BACKGROUND Salivary hyaluronidases have been described in a few bloodsucking arthropods. However, very little is known about the presence of this enzyme in various bloodsucking insects and no data are available on its effect on transmitted microorganisms. Here, we studied hyaluronidase activity in thirteen bloodsucking insects belonging to four different orders. In addition, we assessed the eff...

an investigation was carried out in ahar district, (a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis), eastern azerbaijan, north-west of iran in order to determine the vector(s) of the disease, during the summer of 2003 sand-flies were collected using sticky papers, cdc light traps and aspirators. all of the collected sand-flies were dissected in a drop of normal saline for surveying of promastigotes. hea...

BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) also known as kala-azar is a growing health problem in Ethiopia with an estimated annual VL incidence between 3700 and 7400. The disease is mainly endemic in northwestern parts of the country. The aim of the current study was to determine the sand fly fauna and ecology of Phlebotomus orientalis in two endemic and ecologically distinct areas of northwestern...

cutaneous leishmaniasis is a prevalent tropical parasitic disease in the old world. the causative agentsare leishmanial parasites, which cause various forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis. the infection is commonlylimited in immuno-competent individuals, but it can progress to a chronic and ulcerative disease in immunocompromised patients. the reservoirs are dogs and rodents and the vectors are dif...

BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease in which Leishmania parasites are transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Amastigotes are ingested by the sand fly vector with a blood meal taken from an infected host. This is followed by their differentiation into metacyclic promastigotes which are selectively released and permitted to migrate interiorly so as to make them availab...