Occurrence of Phlebotomus mascittii (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in the Upper Rhine Valley of Alsace, France

Because of the apparent northwards spread of canine leishmaniosis cases, we decided to investigate the occurrence of the potential vector species, namely Phlebotomine sand flies, in the Upper Rhine valley of Alsace, France. Trappings were performed in the natural regions of the Vosges foothills and the Alsatian Jura, which looked the most suitable for sand flies, considering climate and environment. Fifteen locations (25 sites) were investigated by means of light traps and/or interception sticky traps in 2009, 2011 and 2018. Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi, 1908 was the only sand fly species identified, and it was detected at three locations of the Vosges foothills, in both 2011 and 2018. This study confirms the occurrence of P. mascittii in the Upper Rhine valley of Alsace, around 70 years after the first and single historical report. Our data do not suggest the recent northwards spread of the species. The observed low density of Phlebotominae suggests that the risk for Leishmania transmission in Alsace, if introduced, is very low.