Objective: To observe the effect of Phlebotomus chinensis control including insecticide residual spraying in the habitats and bathing for dogs on the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in Nanping of Sichuan Province.
Methods: Alpha-methrin with a dosage of 50 mg/m2 was sprayed in the wild caves and 2.5% deltamethrin wettable power at a concentration of 250 mg/L was applied for dog bathing in the villages. The density of sandflies in the natural caves was examined and data on the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis were collected from epidemiological survey following the sandfly control measures.
Results: The density of sandflies has been considerably reduced after the chemical spraying in caves, the important habitats of the sandflies. By both the cave spraying and bathing for dogs since 1993, the reported human cases of leishmaniasis also decreased.
Conclusion: Measures for sandfly control including insecticide spraying in the habitats and bathing for dogs with insecticide solution can significantly reduce the sandfly density, and can contain the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in the endemic area.