Identification of Phlebotomine Sandfly Bloodmeals from Baringo District; Kenya; by Direct Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

ABSTRACT

Direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to identify the sources of 356 phlebotomine sandfly bloodmeals from Baringo District; Rift Valley Province; Kenya. Some bloodmeals had been stored for over 4 years before being analysed. Of the 356 sandflies; 62.9 were phlebotomus martini; 14.8 Sergentomyia antennatus; 10.0 S. schwetzi; 6.0 S. clydei; 1.9 S. adleri; 1.6 P. duboscqi; 1.4 S. africanus; and 0.8 S. bedfordi. Out of 224 P. martini bloodmeals; host source was identified for 69. The order of host prefernce for P. martini was goat 28.5; rabbit 22.7 human 8.9 and other 8.9. Evidence of mixed feeding was shown by 16 sandflies comprising 4 species; 12 of these were P. martini. The most effective methods for trapping bloodfed P. martini; were sticky paper traps in termite hills; followed by light-traps. Of the 224 P. martini trapped; 58.9 were collected with paper traps in termite hills; and 22.7 with light traps. The role played by the 3 most popular hosts for P. martini should be investigated to ascertain whether they act as reservoirs in the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Kenya