Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) transmitting visceral leishmaniasis and their geographical distribution in China: a review.

After the existence of phlebotomine sand flies was first reported in China in 1910, the distribution of different species and their role in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been extensively studied. Up until 2008, four species have been verified as vectors of VL, namely, Phlebotomus chinensis (Ph. sichuanensis), Ph.

[Prospect on the investigation of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in China].

Through literature review of the investigations on relevant sandflies (Dipter: Psychodidae) and his personal practical experience over the years, the author raises 5 issues referring to the taxonomy and biology of sandflies, density surveillance, transmission of Leishmania parasites, and their distribution status which need to be further studied, and the author looks forward to an attention from medical entomologists in China.

Historical experience in the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in the plain region of Eastern and Central China.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) (kala-azar) was most seriously prevalent in the plain regions of eight provinces/municipalities in the eastern and central parts of China. In the early 1950s, the number of counties/cities endemic for VL and the number of cases in the plain regions accounted for 60% and 80%, respectively, of the total numbers in the entire country. By implementing comprehensive control measures, including treatment of patients for eliminating the source of infection and spraying insecticide in endemic villages to kill sandflies, VL transmission has been brought under control in this region by the early 1960s, and no new infected cases have been found since 1983, achieving the goal of eliminating VL.

Discovery and study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Karamay of Xinjiang, West China.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) was discovered in the farms of the Karamay suburb, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the 1990s. Between 1992 and 1994, a house-to-house survey revealed a prevalence of 1.0-1.

[Detection and species identification of two imported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis].

Objective: To diagnose and identify pathogen of two suspected cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: Two cases of dermatosis with several major ulcers on the skin were examined, who worked and returned from Algeria (case 1) and Saudi Arabia (case 2), respectively. The stained smears of skin tissue from lesions were observed by microscope.

[Present situation of visceral leishmaniasis and prospect for its control in China].

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, considerable success was achieved in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) control. By the end of 1970s, VL was effectively controlled from most endemic areas. However, VL has still been prevalent in some areas or sporadical cases reported in some other areas of 6 provinces/autonomous regions in western China, including Xinjiang, Gansu, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia It is suggested that research activities be encouraged, including epidemiological factors, phlebotomine vector biology and control, wild animal hosts and disease relapse after treatment.

[Description of the ecological habits of Sergentomyia koloshanensis].

The ecological habit of Sergentomyia koloshanensis was investigated in Wenxian of Gansu Province and Nanping of Sichuan Province. This sandfly could be found from the last ten-day period of May to the first ten-day period of October, with a peak in the middle ten-day period of August. Its adult season covered as long as 4 and half months.

[Differential diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, progressive disseminated histoplasmosis and penicilliosis marneffei].

Visceral leishmaniasis, progressive disseminated histoplasmosis and penicilliosis marneffei are infections found in both human and animals. Their clinical manifestations, morphology of the pathogens under microscope are similar. Misdiagnosis was common and prognosis was poor when wrong therapy was given.