Vector composition and geographical distribution of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Northern Morocco by using geographic information systems

Currently, the list of sand flies in Morocco contains 24 species, of which at least five are involved in transmitting leishmaniasis. Our aim is to draw up maps of the geographical distribution of these species and to determine high-risk areas by comparing maps of species richness of vectors and epidemiological maps of different forms of leishmaniasis in Morocco. Entomological and epidemiological investigations were carried out over 2012–2015 in three provinces of the Western Rif. Digital distribution maps were produced for each species, using the software ArcView GIS, by superimposing on a shapefile representing the computer grids. Ten species were identified out of 909 collected specimens: Phlebotomus papatasi, Ph. kazeruni, Ph. sergenti, Ph. ariasi, Ph. langeroni, Ph. longicuspis, Ph. mariae, Ph. perniciosus, Sergentomyia antennata and Se. minuta. The results confirm the local transmission of leishmaniasis in the study area. Thus, the Ph. sergenti, the proven vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and Ph. longicuspis with Ph. perniciosus, the proven vectors of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), are the most abundant species in the study area, where both CL and VL human cases were recorded. This study area should be considered, consequently, as a potential hotspot for cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.