Introduction whereas, the first case due to Leishmania tropica has been reported in 1989 [5], more recent studies have
1. Introduction whereas, the first case due to Leishmania tropica has been reported in 1989 [5], more recent studies have
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in large incriminated L. infantum as causative agent of CL [6]. parts of Morocco and is caused by transmission of the In the review of Kimutai et al. [7], the authors parasite Leishmania through the bite of infected recommended the need for additional epidemiologic female Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae, and ecologic studies of CL in conjunction with species Phlebotominae, Phlebotomus) [1, 2]. From a public
identification.
health perspective, this is one of the most important In the province of Azilal, Foum Jamâa (FJ) region emerging infectious diseases and was included in the has become an epidemic focal point for CL. In our list of notifiable diseases in Morocco. The total CL previous work foxed on the eco-epidemiological and cases reported in 2008 were 5,128 against 655 cases in socioeconomic study, the CL consists of a rural 1998, showing a clear tendency for an increase in the domestic form, which is characterized as affecting the last 10 years [3]. In Morocco, CL caused by whole family nucleus, without distinction in sex, due Leishmania major has been reported since 1914 [4], to the fact that dwellings are located near the natural
Corresponding author: Hassan Arroub, engineer, research focus of transmission, thus propitiating the vector’s fields: eco-parasite epidemiology, life sciences and health. E-mail: [email protected].
arrival in the house [8]. Geographically and
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Phlebotomine Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Foum Jamâa (Azilal, Atlas of Morocco)
socio-economically, FJ region constitutes a crossroads of several human daily activities in the province of Azilal and a bridge between two of the main towns of Morocco (Beni Mellal and Marrakech). During four years (2006-2009), the authors registered about 500 cases of CL in this region [8].
In Morocco as in many other countries: Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Turkey and Israel, Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot has been shown to transmit L. tropica [2, 9-12]. In addition, Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli was proven to be a vector of L. major in Morocco [4]. The distribution of sand flies is due, in great part, to the bioclimate [13]; the effect of altitude factor was demonstrated [14]. In many parts of the world, it is suspected that the reemergence of the CL, in the last few decades, is associated indirectly to human activities that cause environmental changes, favorable to both the reservoir and the vector [15, 16]. In FJ region, rapidly changing environmental conditions caused by habitat destruction, such as that associated with deforestation/urbanization processes could have an enormous influence on vector populations and consequently on disease transmission. There was no previous study on the diversity and the abundance of sand flies species within this region; while some CL vector species may disappear, others may become more abundant, additionally, vector species that hitherto had no presence in these zones can arrive,
adapting to anthropogenic environmental conditions.
All of the above makes it necessary to evaluate the sand fly fauna and their distribution, to elucidate vector behavioral habits, population’s densities, seasonal dynamics, feeding preferences or insecticide susceptibility patterns, which are the most important aspects for disease control. The lack of data on the sand flies diversity in this endemic region led us to initiate this study, which aims as a first step, to carry out a yearly entomological survey to determine: (1) the taxonomic composition of sand fly species vector; (2) the spatial and temporal distribution of the CL vector. The location selected for collections was the same one in which the first study on CL had been done. This allowed us to shed more light on the cycle of the vector and designate factors responsible for the transmission of such disease as CL, both specific to the region studied. Results should help us to elaborate an effective program with more specific preventive actions such as the period of the year appropriate for insecticide treatment and the biotope that should be targeted during treatment.