Fauna and monthly activity of sand flies at zoonotic cutaneous leishmanianisis focus in Damghan district, Semnan province (2008)

Introduction: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmanianisis is one of most important health problem in theworld and the disease has been reported from more than 88 countries with 350 million people at the riskof it .The disease has been widespread in several parts of islamic republic of Iran. Sand flies(phlebotominae) are the vectors of the disease that transmit of parasites from the infected rodents tohuman. Knowledge on ecology of Sand flies can help us to design of disease control program. Determineof fauna and monthlyonthly activity of Sand flies was the main objects of this study.Material and Methods: This survey was performed as an experimental and practical study. It wascarried out in Damghan district of Semnan province during 2008. Sand flies were collected from indoorsand outdoors using sticky traps twice in month from early April to late November.Results: Totally 6110 sand flies (6 species of Phlebotomus and 2 species of Sergentomyia) werecollected and identified from indoors (2146) and outdoors (3964). Activity of sand flies were started inApril and ended in October with two peaks in May and September. The dominant species werePhlebotomus papatasi.Conclusion: High density of Phlebotomus papatasi as the dominant specimen indicates that, thisspecies can be the main vector of disease. Collection of P. caucasicus, P.mongolensis and P. ansarii fromrodent burrow show that they can play as the secondary role to transmitting of disease among rodentreservoirs. Dissection of sand flies for finding of parasites and following of them by molecular methods isnecessary to confirmation of proven vector(s). Control of rodents, environmental sanitary as well aspersonal protections and insecticide impregnated bed nets was suggested to prevention of disease