title: First report of the visceral leishmaniasis vector Phlebotomus martini (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Tanzania.
abstract: Phlebotomus martini is a known vector of visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is known to be endemic in areas of north and south Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Somalia but has not been reported from Tanzania. In this report we present the first documented collection of P. martini and P. vansomerenae in Tanzania. Sand flies were collected using standard dry-ice baited CDC light traps (John W. Hock Company, Gainesville, FL) from five sampling sites in the Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions from 14 to 20 July 2010. Phlebotomus martini was collected from all sites and represented 6.6% of the total identified sand flies. Phlebotomus martini ranged from 4.5 to 9.4% of the total identified catch from the four sites in the Kilimanjaro region and 17.9% of the total identified catch at the one collection site in the Arusha region. In addition, one male specimen of the sibling species, Phlebotomus vansomerenae, was found at Chemka Springs in the Kilimanjaro region. These data indicate the presence of an established population(s) of P. martini in northern Tanzania that could support L. donovani transmission in an area with no prior case history of visceral leishmaniasis.
authors: Material has been reviewed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author, and are not to be construed as official, or as US Army Medical Research Unit-Kenya/Kenya Medical Research Institute, Department of Entomology and Vector Biology, PO Box 54, Kisumu, Kenya. jeffrey.clark@usuhs.edu
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Clark
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Kioko
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Odemba
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ngere
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kamanza
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Oyugi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Kerich
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Kimbita
authors: J D
authors: JD
authors: Bast
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae; D013636:Tanzania