NATURAL PROMASTIGOTE INFECTION OF SAND-FLIES AND ITS FIRST OCCURRENCE IN SERGENTOMYIA DENTATA IN ARDABIL PROVINCE, NORTH WEST OF IRAN

Abstract

Visceral leishmanisasis is endemic and zoonotic in several foci in Ardabil province, North West of Iran. The main objective of this study was to determine the natural promastigote infection of sand-flies in active seasons, during 1991-1995. Sand-flies were caught by sticky traps, aspirator and CDC light traps from indoors and outdoors. Altogether 2659 sandflies were dissected and identified. They included Ph. kandelakii, Ph. perfihiewi transcaucasicus, Ph. papatasi, Ph. jacusieli, Ph. caucasicus, Ph. sergenti , Adlerius subjenus, S. dentata and S. sintoni.1.09% of 547 Ph. perfihiewi transcaucasicus and 0.34% of 882 Ph. kandelakii were found with natural promastigote infection. Also several specimens of S. dentata and S. sintoni, from Germi district were with natural promastigote infection. This is the first report of natural promastigote infection in S. dentata in Iran.