Studies on the sand fly fauna (Diptera: Phlebotominae) in high transmission areas of visceral Leishmaniasis in north India: special emphasis on uttaranchal region

A total of 8, 131 sand flies were collected with a female: male ratio of 5.6: 4.4. Nine species were identified, of which 3 belonged to the genus Phlebotomus, 6 to Sergentomyia. the increase in leishmaniasis cases is due to a combination of multiple factors, involving changes in climate, human behaviours, vectors and reservoirs. The changing pattern of dispersal and the spatial distribution of sandflies to new locations are critical factors that may implicate an increased risk of human-vector contact. the results further revealed seasonal variation in sand fly prevalence, with the highest peak in July. Soil samples collected were characterized by alkaline (pH 7.6).