Checklist and Geographical Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) vectors of leishmaniasis in Esfahan province, Iran

Phebotomine sand flies are reported as the vectors of different kinds of leishmaniasis and arboviruses to human. Three forms of leishmaniasis, namely: visceral, zoonotic cutaneous and anthroponotic cutaneous affect Esfahan province. Antibodies against three arbovirouses, Nepales, Sicilian and Karimabad, were found from serum and blood specimen residents in this province too.The aim of this study was to prepare a checklist and geographical distribution of Phlebotomine sand flies as vectors of the agents from Esfahan province. In the field work, sand flies were collected by sticky paper traps from 10 collection stations of Natanz, Mobarakeh, Shahreza and Esfahan city areas of Esfahan province during 2006 to 2013. Also literature review was done on all publish reports which have been done by researchers on Phlebotomine sand flies in this province during 1968 to 2013. A total of 170380 specimen sand flies revealed 28 species are in this province. Phlebotomus papatasi as the main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and arbovirouses and also P. sergenti as the main vector of anthroponotic cutaneouse leishmaniasis were collected from all areas of this province. Also P. alexandri, P. major, P. kandelaki and P. keshishiani as suspected vectors of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran were found in this province.The geographical distribution of each 28 species of sand flies in Esfahan province and some important notes of them is demonstrated in this article.