title: Distribution, species composition and relative abundances of sandflies in North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of sandflies (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) and the incidence of leishmaniasis in three villages of North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan. Sandflies were sampled monthly during 2012, at dusk and dawn, in selected indoor habitats including both bedrooms and animal sheds using a knock-down spray catch method. A total of 3687 sandflies were collected, including 1444 individuals in Drezanda, 1193 in Damdil and 1050 in Dattakhel. This study revealed 14 species of two genera, Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus sergenti, Phlebotomus papatasi, Phlebotomus caucasicus, Phlebotomus kazeruni, Phlebotomus alexandri and Phlebotomus salehi) and Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia dentate, Sergentomyia baghdadis, Sergentomyia babu, Sergentomyia theodori, Sergentomyia sumbarica, Sergentomyia dreyfussitur kestanica, Sergentomyia hogsoni pawlowskyi and Sergentomyia fallax afghanica) (both: Diptera: Psychodidae). Phlebotomus sergenti was the most abundant species (42.1%), followed by S. dentata (17.7%) and S. baghdadis (17.4%). The number of males collected represented about twice that of female flies, and the maximum number was collected in July, followed by August. The determination of the species composition of sandfly populations, seasonal variations, relative abundances and estimations of infection in the vector population may provide information about the dynamics of leishmaniasis transmission that is useful in planning vector control activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.|Postgraduate College, Miran Shah, North Waziristan Agency, Pakistan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wahid
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khisroon
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rasheed
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011156:Population Density; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Pakistan; Phlebotomus; Sergentomyia; flit method; leishmaniasis; sandfly; species composition