A Study of Sand-flies Fauna in The Focus of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Ahar District (Eastern Azarbayjan, Iran)

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is endemic in Iranian provinces of Fars, East Azarbyjan, and Ardebil. Ahar, a district of East Azarbyjan, is another endemic foci of this disease; thus, considering the fact that fulfilling a faunestic study of sand-flies is regarded be the first step to identify the vector species of such a disease, we decided to carry out our research in the mentioned area.Matrials & The researchers collected sand-flies using sticky trap in six villages of Iranian Province of Eastern Azarbayjan infected with visceral leishmaniasis during May, June, and July 2002. The trapped sand-flies were then washed using Aceton and preserved in 70% Eithelic Alcohol. All the samples were, afterward, categorized into specific species using reliable keys. Of all the 1405 collected sand-flies, 19 species were identified as follows: 16 species of phlebotomus, and 3 species of sergentomyia. The species p.kandelakii, p. paptasi, p. perfiliewi, p. sergenti, p.anderjevi with atotal number of 1171 ones covered 83% of the total number of trapped sand-flies. The species of P.caucasicus P.alexandri, P.mongolensis, P.halpensis, P.jacusieli, P. longiductus, P.balcanicus, P.major P. tobbi, P. ansarii, P. bergeroti, S.dentata, S.sintoni, S.pawlowskyi covered totally 234 ones equal to 17% of all the collected sand-flies.Discussion & It is concluded that, considering the much limited coverage of the searched area, the species variety seems to be very interesting and attention-worthy. It also indicates that more species and even new species can be found by carrying out more comprehensive studies in future. The P. anderjevi specie with frequency of 11%, being reported for the first time, showed the highest prevalence in west northern Iran.