Determination of fauna and seasonal activity of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) as vectors of disease agents in Southwestern Iran

Abstract

Aims: The current study determined the faunistic composition, sex ratio, seasonal abundance, and physiological status of sandflies as vectors of leishmaniasis in Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran, during 2015–2016. Materials and Methods: Sandflies were captured using sticky paper traps installed at sunset and collected after sunrise at indoor and outdoor locations. Sandflies were mounted on slides in Puri's medium and identified using diagnostic keys. Results: Overall, 13 species (2 species of Phlebotomus Rondani and Bert 1840 and 11 species of Sergentomyia Franca and Parrot 1920) were identified among the 6173 sandflies collected including Phlebotomus papatasi, Scopoli, 1786 (45.64%); Phlebotomus alexandri, Sinton, 1928 (31.31%); and Sergentomyia sintoni, Pringle, 1953 (15.9%). Four species, including Sergentomyia tiberiadis, Adler, Theodor, and Lourie, 1930; Sergentomyia clydei, Sinton, 1928; Sergentomyia antennata, Newstead, 1912; and Sergentomyia christophersi, Sinton, 1927, are reported for the first time in Abadan. The sex ratios of the sandflies of genus Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia were 362.4 and 92.2 males per 100 females, respectively. The analysis of physiological status of sandflies in outdoors and indoors revealed 61.2% and 71.1% unfed, 2.9% and 4.8% blood-fed, 26.7% and 17.7% semi-gravid, and 9.2% and 6.4% gravid, respectively. Conclusion: P. papatasi and P. alexandri may play important as vectors of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Khuzestan Province, due to their high abundance and monthly prevalence in regions affected with CL.