Phlebotomine sand fly survey, blood meal source identification, and description of Sergentomyia imihra n. sp. in the central Sahara of Algeria.

Background: Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are important vectors of various pathogens, mainly Leishmania parasites. In the Old World, the most important genus in term of pathogens transmission is the genus Phlebotomus, which includes many proven or suspected vectors of several Leishmania species, while the genus Sergentomyia remains so far unproven as a vector of human pathogens. Algeria is one of the most affected countries by human leishmaniasis.

Effect of Phlebotomus papatasi on the fitness, infectivity and antimony-resistance phenotype of antimony-resistant Leishmania major Mon-25.

Leishmania major is responsible for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Therapy is mainly based on the use of antimony-based drugs; however, treatment failures and illness relapses were reported. Although studies were developed to understand mechanisms of drug resistance, the interactions of resistant parasites with their reservoir hosts and vectors remain poorly understood.

Host competence of Algerian for .

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most important neglected disease reported in North Africa, Algeria ranks second in the world with more than 5000 cases per year. In Algeria, two rodent species and are so far known as proven reservoirs of , however, they are absent in several endemic localities. In this study, we experimentally infected rodents trapped around human dwellings in Illizi, Algeria to assess their susceptibility to .

Infectiousness of Asymptomatic , Reservoir Host of .

Leishmaniases are neglected diseases caused by protozoans of the genus that threaten millions of people worldwide. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by is a typical zoonosis transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and maintained in rodent reservoirs. The female sand fly was assumed to become infected by feeding on the skin lesion of the host, and the relative contribution of asymptomatic individuals to disease transmission was unknown.

Assessment of expertise in morphological identification of mosquito species (Diptera, Culicidae) using photomicrographs.

Accurate identification of insect species is an indispensable and challenging requirement for every entomologist, particularly if the species is involved in disease outbreaks. The European MediLabSecure project designed an identification (ID) exercise available to any willing participant with the aim of assessing and improving knowledge in mosquito taxonomy. The exercise was based on high-definition photomicrographs of mosquitoes (26 adult females and 12 larvae) collected from the western Palaearctic.

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the Maghreb region: A systematic review of distribution, morphology, and role in the transmission of the pathogens.

Background: Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are important vectors of various human and animal pathogens such as Bartonella bacilliformis, Phlebovirus, and parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania, causative agent of leishmaniases that account among most significant vector-borne diseases. The Maghreb countries Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya occupy a vast area of North Africa and belong to most affected regions by these diseases. Locally varying climatic and ecological conditions support diverse sand fly fauna that includes many proven or suspected vectors.