Species Composition and Seasonal Activity of Phlebotominae Sand Flies in Kuhdasht City, Lorestan Province, Iran

Background: leishmaniasis causes ninth largest burden among infectious diseases and has been known forseveral hundred years in Iran. Phlebotominae sand flies are proven vectors of leishmaniasis and some otherinfectious diseases such as sand fly fever, summer meningitis, vesicular stomatitis, Carri ?on’s disease andChandipura virus encephalitis to human and animals.Aim: To reveal the species diversity and distribution of leishmaniasis vectors, the present study wasconducted with the aim of investigating the fauna and monthly activity of sand flies of Kuhdasht.Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done on sand flies distribution and seasonalactivity in Kuhdasht city. Using sticky traps and light traps sand flies were collected during activity seasonfrom the end of March to mid-December, 2016.Results: During 8 months of study, totally 4455 sand flies (4157 with sticky trap and 298 with light trap) werecollected. Sandflies include a collection of 7 species composed of Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) papatasi, P(Paraphlebotomus) sergenti, P (Paraphlebotomus) alexandri, P (Adlerius) halpensis, P (Paraphlebotomus)caucasicus, P (Phlebotomus) salehi and Sergentomyia (Sergentomia) antenata. Activity of sand flies startedin late May and continued until the end of November. Phlebotomus papatasi, P. sergenti and P. alexandriwere three prevalent species in studied areas and two activity peaks were recorded in the end of June and inearly-September.Conclusions: Regarding the presence of proven vectors of leishmaniasis in studied areas and neighboringwith important foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis, monitoring the status of vectors and epidemiology of thedisease in the city and suburb of the Kuhdasht is very important in the prevention of forming a new focusof leishmaniasis.