EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF KALA- AZAR IN MESHKIN SHAR, IRAN: INVESTIGATION ON VECTORS

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasiam caused by Leishmania infantum has become endemic in Meshkjn-Shahr area, northwest Iran, so that in the last 8 years, more than 1600 cases have been diagnosed and treated, the majority of them among children younger than 5 years of age. The present study was carried out to determine the probable vectors in this area. During the active season of sandflies in l991,we collected sandflies from fixed catching sites by sticky traps. The result shows that sandflies were active from mid-June through mid-October the following species have been caught in this area: Phiebotomus papatasi, Ph. sergenhj, Ph. caucasjcus Ph. ‘nongolensis Ph.alexandrj, Ph. kande/akii, Ph. major. Ph.perfj/jewj transcaucasjcus Ph. kech ishiani, Ph. ha/epensis, Ph. ba/can icus, Ph. brevis, Sergen tomyia dentata, Spa wlowskji and S.sumbarjca As many of these are potential vectors, dissection was made in 1991 and 1992 on gravid and blood- fed flies caught by sticky traps and CDC light traps. We found promstigote infection in 2 Ph.kandelakjj and 2 Ph. perfiliewi transcaucasicus Hamster inoculation of one strain caused massive visceral infection. Further studies are planned to identify other probable vectors and also the principal definite vector.