Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 5 1 2011 06 15 20 27 EN A Sanei Dehkordi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Y Rassi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran MA Oshaghi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran MR Abai Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran S Rafizadeh Emergency Management Center (EMC) Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Iran MR Yaghoobi-Ershadi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran M Mohebali Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Z Zarei Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran F Mohtarami Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran B Jafarzadeh Health Center of Bilesavar, Ardebil Province, Iran A Ranjbarkhah Health Center of Bilesavar, Ardebil Province, Iran E Javadian Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania infantum, transmitted to humans by bites of phle­botomine sand flies and is one of the most important public health problems in Iran. To identify the vector(s), an investiga­tion was carried out in Bilesavar District, one of the important foci of the disease in Ardebil Province in northwest­ern Iran, during July-September 2008. Methods: Using sticky papers, 2,110 sand flies were collected from indoors (bedroom, guestroom, toilet and stable) and outdoors (wall cracks, crevices and animal burrows) and identified morphologically. Species-specific amplifica­tion of promastigotes revealed specific PCR products of L. infantum DNA. Results: Six sand fly species were found in the district, including: Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus, P. pa­patasi, P. tobbi, P. sergenti, Sergentomyia dentata and S. sintoni. Phlebotomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus was the domi­nant species of the genus Phlebotomus (62.8%). Of 270 female dissected P. perfiliewi transcuacasicus, 4 (1.5%) were found naturally infected with promastigotes. Conclusion: Based on natural infections of P. perfiliewi transcaucasicus with L. infantum and the fact that it was the only species found infected with L. infantum, it seems, this sand fly could be the principal vector of visceral leishmani­asis in the region.     https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/80 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/80/78