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Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kenya—II. Studies on vector potential of Phlebotomus pedifer (Diptera: Phlebotomidae) in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Mutuku J. Mutinga
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
Thomas R. Odhiambo
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

Investigations into the vectorial capacity of wild caught Phlebotomus pedifer by feeding them on volunteer patients were carried out inside one of the caves of Mt Elgon. Female P. pedifer were fed on lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients to determine the route of infection and infection rates in the flies and hence their vectorial capacity. The flies were kept for periods of 3–8 and 9–13 days before dissections were carried out. The results indicate that the longer period (9–13 days) yielded a higher infection rate. All parasite isolations from flies which were injected subcutaneously caused cutaneous lesions in the nose of the experimental hamsters. All infections were concentrated in the anterior stations of the gut of the experimental sandfly species P. pedifer.

Résumé

Des études sur la capacité vectorielle des Phlébotomus pedifer, attrapés à l'état sauvages dans les caves du Mt Elgon, ont été faites en les nourrissant sur des malades volontiares. Des P. pedifer femelles étaient nourries aux lésions des malades atteints de leishmaniose cutanée en vue de déterminer la voie d'infection et les taux d'infection dans les mouches et par conséquent leur capacité vectorielle. On a gardé les mouches pendant des périodes de 3–8 et 9–13 jours avant de les désséquer. Les résultats ont montré que la période la plus longue résultait dans un taux d'infection plus grand. Tous les parasites isolés des mouches qui étaient injectés (injection sous cutanée) ont causé lésions cutanées dans le nez des rongeurs (hamsters) expérimentaux. Toutes les infections étaient concentrées dans les parties antérieures des intestins des phlébotomes P. pedifer.

Type
Special Section: Leishmaniasis Epidemiology
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

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References

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