IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHLEBOTOM POPULATION LEISHMANIA VECTORS IN THE REGION OF MEKNES

As part of research on leishmaniasis vectors in Meknes region, we have adopted two sampling methods: adhesive traps (dead sandflies) and mouth catchers (living sand flies) during a period that spreads from March 2019 to March 2020. The choice of this region as a field of study is based essentially on its position bordering endemic areas of Moulay Yaakoub, El Hajeb and Sidi Kacem. These sampling methods allowed us to collect 747 specimens in different stations of our field of study. The collected specimens were kept in alcohol 96° until assembly, followed by an identification in order to know the diversity of sandflies in the region under study. The results of our study show the presence of two kinds of phlebotoms: Phlébotomus and Sergentomyia. This inventory allows us to identify four different species, according to the entomological identification guide which is about the Phlébotomus sergenti (38,82%), Phlébotomus papatasi (28,11%), Phlébotomus longicuspis (21,82%) and the Sergentomyia minuta (11,24%). Thus, the objective of this work is the identification and characterization of the sandfly vectors of Leishmania in the study area to better understand the diversity of the sandfly fauna as well as the "Leishmanian risk" of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the region of Meknes