Development of Leishmania donovani in Phlebotomus argentipes & Ph. papatasi fed on kala-azar patients in Bihar.

A total of 258 laboratory bred Ph. argentipes was fed on untreated parasitologically confirmed kala-azar patients. Successful development of parasites was noted in 0.54 per cent Ph. argentipes fed during the day and 5.33 per cent fed during the night. However, none of the 245 laboratory bred Ph. papatasi fed on the same patients, was found positive for successful development of L. donovani in the foregut.