Presence of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Tunisia

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 560 - 564
• Main Authors: Chemkhi, Jomaa, Guerbouj, Souheila, Saadawi, Walid, Shaibi, Taher, Faris, Sara, Ghawar, Wissem, Boukthir, Aicha, Guizani, Ikram, Annajar, Badreddin Bashir, Salah, Afif Ben
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Entomological Society of America 25-02-2019; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biotopes; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Female; Genera; Life Sciences; Light traps; Male; Parasitic diseases; phlebotomine sand fly; Protozoa; Psychodidae - anatomy & histology; Psychodidae - classification; Sergentomyia; Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisi; SHORT COMMUNICATION; Species; Tunisia; Vector-borne diseases; Tunisia; Algeria; Sudan; phlebotomine sand fly; Parrotomyia; Tunisia; Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisi
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy192

In Tunisia, 17 phlebotomine sand fly species are reported, belonging to genera Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. However, subsequent to faunal studies and outbreaks of leishmaniasis in different regions of the country, unrecognized sand fly species could exist. Indeed, we report in this study the presence of Sergentomyia (Parrotomyia) lewisi Parrot 1948. A brief collection of phlebotomine sand flies was undertaken in August 2016 in Khbina locality, in Sidi Bouzid governorate situated in CentralTunisia, which constitutes an old focus of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Sand flies were collected, using CDC light traps that were placed overnight, in different biotopes (inside habitations, outdoors, and within animal shelters). Specimens were collected and morphologically identified. Measurements were taken with an ocular micrometer.Two female specimens of the species Se. (Parrotomyia) lewisi were collected. One specimen is here described and measured. A comparison of its taxonomic characters to the holotype from Sudan and a specimen from Algeria is also presented. This species was until now only reported from Sudan, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Morocco. It is here described for the first time inTunisia, which raises theTunisian sand fly fauna to seven subgenera and 18 species.