Phenology of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera : Psychodidae) relative to the seasonal prevalence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Tunisia

I. Chelbi (1) , M. Derbali (1) , Z. Al-Ahmadi (2) , B. Zaafouri (2) , A. El Fahem (2) , E. Zhioua (1)

1 Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels
2 Service Régional de Soins de Santé de Base [Sidi-Bouzid]

The population density of Phlebotomuspapatasi Scopoli (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of Leishmania major Yakimoff & Schokhor (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the etiologic agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL), was assessed May-November 2005 in central Tunisia by using sticky traps. The densities of P. papatasi were found to peak in early spring and again in the autumn. The lowest densities were observed in August. Prevalence of ZCL in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid peaks in December, 3 to 3.5 mo after the fall sand fly population peak, suggesting a close temporal association with the abundance of P. papatasi.

Keywords: phenology; prevalence; zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis; sand fly; Phlebotomus papatasi

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Parasitology

I. Chelbi, M. Derbali, Z. Al-Ahmadi, B. Zaafouri, A. El Fahem, et al.. Phenology of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera : Psychodidae) relative to the seasonal prevalence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in central Tunisia. Journal of Medical Entomology, 2007, 44 (2), pp.385-388. ⟨10.1093/jmedent/44.2.385⟩. ⟨pasteur-01375228⟩