Ecology of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in a new focus of leishmaniasis in northern Iran.

Leishmaniasis is an important infectious disease in Iran. Rudbar County of Guilan Province is introduced as a new focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The present study is going to investigate the sand flies fauna in the province and their seasonality and ecology in Rudbar County. To study the sand flies fauna, the sampling was carried out in ten localities of Guilan Province using light traps, sticky traps and manual aspirators during 2016. For the determination of seasonality, the sampling was carried out every two weeks in the fixed site of Pareh Village of Rudbar County during April-October 2016. Sand Flies were removed from sticky traps, rinsed in acetone and then conserved in 80% ethanol as well as the samples of light traps and hand catch. In total, 4430 specimens of sand flies of the genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia were collected and identified including Ph. kandelakii, Ph. neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. sergenti, Ph. tobbi and Se. dentata. Sergentomyia dentata was found for the first time in Guilan Province. The most prevalent species were Ph. tobbi (55.87%), Ph. perfiliewi (36.03%) and Ph. kandelakii (6. 97%). The seasonality of sand flies started in late May and ended in middle October in the fixed site. The peak of activity of Ph. kandelakii was in late June; however that was in late August for Ph. perfiliewi and Ph. tobbi. The monthly abundance of total sand flies was positively correlated with saturation deficit (P = 0.043). The abundance of Ph. perfiliewi was positively correlated with maximum temperature (P = 0.016), relative humidity (P = 0.006), rainfall (P = 0.007), saturation deficit (P = 0.003) and negatively with minimum temperature (P = 0.005). The abundance of Ph. tobbi was positively correlated with saturation deficit (P = 0.041) and negatively with minimum temperature (P = 0.043). The presence of suspected vectors of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, Ph. kandelakii, Ph. neglectus, Ph. perfiliewi, Ph. sergenti and Ph. tobbi, is noteworthy. Finding the exact vectors of leishmaniasis using specific tests in the province is suggested.

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.

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.

Seasonal Activity of Adult Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Focus of Dirofilariasis and West Nile Infection in Northern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mosquito-borne arboviruses such as West Nile, dengue, Rift Valley fever, and Sindbis viruses and the nematode Dirofilaria are reported in Iran, but there is little information on the seasonal activity of their vectors in the country. We aimed to determine the seasonal activity of adult mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a focus of dirofilariasis and West Nile infection in Guilan Province, northern Iran. METHODS: Collections were carried out using light traps in seven counties at least two times from random sites and every two weeks from a fixed site (Pareh Village, Rudbar County) during Aug-Dec 2015 and Apr-Oct 2016. RESULTS: Overall, 16327 adult mosquitoes comprising 18 species representing seven genera were identified. The most prevalent species were Cx. theileri (23.59%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (20.75%), Cx. pipiens (19.37%), Ae. vexans (18.18%), An. pseudopictus (10.92%) and An. maculipennis s.l. (5.48%). Aedes pulcritarsis and Cx. perexiguus were found for the first time in Guilan Province. The active season of adult mosquitoes extended from early May to early Oct in the fixed site. There was no significant regression between the abundance of adult mosquitoes and the meteorological data during active season in the fixed site (P> 0.05, R2= 0.31). CONCLUSION: Though no significant regression between the abundance of mosquitoes and the meteorological data was observed during active season, temperature and rice fields had a great influence in starting and ending active season in the region.