectional one conducted on sand flies (the leishmaiosis vectors). It was carried out in Qomrood area of central district of Qom province during 2009. Sand flies were collected biweekly from indoors (bed rooms, stables, etc.) and outdoors-rodent burrows of three villages in Gomrood district, using 180 sticky traps (castor oil coated white paper 20 x 32 cm) from the beginning (May) to the end (November) of the active season. For species identification, sand flies were mounted in Puri’s medium and identified after 24 hours using the keys of Theodor and Mesghali (1964).Results: A total of 10252 adult sand flies (4578 from indoors and 5674 from outdoors) were collected and identified during May and November 2009. The following seven species were found in indoors: Phlebotomuspapatasi (86.1%), p. salehi (0/021%), P. sergenti (1/74%), p. caucasicus (1/26%), p. alexandri(0/24%), Sergentomyiasintoni (10/35%) and S. theodori(0/26%). The collected species of oudoors were Phlebotomuspapatasi (54/67%), P. sergenti (0/35%), p. alexandri(0/035%), S. sintoni (44/02%) S. dentata (0/21%) S. clydei (0/19%), S. theodori (0/46%) and S. pawlowski (0/05%). The most common sand flies in indoors and outdoors resting places were P. papatasi and S. sintoni. P. salehi was the lowest collected species in Gomrood district. The active peaks of sand flies were observed in late May and late August.The sex ratio i.e. number of males/100 females of P. papatasi was calculated to be 241.5 and 307.3 in indoors and rodent burrows, respectively. Conclusion: Our entomological survey showed that P. papatasi was the dominant species in indoors and outdoors. It seems this species can be probable vector for ZCL in the study area. Nevertheless, it is necessary that more studies are suggested (specially using molecular methods) in order to determinethe proven vector (s).
