3.1. Sand fly fauna and abundance by species
Species distribution by sex, sampling method, sampling period and site are shown in Table 1. In total 5,674 sand fly specimens, 2,215 females (39,0%) and 3,459 males (61.0%), were collected. The mean density values in El Borouj were 14.9 sand flies/CDCtrap/night and 26.1 sand flies/m2 whereas in Sidi Hajjaj were 8.1 sand flies/CDCtrap/night and 14.8 sand flies/m2. Thirteen sand fly species were present (9 Phlebotomus and 4Sergentomyia ) and differences in density, relative abundance and frequency were detected between them and both localities (Table 1).Phlebotomus chabaudi, Phlebotomus alexandri, Phlebotomus duboscqi, Sergentomyia antenata and Sergentomyia dreyfussi were caught in low numbers in El Borouj and were absent in Sidi Hajjaj. In both localities, Sergentomyia minuta was the most abundant species in the captures with adhesive traps whereas Phlebotomus sergenti was the most abundant species in the intra-household captures made with CDC traps (Table 1).
Sand fly density was higher in El Borouj and significant differences were found in the June peridomiciliary captures (p <0.0001) and in the October intradomiciliary captures (p =0.066). P. sergenti density was higher in El Borouj as well and statistically significant differences were detected in peridomiciliary captures in June (p =0.007), intra domiciliary captures in October (p =0.007) and global intradomiciliary (p =0.032) and peridomiciliary (p =0.022) (Table 1). Regarding difference between capture periods, P. sergentiintradomiciliary density was significantly higher in June in both cities, El Borouj (p=0.012) and Sidi Hajjaj (p= 0.020).
Blood-fed, non-fed and gravid P. sergenti females were found both intradomiciliary and peridomiciliary in both localities; density values were higher in El Borouj (Table 2).