Two studies were undertaken to determine the species composition of the phlebotomine sandfly fauna in the Mokolo region, an endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Cameroon. The preliminary survey conducted in July 1994 using sticky paper traps recorded 843 sandfly specimens, all belonging to the two genera of the Old World sandflies, Sergentomyia and Phlebotomits. The species included S. (Sergentomyia) schzvetzi, S. (Sergentomyia) antennata, S. (Parrotomyia) africana and P. (Phlebotomus) duboscqi: From January 1996 to December 1996, a total of 3241 sandflies were collected using sticky paper traps. In this sampling, six out of the total of eight species recorded were of the genus Sergentomyia. In addition to the species recorded in the preliminary study, S. (S.) bedfordi, S. (Grassomyia) squamipleuris, S. (Sintonius), clydei and P. (Anaphlebotomus) rodhaini were sampled in 1996. This is the first report of S. squamipleuris ir Cameroon. The implications of this study to the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis are discussed with particular reference to P. duboscqi, a known vector of the disease in the region.

Feeding performances of 3509 male and 4838 female sandflies, Sergentomyia ingrami, fed on 46 native or indigenous and exotic or introduced species belonging to 21 families of plants found in Kenya were examined. The results indicated more feeding on certain families than on others. The most used families were Musaceae, Araceae and Compositae, while the least was Alliaceae. A liking for certain species was also detected in families with more than one species investigated. Generally, the most used species were Bidens pilosa (Compositae) and Lycopersicon esculentum (Solanaceae). Interaction between the sex of the sandflies and the tested plants was minimal, suggesting that in most cases males and females had similar species likings. Sergentomyia ingrami fed more on two of the exotic species investigated.

A number of natural and man-made habitats in Marigat area of Kenya were surveyed for sandflies in 1985/86. Of the 98,573 adult sandflies collected, 2.7 % belonged to the genus Phlebotomus and 97.3% to Sergentomyia. Relative abundance of sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus was four times higher in burrows than in termite hills, while sandflies of the genus Sergentomyia collected from termite hills were twice as numerous as those from burrows. Termite hills had the highest sandfly population compared to other sites, followed by tree holes and animal burrows. Fifteen species were identified, of which five belonged to Phlebotomus and 10 to Sergentomyia. The most abundant and widespread species were Sergentomyia antennatus, S. bedfordi, S. ingrami, Phlebotomus martini, S. schwetzi, S. africanus and P. duboscqi. Sandflies of both genera were present for the greater part of the year. Most species of sandflies decreased in numbers during the dry season. High population densities of sandflies were recorded during the wet period. Correlations between relative abundance of sandfly vectors of leishmaniases and rainfall were positive. However, none of the correlation coefficients was statistically significant.

—In order to evaluate the effect of permethrin-treated wall cloth against phlebotomine sandflies, a study lasting 26 months (February 1989 to March 1991) was conducted in Marigat Location of Baringo District, Kenya, an endemic focus of both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. In six experimental villages, a total of 2000 houses were fitted with cloth made of cotton and impregnated with permethrin EC 20% at a dosage of 0.5 g/m2 diluted in water. Houses in the two control villages were not fitted with cloths and were located 1.5 km away from the experimental area. Traps made of clear polythene sheeting were coated with castor oil and placed inside houses to collect endophilic sandflies. In the experimental villages, the permethrin-treated wall cloth (called Mbu cloth) reduced the population of sandflies found inside houses by 52–73%. Phlebotomus martini and P. duboscqi, vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases, were reduced by 76 and 85% respectively. In the experimental villages, highly significant differences were observed between the average numbers of sandflies collected before deployment of the treated wall cloth and those observed after thethird treatment of the cloth. No major sandfly reduction was observed however, in the control villages. There was also evidence of feeding reduction due to the permethrin.

Animal burrows are major habitats for both P. martini and P. duboscqi, vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases in Kenya. In burrows, both species were collected throughout the year. The highest relative abundance of P. martini and P. duboscqi was recorded in August and in April, respectively. The lowest relative abundance was observed in july for P. martini and in October for P. duboscqi. In termite mounds, P. martini was present all the year round, but P. duboscqi was absent for the greater part of the year. The highest relative abundance of P. martini was observed in November and April, while that of P. duboscqi was seen in March and April. The lowest relative abundance of P. martini was recorded in July. In termite mounds, P. duboscqi showed a significant positive correlation with rainfall, contrary to P. martini which did not afford any significant correlation with any environmental factor. Rainfall, relative humidity and ambient temperature did not correlate with relative sandfly abundance in animal burrows.

Field investigations were carried out in northern Nigeria to determine the prominent natural habitats of phlebotomine sandflies. Two biotopes, termite hills and rock crevices, were identified as the major habitats with the termite hills being the most significant. All the 12 species (Phlebotomus duboscqi, P. rodhaini, Sergentomyia antennula, S. bedfordi, S. africana, S. schwetzi, S. ingrami, S. adleri, S. clydei, S. buxtoni, S. affinis and S. christophersi) identified in this study came from this source. Only a small number of samples representing a few species were collected from the three other habitats (tree holes, animal burrows and a cave) investigated. The distribution of the sandflies was found to be influenced by the availability of suitable biotopes and physico-chemical composition of the soil.

Studies on the vertical distribution of phlebotomine sandflies were carried out at Marigat (Kenya) at determined heights above ground level in both wooded and open fields. Traps set up at different heights from 0–11 m (in wooded area) and 0–9 m (in open field), showed a clear vertical zonation of sandflies as large numbers were collected between 0–7 m in the first site and 0–4 m in the second ones. Among the nine sandfly species collected, Sergentomyia bedfordi Newstead and S. antennatus Newstead were the only species recorded at a height of 11 m above the ground and the commonest sandflies at all studied heights. Overall, more sandflies were collected from the wooded area than the open field. The relationships between the sandfly relative abundance and their heights of flight above the ground showed significant negative correlation coefficients.

Investigations of the phlebotomine sandflies fauna in a visceral leishmaniasis focus of Aba Roba in Ethiopia were carried out. This resulted in finding Phlebotomus celiae for the first time in the country. Previously, this species was incriminated as a vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Kitui, Kenya where the disease is endemic. It is possible that P. celiae has a wide distribution covering areas of similar ecological niches as those of its first description.

An investigation was carried out around animal burrows in Marigat, Baringo District (Kenya) for 6 months to observe host attraction or host preference of phlebotomine sandflies. Six different kinds of caged animals from groups of Rodentia, Aves, Reptilia, Carnivora and Bovis were used. The host preference of Phlebotomus duboscqi, P. martini and Sergentomyia ingrami were distinctive. Most of the Sergentomyia species preferred feeding on reptilian hosts as is indicated in the blood meal analysis. Among the species were opportunistic feeders on hosts which appeared not to be favoured hosts.

Studies of outer chorionic sculpturing of eggs of four species of sandflies were carried out by the use of scanning electron microscope. Two species, P. martini and S. garnhami, which utilize similar resting sites, termite hill ventilation shafts, had similar chorionic sculpturing, while two other species (S. bedfordi and S. kirki) which use several resting sites, i.e. rock crevices, tree holes and termite ventilation shafts, had chorionic sculpturings which were dissimilar.