Entomological surveillance and spatiotemporal risk assessment of sand fly-borne diseases in Cyprus.

ABSTRACT: Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases are important public health concerns in Cyprus. Although the diseases, historically prevalent on the island, were nearly eradicated by 1996, an increase in frequency and geographical spread has recently been recorded. Upward trends in leishmaniasis prevalence have largely been attributed to environmental changes that amplify the abundance and activity of its vector, the phlebotomine sand flies. Here, we performed an extensive field study across the island to map the sand fly fauna and compared the presence and distribution of the species found with historical records. We mapped the habitat preferences of Phlebotomus papatasi and P. tobbi, two medically important species, and predicted the seasonal abundance of P. papatasi at unprece

SUBMITTER: Christou M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10787173 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature