Occurrence of entomophilic nematode infestation among phlebotomid sandfly, Phlebotomus papatasi--a preliminary report.

Infestation of a nematode parasite was observed in the natural population of Phlebotomus papatasi in Pondicherry, India. Of the 877 males and 959 females sandflies examined for the natural infection, 11 females were found infested with nematodes (0.59%). The number of juveniles and/or eggs of nematodes per infected fly ranged from 1 to 192 (mean 51.36 +/- S.D 55.95). The presence of a stylet at the opening of the dorsal oesophageal duct suggests that the parasite belongs to the super family Tylenchoidea.