Bionomics of phlebotomine sandflies at a peacekeeping duty site in the north of Sinai, Egypt

A longitudinal entomological survey for sandflies was conducted from 1989 to 1991 at a focus of enzootic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Northeast Sinai, Egypt, within the border region monitored by multinational peacekeepers. Standardized sampling with CDC light traps, oiled paper “sticky traps”, and human landing collection was employed to determine monthly trends in species composition, density, sex ratio, and reproductive status of vector sandflies. Each collection method independently defined sandfly seasonality as the period May–November in 1990, and March–October in 1991. Plebotomus papatasi was the only anthropophagic species found and comprised more than 94% of the sandfly population. Two population peaks (May, July) were observed for this species in both survey years. Density of P. papatasi in underground bunkers was higher than outside but inflated by a greater proportion of male flies. During 1990, the proportion of gravid P. papatasi increased progressively during the 5 months period from May to September and averaged 29.5% and 29.7% for interior and exterior collections, respectively. Density of P. papatasi was greater during 1991, but proportions of gravid flies were significantly lower in each survey month and averaged 14.9% and 12.3% for interior and exterior collections, respectively. Seasonal rates of Leishmania-infected P. papatasi averaged 0.8% and 0.9% in 1989 and 1990, but fell to zero in 1991, suggesting an unstable focus of Leishmania major transmission. Proportions of gravid flies may be a valid indicator of the physiological age and epidemiologic importance of the vector sandfly population at this focus. The strong correlation of sticky trap indices to human-landing/biting rates shows that this is an accurate, inexpensive, and no-risk alternative to human bait collections.