Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T07:22:32.564Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Investigations into phlebotomine sandflies in the Nairobi area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. O. Maranga
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
L. W. Irungu*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
M. J. Mutinga
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P. O. Box 30772 Nairobi, Kenya
*
* Corresponding author.
Get access

Abstract

Studies were commenced to collect and identify the phlebotomine sandflies found in Nairobi. These studies were also aimed at determining their numbers as well as assessing the effects of seasonal changes on the sandfly population. Four trapping methods, namely, light traps, sticky traps, aspiration and human bait were employed. Eight species and one undescribed species were recorded over a period of 6 months. The identified species included Phlebotomus guggisbergi (Kirk and Lewis), P. rodhaini (Parrot), Sergentomyia adleri (Theodor), S. harveyi (Heisch, Guggisberg and Teesdale) and S. bedfordi (Newstead) and an undescribed species. Most of the sandfly species trapped showed seasonal prevalence. The seasonal variation was closely related to the weather conditions. Sandflies were found in termite mounds, animal burrows, caves and dugouts some of which were near human habitations. Termite mounds and animal burrows were the most preferred habitats.

Résumé

Des études ont étè entreprises a fin de réunir et d'identifier les mouches des sables phlebotomine trouvées a Nairobi. Ces études visaient oussi a deteminer leur nombre ainsi qua établir les effets des changements saisonniers la population des mouches des sables. Quatre méthodes de pièges, lumière, glu, aspiration et appât humain ont et employés. Huit espèces at une espèce non décrites ont étè répertoriées pendant une période de six mois. Les espèces identifiées incluaient Phlebotomus guggisbergi (Kirk and Lewis), P. rodhaini (Parrot), Sergentomyia adleri (Theodor), S. squamipleuris (Newstead), S. clydei (Sinton), S. teesdalei (Minter), S. harveyi (Heisch, Guggisberg and Teesdale) and S. bedfordi (Newstead) et une espèce non décrite. La plupart des espèces piegées montraient une prédominanu saissonniér. La variation saisonniére était intiment liée aux conditions météorologues. Des mouches des stables furent trouvées, quelque uns pres d'habitations humaines. Termitiéres et terriers étaient les habitats préféres.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adler, S. and Theodor, O. (1931) Investigation on Mediterranean kala-azar, I-V. Proc. Roy. Soc. 108, 447502.Google Scholar
Basimike, M. (1988) Studies on the factor affecting the distribution and abundance of Phlebotomine sandflies at a leishmaniasis endemic foci in Baringo District, Kenya. Ph.D. thesis Rivers State University, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Beach, R., Young, D. G. and Mutinga, M. J. (1982) Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus) duboscqi from Kenya: a new record. Trans. Roy. Trop. Med. Hyg. 76, 707708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beach, R., Kiilu, G., Hendricks, L., Oster, C. and Leeuwenburg, J. (1984) Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya: transmission of Leishmania major to man by bite of a naturally infected Phlebotomus duboscqi. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 78, 747751.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Binhazim, A. A., Githure, J. I., Muchemi, G. and Reid, G. F. D. (1978) The isolation of Leishmania major from a naturally infected vervet monkey Cercoptitheis aethiops from Kiambu District, Kenya. J. Parasitol. 73, 12781279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chance, M. L., Schaur, L. F., Thomas, S. C. and Peters, W. (1978) The biochemical and serological taxonomy of Leishmania from the Ethiopian zoogeographical region of Africa. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 72, 533542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Githure, J. I., Beach, R. F. and Lightener, L. K. (1984) The isolation of Leishmania major from rodents in Baringo District, Kenya. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 78, 283.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heisch, R. B., Guggisbergi, C. A. W. and Teesdale, C. (1956) Studies on leishmaniasis in East Africa II. The sandflies of the Kitui kala-azar area in Kenya, with description of six new species. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 50, 209226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kerr, J. A. (1933) Studies on the abundance, distribution and feeding habit of some West African mosquitoes. Bull. Entomol. Res. 24, 593670.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk, R. and Lewis, D. J. (1940) Studies on leishmaniasis in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan III. The sandflies (Phlebotomus) of the Sudan. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 33, 623634.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk, R. and Lewis, D. J. (1947) Studies on leishmaniasis in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. IX. Further observations on the sandflies (Phlebotomus) of Sudan. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 40, 869888.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirk, R. and Lewis, D. J. (1951) The phlebotomine of the Ethiopian region. Trans. Entomol soc. Lond. 24, 493670.Google Scholar
Lewis, D. J. (1973) Phlebotomidae and Psychodidae (sandflies and mothflies). In Insects and Other Arthropods of Medical Importance (Edited by Smith, K. G. V..) British Museum (Natural History), pp. 155179.Google Scholar
Martin, R. (1938) Observations sur les Phlebotomes d'Ethiopia. Arch. Inst. Pasteur Algar 16, 219225.Google Scholar
Minter, D. M., Wijers, D. J. B., Heisch, R. B. and Mason, Bahr P. E. C. (1962) Phlebotomus martini—a probable vector of kala-azar in Kenya. Brit. Med. J. 2, 835.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Minter, D. M. and Wijers, D. J. B. (1963) Studies on the vector of kala-azar in Kenya IV—Experimental evidence. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 57, 2431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minter, D. M. (1964) The distribution of sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in Kenya. Bull. Entomol. Res. 55, 205217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. (1971) Phlebotomus longipes, a vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 65, 106.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mutinga, M. J. and Ngoka, J. M. (1978) Incrimination of the vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya. E. Afr. Med. J. 55, 337340.Google ScholarPubMed
Mutinga, M. J. (1981) An efficient trap for sandflies (Diptera, Phlebotomidae). Insect Sci. Applic. 1, 203206.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. and Ngoka, J. M. (1983) Investigations of animal reservoirs of visceral leishmaniasis and the isolation of Leishmania major in Marigat, Baringo District, Kenya. Insect Sci. Applic. 4, 237240.Google Scholar
Mutinga, M. J. (1986) Leishmaniasis in Kenya. Medicus 4, 1122.Google Scholar
Perfilev, P. P. (1968) Fauna of the USSR Diptera, Vol. III, No. 2, Phlebotomidae (Sandflies) Academy Science USSR, new series, No. 92. English translation from Russian (Israel Program for Scientific Translation), Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Perkins, P. V., Githure, J. I., Mebrahtu, Y., Kiilu, G., Anjili, C., Ngumbi, P. S., Nsovu, J., Oster, C. N., Whitmire, R. E., Leeuwerburg, J., Hendricks, L. D. and Koech, D. K. (1988) The isolation of Leishmania donovani from Phlebotomus martini collected in Baringo District, Kenya. Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 82, 695699.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peters, W. and Killick-Kendrick, R. (1987) The Leishmaniases in Biology and Medicine Vol. 1. Biology and Epidemiology. Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rioux, J. A., Golvan, Y. J., Croset, H., Tour, S., Houin, R., Abonnenc, E., Petitdidier, M., Vollhardt, Y., Dedet, J. P., Albaret, J. L., Lanotte, G., Quilici, M. (1969) Epidemiologie des leishmaniases dan le sudde la Franse. Monographic INSERM No. 37, Paris.Google Scholar
Wanson, M. (1942) Sur la biologue des phlebotomes Congolias. Res. Trav. Sci. med. Congo. Belg. 1, 2343.Google Scholar
Wijers, D. J. B. and Minter, D. M. (1962) Studies on the vector of kala-azar in Kenya. I. Entomological evidence. Ann. trop. Med. parasitol. 56, 462472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed