Abstract
BackgroundIn a countrywide study aiming to update the knowledge on diversity of sand fly species in Romania, a sand fly population was observed in an isolated system of cave microhabitats. The caves are located in the protected area of Canaraua Fetii, Dobrogea region, southeastern Romania. The highest sand fly diversity was recorded in this area between 1968 and 1970. This work presents a study conducted to estimate the seasonal variation of the sand fly species in correlation with the particular environmental factors of the isolated system of cave microhabitats.MethodsSand flies were collected between May and October 2020 from one trapping site of interest in Canaraua Fetii. The trapping site consisted of a cave entrance. CDC miniature light traps and sticky traps were used to collect insects from the exterior walls of the cave entrance. Species identification of collected sand flies was done using morphological keys. Statistical analysis of the trapping and climatic data was performed.ResultsFrom all collected sand flies, 99.7% (818/822) were Phlebotomus neglectus, 0.1% (1/822) Ph. balcanicus and 0.2% (2/822) Sergentomyia minuta. Sand fly activity was first observed on 2 July and last on 24 September. A monomodal abundance trend was present, with the peak activity between 16 and 17 July. The analysis of the climatic data showed correlations between the total number of captured sand flies and both average temperature and average relative humidity. The total number of collected specimens was statistically higher when CDC miniature light traps were used compared to sticky traps. The number of females on the sticky traps was significantly higher than the number of males on the same trap type. Compared with the sticky traps, significantly more males were collected by CDC miniature light traps. This is the first record of Se. minuta in Romania after 50 years of no records (despite the trapping effort of the last 5 years in the country). Also, Ph. sergenti, previously present in this location, was not found.ConclusionsIn the investigated natural habitat, the diversity of the sand fly species appears to have changed, with the predominance of Ph. neglectus instead of Ph. balcanicus and Se. minuta (recorded as the two predominant species in 1968–1970). A monomodal abundance trend was observed as in other regions of the country. The sand fly activity in this particular cave microhabitat appears to be longer than in other regions in Romania. Longer sand fly activity increases the zoonotic risk of various pathogenic species’ transmission, with an impact on public health, as sand flies are important insect vectors.Graphical abstract
Highlights
In a countrywide study aiming to update the knowledge on diversity of sand fly species in Romania, a sand fly population was observed in an isolated system of cave microhabitats
In southern Europe, and more in the Mediterranean basin, which is highly endemic for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in humans (VL) and canine leishmaniasis in dogs (CanL), both caused by Leishmania infantum, sand fly species are abundant [2]
Study area and design The study was conducted in the protected area of Canaraua Fetii in southeastern Romania (44.07302N, 27.64289E), where a population of sand flies has been observed during previous field studies [7]
Summary
In a countrywide study aiming to update the knowledge on diversity of sand fly species in Romania, a sand fly population was observed in an isolated system of cave microhabitats. This work presents a study conducted to estimate the seasonal variation of the sand fly species in correlation with the particular environmental factors of the isolated system of cave microhabitats. In both the Old and the New World, sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) are important hematophagous insects of public health and veterinary concern [1]. The major vectorial role in the transmission of parasites of genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) gives sand flies an important status among other vector insects. Their vectorial role was confirmed for other bacterial and viral pathogens [2]. The important vectorial role of sand flies and the permanent risk of new foci of disease emergence require permanent surveillance of vector presence, abundance and disease epidemiology, mainly at the limit of their distribution [5]
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