The effect of Leishmania major on some biological parameters of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) from endemic and non-endemic areas in Egypt.

Biological activities of two populations of Phlebotomus papatasi collected from two different areas in Egypt (Sinai and Aswan) and the effect of Leishmania major on such activities were investigated under insectary conditions. A significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in the number of eggs laid by the infected females when compared to the non-infected females of the tested populations. The immatures of the Aswan population required a longer period (P < 0.05) to complete larval development. Life expectancy at emergence for infected and non-infected females was almost 13 days for the two populations. No significant difference was observed for the effect of L. major on the survivorship of tested populations. The mean generation time for the non-infected and infected females of Sinai and Aswan were 47.5, 49.8, 50.8, 49.5 days, respectively. Mean productivity (the number of females produced by one female) of the non-infected females of the Sinai population (18.1 female female/female) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the Aswan population (12.3 female female/female) while the productivity for infected females for both Sinai and Aswan populations (10.8 and 7.3 female female/female) was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). These results show Leishmania infection affects the fertility and productivity of both populations and may be a factor in controlling the insect population size in nature.