In Egypt, Phlebotomus papatasi is the main vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis. In nature, P. papatasi feeds on blood from different hosts and sucrose (other sugars) mainly from fig fruits. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of three food regimes on the life table parameters of females mainly the life expectancy as a factor determining the fly's capability for Leishmania transmission.
Females maintained on different diets (30% sucrose solution, Guinea pig blood and sucrose followed by blood) under laboratory conditions were observed for offspring emergence to examine the survival period expressed as the median emergence time (E50) and female fecundity (females/female). Life table was constructed including the mean life expectancy at emergence (e0) as a measure of longevity and the mortality rate per day(qx).
Females fed on sucrose-blood has the highest fecundity and the shortest E50 compared to those fed on other diets. The mean life expectancy at emergence (e0) differed significantly with the highest value being for females fed on sucrose.
The calculated expectancies for female life beyond the infective age (8 days) indicated that more flies would survive to become infective when fed on sucrose-blood meals than those offered blood alone which increases its capability for Leishmania transmission.