Vector Entomology. Are sandflies spreading gradually to the urban area of Larkana city?- an information and consideration

BARROSO, PAOLA ANDREA; BHUTTO, ABDUL; KATO, HIROTOMO; HASHIGUCHI, YOSHIHISA

Studies on New and Old World Leishmaniasis and their transmission, with particular reference to Ecuador, Argentina and Pakistan

Kyowa Printing & Co. Ltd.

Lugar: Kochi, Japan; Año: 2004; p. 59 - 67

A preliminary sandfly collection was made at a dwelling site of research member’s house located at the center of Larkana city, Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan, during November and December 2003. The main objective of the present trial was to ascertain the distribution of sandfly species, and then to estimate the possibility of spread of sandflies to the urban area of the city. A total of 1,031 sandflies were collected at the search for flagellar (Leishmania-like) parasites were done microscopically and molecular biologically. In the present collections, three species, viz., Phebotomus papatasi, Sergentomyia christiophersi and S. punjabensis are morphologically identified; the first one is the most important and known vector/species of leishmaniasis in the country. By the present molecular technique employed, however, a higher % homology (99%) was found only in the Sergentomyia groups, but a relatively low rate (98%) was recognized in the Phlebotomus group, Ph. gigas; this might be due to the small numbers of samples (38 ethanol-fixed sandflies from a single lot) tested. Further precise identification and fauna of sandflies in the area should be postponed until more samples are thoroughly examined morphologically and/or molecular biologically. No parasites were detected by PCR in the present collections. From the results obtained, it was strongly suggested that there would be a high possibility of future wide-spread of sandflies in the urban areas of Larkana city, including man-biting species such as Ph. Papatasi, one of the important species of leishmaniasis in Pakistan.