Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a complex vector‐borne disease caused by Leishmania parasites that are transmitted by the bite of several species of infected female
phlebotomine sand flies. ZCL is a major health problem in Iran, where basic knowledge gaps about
sand fly species diversity persist in some ZCL-endemic areas.Objectives: This paper describes the
richness and spatial
distribution of
sand fly species, in Beiza district, a new emerging ZCL endemic area in southern Iran.Materials and Methods: Sand flies were collected using sticky papers.carried out twice a month from April to October. The specimens head and last abdominal segments were mounted on a microscope slide, in a drop of Puri medium and identified in species level, according to the Lewis key. For spatial analysis of vector species population, the entomological sampling sites were categorized into four groups based on topography elevation (flat and mountain) and climate (SSA and MSA) include MSA Flat, MSA mountain, SSA flat and SSA mountain. Arc
GIS 9.3 software was used to determine the foci with leishmaniasis vector species.Results: The entomological study indicated that 2543 sand flies were collected during activity season from four topo climatic zones in the Beiza district. Ten species of sand flies were identified (Phlebotomus: 2270 specimens, five species and Sergentomyia: 273 specimens, five species). Detailed environmental and statistical analyses was show high Species
richness in SSA flat zone that nine species was caught with 55.32 percent frequency. The data of CL vector presence (P. papatasi and P. sergenti) were in all zones and abundant in spatial clusters. The geographical
distribution frequency in MSA flat, MSA mountain and SSA mountain was 23.2%, 17.02% and 4.42% respectively.Conclusion: The
distribution areas of probable vector species in this study could be used as a model indicating climatic zones and environmental variables connected to identification of vector
distribution and risk levels, which may provide useful information to guide the leishmaniasis research in endemic regions. Furthermore, this information is appropriate for future research efforts into the ecology of Phlebotomine sand flies and for the prevention of CL vector transmission as a public health priority.