Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 11 1 2017 04 18 161 165 EN Mahboubeh Fatemi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Mohebali Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Zahra Saeidi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arshad Veysi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali Khamesipour Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2016 07 02 2016 07 02 Background: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a neglected tropical disease prevailed in many rural areas of 17 out of 31 provinces in Iran. The main vector of the disease is Phlebotomus papatasi and the causative agent is Leishmania major in ZCL foci of Iran. In the current study we investigated the validity of accessory glands secre­tions as an indicator to recognize parous from nulliparous Ph. papatasi females under laboratory conditions. Methods: Over 235 laboratory-reared females of Ph. papatasi were dissected in 6 groups including: newly emerged, one hour, one day, two days, and three days after blood feeding and also after oviposition under stereo microscope for their parity in 2014–2015. Results: Transparent glands were compatible with nulliparous only in newly emerged sand flies. In sand flies dis­sected after oviposition, accessory glands were rather large as a result of oviposition though they were transparent. Conclusion: The accessory glands secretions could not be as an indicator for distinguishing parous from nulliparous of Ph. papatasi females. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/495 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/495/326