ENTOMOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF AN EMERGING LEISHMANIASIS FOCUS IN AZILAL PROVINCE, MOROCCO

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) due to Leishmania tropica has become a serious health problem in Morocco during the last decade. The aim of study is to evaluate the risk of leishmaniasis transmission in the province of Azilal by determining the composition, density and the seasonal abundance of sand flies. In this entomological study, three localities, in Ouaouizaght, a rural district in the province of Azilal, have been investigated twice a month from April to November 2010. Sand flies were collected from stables and houses using sticky traps. A total of 2670 (2164 males and 506 females) sand flies were captured. Seven species of genus Phlebotomus and two of genus Sergentomyia were identified. Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. sergenti with 55% and 37% of collected specimens respectively, followed by Sergentomyia munita (4%), P. longicuspis (1.6%), P. papatasi (1%), P. ariasi (0.9%), S. falax (0.7%) and P. chadlii and P. chabaudi (0.1%). That will help for implementation of appropriate future control measures.