What diseases are carried by sandflies?

Sandflies are known to be carriers of specific diseases, among which leishmaniasis and sandfly fever are the most significant. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania species, which is transmitted through the bites of infected sandflies. This disease can present in various forms, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis, and presents severe health issues in affected individuals.

Sandfly fever, also known as phlebotomus fever, is a viral illness caused by viruses belonging to the Phlebovirus genus, one of which is the Sandfly fever virus. Symptoms typically include fever, headache, and myalgia, but the illness is generally self-limiting and not as severe as leishmaniasis.

The other options include diseases that are transmitted by different vectors. Malaria and typhoid are associated with mosquitoes and water or food contamination respectively, chikungunya and dengue are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, while cholera and dysentery result from bacterial infections often linked to unsanitary water sources or food. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the specific role of sandflies in disease transmission and highlights the importance of vector control in public health.