Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya: Sergentomyia garnhami (Diptera Psychodidae), a possible vector of Leishmania major in Kitui District: a new focus of the disease.

Investigations on phlebotomine sandflies in Tseikuru, Kitui District, Kenya were carried out to determine the vectors of Leishmania major. Sandflies were trapped from animal burrows over a period of one year using castor oil-smeared sticky traps. Nineteen phlebotomine sandfly species were identified and their prevalence in this habitat determined. Dissections on the parous sandflies resulted in the isolation of Leishmania parasites from Phlebotomus martini and Sergentomyia garnhami. The isolated parasites were cultured in NNN medium and were consequently mass cultured in RPMI medium for biochemical characterisation. The parasites from S. garnhami were typed as Leishmania major.

Epidemiology of leishmaniases in Kenya: V. Wider search for breeding habitats of phlebotomine sandflies in three kala-azar endemic foci.

Intensive investigations on the breeding sites of phebotomine sandflies were undertaken in Kitui, Machakos and Baringo foci of leishmaniases in Kenya. A total of 473 soil samples weighing approximately 4,244 kg were collected from termite hills, animal burrows, tree hole, human dwellings, animal enclosures, under tree canopy, open ground, chicken coop and rock crevices habitats and incubated in the field laboratories. 267 samples weighing approximately 3002 kg were positive, producing 6419 sandflies comprising 17 different species. This study resulted in the identification of both perennial and seasonal breeding sites of most of the phlebotomine sandfly species found in these three leishmaniases foci.