Phlebotomus halepensis (Diptera: Psychodidae) Vectorial Capacity in Afyon and Nigde Province, Turkey

Leishmaniasis is a one of the vector-borne diseases and has two clinical forms in Turkey: cutaneous and visceral. The aim of this study was to determine the sand fly fauna in Afyon and Nigde provinces where endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Turkey. In Afyon, 2,259 sand flies were collected in 73 locations in August 2009 and August 2010, using CDC light traps. In total, eight Phlebotomus species were identified; Phlebotomus halepensis (47.41%), Phlebotomus papatasi (31.42%), Phlebotomus neglectus/syriacus (9.38%), Phlebotomus balcanicus (7.48%), Phlebotomus simici (2.12%), Phlebotomus perfiliewi (1.90%), Phlebotomus sergenti (0.08%), Phlebotomus similis (0.13%), and Sergentomyia dentata (0.04%). A total of 418 sand fly specimens were caught by CDC light traps in 40 stations in Nigde in September 2009 and September 2010. In total, seven Phlebotomus species were identified; P. halepensis (74.16%), P. simici (13.87%), P. papatasi (3.82%), P. neglectus/syriacus (2.87%), P. balcanicus (2.63%), P. sergenti (2.39%), and Phlebotomus tobbi (0.23%). Collected sand flies were examined by microscope, and no promastigotes were found in their midguts. We categorized and pooled female specimens (1,031 females, 73 pools of 2-33 individuals). Leishmania species-specific ITS1 real-time PCR assay was performed for detection and identification of parasites. We detected 6 of the 73 pools with Leishmania tropica (Ross, 1903), (Trypanosomatidae). In conclusion, P. halepensis was found to be dominant species in both areas. We are in opinion that our findings support P. halepensis vectorial role for L. tropica in nature and it could be responsible for the transmission of L. tropica in these endemic areas.