Short Communications
Report of the presence of Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) salehiMesghali in Sri Lanka: a potential cutaneous leishmaniasis vector
Authors:
K. Gajapathy ,
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Jaffna., LK
S.N. Surendran
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Jaffna., LK
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is emerging as a serious public health threat in Sri Lanka and more than 2000 cases have been reported during the past nine years. The parasite responsible for CL has been identified as Leishmania donovani zymodeme MON -37. Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) salehi is a proven vector of oriental sore or CL in India. Phlebotomus (Euphlebotomus) argentipes sensu lato, which is a vector of L. donovani that causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in India, is suspected to be a vector of CL in Sri Lanka. But the vector of CL in Sri lanka is yet to be determined. Cattle- baited collection and hand picking techniques were used for sandfly collection in three CL endemic localities, namely, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee. Female Ph. (Phl.) salehi flies from the collections were identified based on morphological and published morphometric characters. This is the first record of the presence of Ph. (Phl.) salehi in the country.
Keywords: Leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) salehi, sandfly, Sri Lanka, vector.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v40i2.4444
J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2012 40 (2):169-173
How to Cite:
Gajapathy, K. and Surendran, S.N., 2012. Report of the presence of Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) salehiMesghali in Sri Lanka: a potential cutaneous leishmaniasis vector. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, 40(2), pp.169–173. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v40i2.4444
Published on
29 Jun 2012.
Peer Reviewed
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