ARS | Publication request: The search for sand fly adults in a village in southern Egypt

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 24, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: There are several good papers in the literature describing methods for collecting adult phlebotomine sand flies from habitats putatively used for resting sites. The published data from such searches demonstrate that finding adult sand flies can be quite difficult even when using established methods. While in Aswan, Egypt, the authors decided to search for sand fly resting sites using primarily suction devices. Mud walls were prevalent throughout the village, as were animal pens with bedding, and other suitable habitats. After a period of unsuccessful sampling of brick walls with a back-pack aspirator, low piles of unused mud bricks were sampled. As bricks were lifted from a pile, sand flies within took flight. Flies were aspirated from several piles in this manner. Small sticky devices were placed in several piles and left overnight, and most of the sand flies were captured with these. Plans were made to continue this study to better define the distribution of the resting sand flies in the village based on habitats. This could provide the villages with a more effective and focused system for sand fly management.