Identification of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) Collected from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Endemic Focus in the Ho Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Leishmaniasis, is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female sand flies. Active and continuous monitoring of the sand fly is an important aspect of disease control. Thus, the correct identification of its vectors is paramount in this regard. Objective: The study was conducted to morphologically and molecularly identify female sand fly species in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic focus collected in three villages in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region based on taxonomic keys. CDC light traps and sticky paper traps was used for the collection of the sand flies. The morphologically identified sand flies was molecularly confirmed by running PCR with the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase gene subunit I (COI) primers and DNA sequenced. A total of 537 sand flies was collected, made up of 363 females and 174 males. Eleven different species of sand flies was morphologically identified – one Phlebotomus species and ten Sergentomyia species. The PCR amplified products showed bands of molecular weights 658 base pairs for the primers. The molecular identification using the 658-bp fragment of the (COI) gene was congruent with the morphological identification.

Real‐time impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on cutaneous leishmaniasis case finding and strategic planning, preventive interventions, control and epidemiology in a region with a high burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis and COVID‐19: A cross‐sectional descriptive study based on registry data in Ilam‐Iran

“…55,58 As Figure 15 Previous reports demonstrated the effectiveness of the rodent control program implementation, the retraining courses, and the implementation of health education programs for healthcare personnel and inhabitants of endemic regions in controlling CL. [62][63][64][65][66] Hence, establishing and empowering these actions could be recommended to control CL in Ilm County and other endemic regions.…”

“…In Ilam province, the routine rodent control program, the retraining courses for health personnel, and the implementation of health education programs for inhabitants of endemic regions during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic entirely ceased. 56,[61][62][63][64][65][66] Based on our knowledge to date, the studies on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Leishmaniasis status performed at countries or higher levels, and there is almost no study fully discussing the impact of COVID-19 on CL control programs at a provincial level, even though these impacts may vary greatly depending on the severity of local COVID-19 or CL epidemic.…”

“…The health system of Iran was severely affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic, and most budgets were assigned to COVID‐19 management. In Ilam province, the routine rodent control program, the retraining courses for health personnel, and the implementation of health education programs for inhabitants of endemic regions during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic entirely ceased 56,61–66 …”

Arbovirus Epidemiology: The Mystery of Unnoticed Epidemics in Ghana, West Africa

“…There is, therefore, a scarcity of data in the sub-Sahara African region regarding phlebovirus ecology. In Ghana, entomological surveys revealed the presence of sand flies, especially in leishmania endemic areas [ 61 ]. However, there is no available information on sand fly-associated viruses or biting midges-associated viruses in the country.…”

Prevalence and characterization of Leishmania donovani in human hospital cases and domestic dogs in Gadarif State, Sudan

“…Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are transmitted by the bite of infected Phlebotomine sand ies (1)(2)(3). The disease can manifest in different forms, such as cutaneous (CL), visceral (VL), mucocutaneous (MCL), or post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), depending on the parasite species and the host immune response.…”