Ministry of Health Israel
Leading Partner
Trapping site 3: Israel
Sand fly sampling collection
Our team conducts advanced sand fly trapping activities across Israel, strategically selecting sites that represent the country’s diverse climatic zones and geographic regions. Each site is chosen for its importance in studying Leishmania transmission cycles unique to Israel. Our sites span from the northernmost to the southernmost parts of the country, providing a comprehensive view of the varying ecological conditions that influence sand fly populations.
Strategically Selected Trapping Sites
- Kahal: A community located in the Galilee, north of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). This area is a well-known focus for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Israel.
- Aderet: An agricultural community nestled in the Judean foothills of central Israel. Like Kahal, Aderet is also recognized as a significant focus for visceral leishmaniasis (VL).
- Patish: An agricultural community situated in the north-western Negev desert of southern Israel. Patish is characterized by a high incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), making it a critical site for our research. Southern Makhtesh
- Ramon: A geological marvel in Israel’s Negev desert, known as the world’s largest “erosion cirque” (steephead valley or box canyon). This newly identified zone is emerging as a hotspot for cutaneous Leishmania donovani and other significant findings related to sand flies.
Traps used to catch sand flies
For each trapping effort, we employ CDC light traps, considered the gold standard for sand fly collection according to the CLIMOS protocol, alongside modified CDC traps with CO2-baited updraft systems, which are integral to our national surveillance efforts. These traps are strategically positioned, with each light trap placed approximately 100 meters from its CO2-baited counterpart. Trapping is conducted over two consecutive nights each month, ensuring the consistency and reliability of our data.
Traps are placed in diverse environments—ranging from animal shelters and residential areas to public natural spaces on village perimeters and agricultural fields. In the southern regions, particularly in the isolated natural areas south of Makhtesh Ramon, traps are placed in dry riverbeds near local vegetation, areas known for their ecological significance.
To capture precise environmental data, we employ HOBO data loggers alongside our traps, recording microclimatic conditions every 2.5 minutes. This data provides us with unparalleled insights into the environmental factors that drive sand fly activity and Leishmania transmission.
Image credits: ©Ministry of Health Israel
Sand fly collection and analysis
Once collected, sand flies are transported alive with the utmost care to the Ministry of Health’s entomology laboratories in Jerusalem. Upon arrival, they are immediately stored at -20°C. The identification process in the lab is meticulous—each sand fly is sorted by species and sex under strict cold chain conditions, ensuring that the data we gather is both accurate and reliable.
What sets our laboratory apart is our use of high-throughput robotic technology for processing these samples. This cutting-edge approach allows us to efficiently prepare the samples for molecular analysis, including testing for phleboviruses and Leishmania infections as well as blood meal identifications. Female sand flies are individually placed in tubes, while males are pooled by species, ensuring precise data categorization. All samples are securely stored at -80°C, ready for advanced testing.
Our methodical and innovative approach not only sets new benchmarks in sand fly research but also accelerates our ability to deliver critical insights into vector-borne diseases. Through our dedication to excellence and our use of cutting-edge technology, we are redefining the standards of entomological research in Israel and beyond.
Image credits: © J.Sevila/URCA/CLIMOS
HighThroughput robotic system for Sand fly DNA extraction
Team working in the lab
HighThroughput robotic system for Sand fly DNA extraction
Team working in the lab
Team working in the lab categorising sand flies
Team working in the lab
Sand flies from Farm Field Patish, NorthWestern Negev
Team working in the lab
Results
Sites characteristics and months of activity
| Trapping sites | Geographic region | Koppen climate classification | Months of trapping activity | Typical Leishmania parasites | Altitude~(m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kachal | Lower galilee | Hot summer Mediterranean | April - December | Leishmania tropica, Leishmania infantum | 137 |
| Aderet | Judean foothills | Hot summer Mediterranean | April - December | Leishmania Infantum | 421 |
| Patish | North-Western Negev | Hot semi-arid climate | April - December | Leishmania major | 100 |
| Southern Makhtesh Ramon | Southern Negev desert | Hot desert climate | April - December | Leishmania donovani, Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major | 270-490 |
Preliminary results 2023
CDC light traps
| Trapping sites | Total no of traps | No of trapping nights | Traps with sand fly presence | Total no of sand flies | Total no of males | Total no of females | Total no of blood fed females | Prop. of blood fed females | Female/Male ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kachal | 43 | 6 | 95% | 1882 | 998 | 884 | 415 | 46.95% | 0.89 |
| Aderet | 50 | 6 | 94% | 401 | 149 | 252 | 17 | 6.75% | 1.69 |
| Patish | 27 | 4 | 85% | 358 | 184 | 174 | 16 | 9.20% | 0.95 |
| Southern Makhtesh Ramon | 22 | 4 | 100% | 1853 | 532 | 1321 | 55 | 4.16% | 2.48 |
CDC traps baited with CO2
| Trapping sites | Total no of traps | No of trapping nights | Traps with sand fly presence | Total no of sand flies | Total no of males | Total no of females | Total no of blood fed females | Prop. of blood fed females | Female/Male ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kachal | 48 | 6 | 100% | 7977 | 2427 | 5550 | 226 | 4.07% | 2.29 |
| Aderet | 51 | 7 | 98% | 2834 | 1026 | 1808 | 67 | 3.71% | 1.76 |
| Patish | 36 | 5 | 100% | 35762 | 9024 | 26738 | 1156 | 4.32% | 2.96 |
| Southern Makhtesh Ramon | 30 | 4 | 100% | 6171 | 1060 | 5111 | 38 | 0.74% | 4.82 |
Sand Fly Species Diversity and Leishmania Transmission in Israel
Israel hosts a diverse array of sand fly species that play key roles in the transmission of four Leishmania species: Leishmania major, L. tropica, L. infantum, and L. donovani. Each of these species has a unique transmission cycle involving specific sand fly vectors and reservoir hosts, leading to various clinical manifestations across the country.
Our trapping efforts have revealed significant species diversity, including Phlebotomus papatasi, the primary vector for L. major, and P. sergenti and P. arabicus, which transmit L. tropica—associated with rock hyraxes as primary hosts. In the Negev desert, P. perfiliewi gallilaews, P. syriacus, and P. tobbi are linked to the transmission of L. infantum, the cause of visceral leishmaniasis.
A noteworthy discovery is the emergence of L. donovani in southern Israel, likely transmitted by P. alexandri and maintained by hares as reservoir hosts. This finding underscores the complexity of Leishmania transmission in Israel and the importance of understanding the ecological relationships that sustain these cycles.
The graphs depict the distribution of sand fly species captured at each site.
