Leishmania in Kenyan phlebotomine sandflies—II. Natural infection in the malpighian tubules of Sergentomyia garnhami and Sergentomyia antennatus

Sandflies caught from termitaria at Tseikuru (Kitui District) and Masinga (Machakos District) were dissected and examined for the presence of Leishmania . Leishmanial parasites were found in the guts of 12 out of 112 Sergentomyia garnhami from Tseikuru and in 2 out of 48 S. antennatus from Masinga. Five of the 12 S. garnhami and 1 of the 2 S. antennatus had leishmanial parasites in the malpighian tubules. Electron microscopic investigations revealed that in the malpighian tubules of S. garnhami the parasites were either free in the lumen or in close contact with the basement membrane.