Sandfly
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Sandfly or sand fly is a colloquial name for any species or
In the various sorts of sandfly only the female is responsible for biting and sucking the blood of mammals, reptiles and birds; the protein in the blood is necessary for the production of eggs, making the sandfly an
Some sandfly genera of the subfamily Phlebotominae are the primary vectors of leishmaniasis and pappataci fever; both diseases are confusingly referred to as sandfly fever. In Asia, Africa, and Europe, leishmaniasis is spread by sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus; in the Americas, the disease is spread by sandflies of the genus Lutzomyia. Belize and Honduras are notorious in the Caribbean for their sandfly populations and travel pages frequently warn tourists to bring bug spray containing high concentrations of DEET.
Viruses
Among the viruses that sandflies can carry is the
in 2010.Protozoa
Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by several species of the genus Leishmania, is transmitted by various sandflies.[3]
Leishmania donovani causes spiking fevers, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. It can be diagnosed through microscopic review by visualizing amastigotes in containing macrophages, and is treatable with sodium stibogluconate.
Bacteria
Bartonella bacilliformis, the causal agent of Carrion's disease, is transmitted by different members of the genus Lutzomyia. This disease is restricted to Andean areas of Peru and Ecuador, with historical reports in Southern Colombia.[4]
Prevention
Over-the-counter repellents with high concentrations of
A particular extract of lemon eucalyptus oil (not the essential oil) has now been shown to be as effective as DEET in various studies.[5][6]
Most information on repellents focuses on mosquitoes, but mosquito repellents are effective for sandflies and
Cultural views
These sand flies were able, according to another Māori legend, to revive the dead hero Ha-tupatu.[9]
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Indonesian sandfly bites on leg
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Sandfly bite
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A swarm of sandflies at Georges River National Park (Australia)
See also
References
- ^ Sandflies and mosquitoes – Sandflies: New Zealand's blackflies. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand (2009-03-01). Retrieved on 2011-06-15.
- PMID 8203705.
- ^ PMID 24626301.
- PMID 29187394.
- PMID 8827615.
- S2CID 46198676.
- ^ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: CDC: West Nile Virus – Updated Insect Repellent. Cdc.gov, USA (2009-10-13). Retrieved on 2011-06-15.
- ^ Sandflies – New Zealand – IgoUgo – stomps. IgoUgo (2008-06-04). Retrieved on 2011-06-15.
- ^ Ha-tupatu and the sand flies. Maori.org.nz. Retrieved on 2011-06-15.
External links
- Sand Flies – Beaufort County Library (via Internet Archive)
- Infectious skin disease found in Texas September 15, 2007 Breaking News – Sandfly may carry parasites that will cause infectious skin disease called leishmaniasis.
- Biting midges and no-see-ums --University of Florida