Leishmaniasis in central morocco: seasonal fluctuations of phlebotomine sand fly in aichoun locality, from sefrou province.
Cutaneous leishmaniases (CL) are endemic in Morocco. They are common in the human population in different localities such as Aichoun in Sefrou province, Morocco. This study was carried out in Aichoun locality from April to October 2012 in order to study the spatiotemporal trends of the main Leishmania phlebotomine vectors in this focus. Overall, 1171 sand flies, belonging to four species, were collected by sticky traps. Phlebotomus sergenti was the predominant species (78.4%) followed by Ph. perniciosus (10.5%), Ph. papatasi (7.94%), and Ph. longicuspis (3.16%). Sandflies were active during 6 months (May-October). Ph. sergenti, Ph. perniciosus, and Ph. papatasi displayed a bimodal distribution with a first peak in July and a second peak in September, while Ph. longicuspis showed a monophasic trend with a peak in August. The high abundance and the lengthy period of activity of Ph. sergenti and Ph. perniciosus, vectors of L. tropica and L. infantum, respectively, are a cause for concern as they indicate the high potential risk of Leishmania transmission in the studied areas.
Analysis and Modelisation of Continental Ecosystems Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, 30000 Fes, Morocco ; Laboratory of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 Avenue Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400 Rabat, Morocco.
Fatima Zahra
FZ
Talbi
Regional Diagnostic Laboratory Epidemiological and Environmental Health, Regional Health Directorate, EL Ghassani Hospital, 30000 Fes, Morocco.
Abdelhakim
A
El Ouali Lalami
Analysis and Modelisation of Continental Ecosystems Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mehraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, 30000 Fes, Morocco.
Abdellatif
A
Janati Idrissi
National Reference Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 Avenue Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400 Rabat, Morocco.
Faiza
F
Sebti
Laboratory of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Hygiene, 27 Avenue Ibn Battuta, Agdal, 11400 Rabat, Morocco.
Chafika
C
Faraj