Leishmania infantum DNA detection in Phlebotomus tobbi in a new northern focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran

ObjectiveTo identify the vector(s), the parasite and the species composition of sand flies in the district during May–October 2012.MethodsFor reaching our objectives we used polymerase chain reaction of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsTwo species of Phlebotomus sergenti and Phlebotomus tobbi were the most prevalent among 8 species identified comprising 51.1% and 32.9% respectively. Among the 160 specimens of female sand flies tested by polymerase chain reaction of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphisms, only 1 out of 80 Phlebotomus tobbi (1.25%) were positive to Leishmania infantum parasites.ConclusionsOur finding showed that Phlebotomus tobbi may play as a vector to circulate the parasite of Leishmania infantum among reservoir(s) and human.