Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

This study was conducted to determine the biting rate, infection rate as well as the potential rates of sandflies (Diptera: Phychodidae) in some remote areas of Ahiazu, Aboh and Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Areas of Imo State from January to December, 2021. Collection of flies was done using human bait method. In areas where sandflies were endemic, result shows that flies were predominant during the dry seasons (January to March) with a break during wet seasons. Another breeding peak during the months of November and December. There was a significant variation (p<0.05) in the biting rates, potential biting rate as well as the infectivity rates between the wet season (June to September) and the dry season (January to March, October to December). Overall annual biting rates of 1,591, 1,834 and 9,448.5 were established in Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise LGAs respectively. The study established the existence of the parasite Leishmania with a significant low rate of infectivity. Leishmaniasis is a tropical neglected disease observed among low income group with poor housing and other reduced environmental health standards, coupled with climate change. The findings of the study supplied baseline data on leishmaniasis in the study area and could be used by the government, communities and individuals in the planning of effective control and intervention programmes for leishmaniasis in the study areas to avert possibility of outbreak.