Infection of in Sand Flies at Different Microhabitats of a Kala-Azar Endemic Village in Eastern Sudan.

A study was carried out to compare the infection rates of in sandflies at different microhabitats of a VL endemic village in Gedarif state, Sudan. DNA extracts of 1078 sand fly females sampled by CDC light traps from indoor, outdoor, peri-domestic, and sylvatic sites, in three transmission seasons, March-June 2016-18, in Helat-Belo village, were subjected to independent PCR amplifications targeting kDNA and the gene followed by ITS1 region sequencing. kDNA was detected in 1.4% of the 1078 females captured in the area. Two of these specimens showed a characteristic 741 bp band of after gene amplification. The DNA sequence of the ITS1 region of the parasites matched the ITS1 genotype F. There were no signficant differences between rates of infection of in captured at different sites. Blood meals found in infected flies origninated from human (5 specimens), cattle (4 specimens) and donkey (2 specimens). The finding of fresh cow and donkey blood in the infected flies suggests the possible role of these animals in the zoopotentiation and/or zooprophylaxis against VL. The study provides important information for VL transmission models and control programs in East Africa.