Entomological Survey and Impact of Climatic Factors on the Dynamics of Sandflies in Central Morocco

Abstract

Sandflies are small insects belonging to the order Diptera, which make up the Phlebotominae subfamily within the Psychodidae family. In the fight against leishmaniasis in the prefecture of Meknes, Morocco, a study of the phlebotomist population was carried out during the period of activity of sandflies while studying the link between the abundance of these insects and climatic factors, namely, temperature, moisture, rainfall, and wind speed. A total of 958 phlebotomus were captured, 73% of which belong to Phlebotomus sergenti, a vector of Leishmania species causing human cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study also showed the existence of two months of risk in July and September with a positive correlation between temperature and abundance of sandflies and a negative correlation between abundance of sandflies and rainfall and moisture. Indeed, it is necessary to strengthen the means to fight this disease during periods of activity and to use medium-term climatological forecasts to develop an alert system for leishmaniasis.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) and Characterization of its Habitats Using Satellite Images in Fez City, North Central Morocco

“…1 They are often abundant near the human population and domestic animals. 2,3 These insects are the only known natural vectors of leishmaniasis caused by kinetoplast protozoa of the genus Leishmania. 4,5 In addition to leishmaniasis, sandflies transmit numerous viruses and pathogenic bacteria to humans and animals.…”