Bioecological Study on the Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) in Sari County, North of Iran

Nasibeh  Hosseini-Vasoukolaei; Leila Ghavibazou; Amir Ahmad  Akhavan; Ahmad Ali Enayati; Elham Jahanifard; Mahmoud  Fazeli-Dinan; Jamshid  Yazdani-Charati; Seyed Hasan Nikookar; Zahra Saeidi; Atieh Shemshadian

doi:10.18502/jad.v16i2.11806

Nasibeh Hosseini-Vasoukolaei Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Leila Ghavibazou Research Committee, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Ahmad Ali Enayati Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Elham Jahanifard Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mahmoud Fazeli-Dinan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Jamshid Yazdani-Charati Department of Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Seyed Hasan Nikookar Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Zahra Saeidi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Atieh Shemshadian Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Science Research Centre, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jad.v16i2.11806

Keywords: Sand Fly; Ecology; Biodiversity; Northern Iran

Abstract

Background: Phlebotomine sand flies are vectors of Leishmania species, the causative agents of leishmaniasis in the world. Present study aimed to evaluate the bioecological aspects of sand flies in different ecotopes in Sari County, north of Iran.

Methods: Sand flies were collected from four villages in mountainous, forest, plain and peri-urban areas monthly using sticky traps in May–October 2016. Mounted specimens were identified using valid identification keys under optical microscope. The Arc GIS 10.5 software was applied for showing the distribution of sand flies. Shannon-Weiner, Simpson and Evenness species diversity indices were calculated.

Results: Generally, 334 specimens were captured and identified, namelly Phlebotomus kandelakii, Ph. papatasi, Ph. major, Ph. sergenti, Ph. longiductus, Ph. halepensis, Ph. tobbi, Sergentomyia dentata, Se. theodori, Se. sintoni, Se. antennata and Se. sumbarica. The most common species was Ph. kandelakii (n= 128, 38.32 %). The highest Simpson index (0.81) and abundance (N= 141) were recorded in the mountaineous area. Shannon diversity index was higher in the forest (H'= 1.53) and the highest evenness index was in the plain area (J'= 0.93). The highest richness (S= 9) and Shannon indices (H'= 1.57) were observed in June.

Conclusions: Phlebotomus kandelakii, Ph. sergenti, Ph. tobbi, Ph. longiductus, Se. theodori, Se. antennata and Se. sumbarica were recorded for the first time in the study area. Since some species are incriminated for leishmaniasis transmission, further studies are required in the northern regions of Iran to timely control measures planning.