Host preference pattern of phlebotomine sandflies of Bikaner city.

Host preference pattern of phlebotomine sandflies was ascertained using the precipitin test. Engorged sandflies from endemic localities revealed that out of 126 blood meals 88.8 per cent were human blood, 7.3 per cent bovine blood and 3.9 per cent mixed for both human and bovine. Four of five Sergentomyia babu were positive for human blood and the remaining one for bovine. Two S. baghdadis collected had only human blood, of two S. punjabensis collected, one had human blood. Mixed human and bovine blood meal was detected in the other one. Phlebotomus papatasi appears to be the most common vector of leishmaniasis and another important observation was the repeated feeding by sandflies within a short period and anthropophilic nature of Sergentomyia species.