Fructose in wild-caught Phlebotomus ariasi and the possible relevance of sugars taken by sandflies to the transmission of leishmaniasis.

Cold, acidified anthrone was used to test 200 wild-caught sandflies (Phlebotomus ariasi females) for the presence of fructose. This sugar, or others with a fructose moiety, were demonstrable in 157 (79%) of the flies; proportions of flies positive in different tests ranged from 44 to 91%. Higher proportions of flies gave positive results when tested less than one hour after capture than when kept in the laboratory for more than 12 hours before testing. Similarly high percentages of flies were positive in samples collected coming to engorge on dogs and in those caught in CDC miniature light traps. These results, together with published reports of the demonstration of sugars in 25 individually tested sandflies of other species confirm that, like other biting flies, sugar is an important part of the diet of sandflies. Natural sugars may influence the development of leishmaniae in sandflies and their subsequent transmission. The anthrone test was found to be simple, rapid and suitable for field use; it is a valuable addition to indirect techniques for the study of the behaviour of sandflies.