title: Ecology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sinai: linking parasites, vectors and hosts.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected clinical form of public health importance that is quite prevalent in the northern and eastern parts of Egypt. A comprehensive study over seven years (January 2005-December 2011) was conducted to track CL transmission with respect to both sandfly vectors and animal reservoirs. The study identified six sandfly species collected from different districts in North Sinai: Phlebotomus papatasi, Phlebotomus kazeruni, Phlebotomus sergenti, Phlebotomus alexandri, Sergentomyia antennata and Sergentomyia clydei. Leishmania (-)-like flagellates were identified in 15 P. papatasi individuals (0.5% of 3,008 dissected females). Rodent populations were sampled in the same districts where sandflies were collected and eight species were identified: Rattus norvegicus (n = 39), Rattus rattus frugivorous (n = 13), Rattus rattus alexandrinus (n = 4), Gerbillus pyramidum floweri (n = 38), Gerbillus andersoni (n = 28), Mus musculus (n = 5), Meriones sacramenti (n = 22) and Meriones crassus (n = 10). Thirty-two rodents were found to be positive for Leishmania infection (20.12% of 159 examined rodents). Only Leishmania major was isolated and identified in 100% of the parasite samples. The diversity of both the vector and rodent populations was examined using diversity indices and clustering approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdallah Mohammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Samy
authors.affiliation: Research and Training Center on Vectors of Diseases, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Said Abdallah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Doha
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kenawy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D012377:Rodentia / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*