Editor – Vector resistance to insecticides has been highlighted by Kasap et al. in their comparative study relating to malaria in Turkey (1). In India, phlebotomine sandflies used to be considered highly susceptible to all insecticides; but indiscriminate use poses a problem of resistance, for example, in Bihar, where spraying with DDT has continued since 1976 (2). Resistance to DDT in Phleboto...

BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in the Indian sub-continent (ISC), is a major public health concern in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, where it is caused by Leishmania donovani transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes. Various ecological parameters including air temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity, soil moisture, pH, and organic carbon ar...

Kolhapur region of Maharashtra, India provides very rich biodiversity due to high rainfall (700-6000 mm), temperature range 8 41C, several types of water bodies and decaying organic matters of both plant and animal origin. The environment of Kolhapur thus, is very conducive for sand fly populations. The sand flies suck the blood of humans, domestic and wild animals and transmit diseases like Le...