Background: Leishmanisis are a group of diseases that caused by species of the genus Leishmania that transmitted by female sand-flies.
Visceral leishmaniasis is the most fatal form of the disease. VL is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease in endemic in Kaleybar and Khoda-Afarin counties, Northwest Iran.Objectives: In the present study we aimed to clarify sand-fly fauna in the study area.Materials and Methods:
Sand-fly samples were collected during 15 nights, from July to the late of September 2017, using sticky traps. Collected sand-flies dissected, head and the last few abdominal segments were slide-mounted in Puri’s medium. Microscopic examination and reliable identification keys were used for species identification.Results: A total of 499 female
Phlebotomus samples were captured, including 277 females and 222 males. Overall, 10 species were identified in the
Phlebotomus genus. Female samples included Major group (126), Adlerius group (50),
Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi (46),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti (38),
Phlebotomus (Larrousius) kandelaki (7),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) caucasicus group (7),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri (2) and Unknown (1). Male samples included
Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (105),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti (40),
Phlebotomus (Larroussius) neglectus (30),
Phlebotomus (Adlerius) halepensis (20),
Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus ) papatasi (8),
Phlebotomus (Larrousius) kandelaki (3),
Phlebotomus (Larrousius) tobbi (3),
Phlebotomus (Adlerius) simici (1),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri (1),
Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) caucasicus (1), Unknown (10).Conclusion: Sand-flies belonging to the subgenera of Larroussius and Adlerius are known as primary vectors of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the world as well as Iran.
Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) alexandri was found in very few cases from Najaf Tarakameh. This species was considered as a vector of VL in the southern part of Iran. Also, promastigote infection of
Phlebotomus caucasicus was reported from the northwest of
Iran (Ahar). Overall, some species that were found in this study can be considered as probable vector of VL vector in the study area, but more investigations is needed to find the exact vector(s) of the disease in the study area.