Emerg Infect DiseidEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control117477012631889Research ArticleTopical insecticide treatments to protect dogs from sand fly vectors of leishmaniasis.ReithingerR.rreithinger@yahoo.co.ukTeodoroU.DaviesC. R.Disease Control & Vector Biology, Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene &Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.Sep-Oct200175872876

We compared the susceptibility of sand fly vectors to four topical insecticide treatments applied to domestic dogs, a reservoir of human leishmaniasis. Dogs were exposed to sand flies pretreatment and at 1 week, 1 month, and 2 months posttreatment. Sand fly bloodfeeding and survival rate of both fed and unfed flies were significantly reduced by the permethrin, deltamethrin, and fenthion treatments, but diazinon had no effect. The survival rate of bloodfed sand flies was reduced by up to 86% with deltamethrin collars. The antifeeding effect suggests that deltamethrin collars may be recommended to dog owners to protect their pets from sandfly- borne diseases. The combined effects on sand fly feeding and survival indicate that epidemiologic, community-based trials are warranted to test whether deltamethrin collars could reduce the incidence of canine and, hence, human leishmaniasis.