An Inventory of the Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Rudbar County, a New Focus of Leishmaniasis in Northern Iran, with a Taxonomic Note on the Subgenus Larroussius

Abstract

Background: Different forms of leishmaniasis are significant infectious diseases in Iran. While, Rudbar County of Gui­lan Province has been introduced as a new cutaneous leishmaniasis focus, there are few published data about the phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the province.
 Methods: To study the phlebotomine fauna of Rudbar County, the sampling was performed in 12 collection sites by light traps, sticky traps and manual aspirators throughout August–December 2015. Sand flies were removed from the sticky traps, rinsed in acetone and stored in 80% ethanol along with the collections of light traps and hand catch­es.
 Results: In total, 2186 sand flies were collected and ten species representing two genera were morphologically identi­fied: Phlebotomus (Adlerius) halepensis (0.27%), Ph. (Larroussius) kandeladii (0.10%), Ph. (Lar.) neglectus (0.91%), Ph. (Lar.) perfiliewi (53.88%), Ph. (Lar.) tobbi (43.45%), Ph. (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti (0.82%), Ph. (Phlebotomus) papatasi (0.10%), Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) baghdadis (0.27%), Se. (Sintonius) clydei (0.05%) and Se. (Sin.) tiberi­adis (0.10%). The species Ph. halepensis, Ph. neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, Se. baghdadis, Se. clydei and Se. tiberiadis were reported for the first time in Guilan Province. This study also verified the presence of Ph. neglec­tus (Ph. major krimen­sis as a synonym and morphotype) in Iran. Moreover, the taxonomy of the subgenus Larrous­sius of the province was discussed.
 Conclusion: The prevalence of suspected or proven cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis vectors is noteworthy. The study of ecology of sand flies and detecting the exact vectors of leishmaniasis and phlebotomine fever by molecular specific tests in Guilan Province are recommended.

Seroepidemiological Study of Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala-azar) in Children under 12 Years Old in North of Iran: An Observational Study in 2019-2020

“…In general, most of the suspected and infected people did not travel to leishmaniasis endemic and non-endemic areas. Therefore, due to the presence of the reservoirs (dogs and canines) and vectors (sandflies) of VL in the region (10), it could be concluded that they have probably been infected in Roudbar county.…”

“…In a previous study on the Phlebotomine fauna in Roudbar County, the existence of vectors of leishmaniasis was proven. Noteworthy, all collected Phlebotomus species were suspected or proven vectors of CL and/ or VL in Iran or adjoining countries (10).…”

“…While Roudbar County of Guilan Province has been introduced as a new leishmaniasis focus (10), there are no published data on the prevalence of VL in Guilan Province.…”

“…Roudbar County located in Guilan Province with about 200-500 mm annual rainfall and showed mountainous and less humid temperate climate similar to the Mediterranean region. The county has an area of 2574km2 and the main agricultural crop is olive (10). At the 2006 census, the county's population was 101,884 in 27,902 families.…”

PCR Positivity of Gerbils and Their Ectoparasites for Leishmania Spp. in a Hyperendemic Focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Central Iran

“…Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major Yakimoff and Schokhor, 1914 is a public health problem in several countries affecting a large number of people ( 1 ). The disease is endemic in in 18 out of 31 provinces of Iran ( 2 ). The great gerbils ( Rhombomys opimus Lichtenstein, 1823) is the main reservoir hosts of ZCL in Iran and this rodent acts as a reservoir host of ZCL in Esfahan Province, central Iran ( 1 ).…”