Objective
- The main thrust of this project is a medium term study of the population dynamics of Psammomys obesus.
Expected Outcome
- Improved understanding of population dynamics of P. obesus and sandflies in the north African region.
- A minimum of 20 individuals will be sampled monthly through 2 1/2 years and examined for Leishmania infection by culture of lesions;
- The inhabitants of a selected colony will be captured, marked and released for the direct observational study of their longevity, behaviour and movements, over the entire study period;
- Pregnant females will be kept in captivity and their offspring will be reared in order to produce a base-line curve of age against eye-lens weight;
- The geographical distribution and population density of P. obesus will be determined and mapped in detail in an area of 1 - 10 km2;
- Standardised observations will be made on potential predators;
- Captured animals will be examined for parasites other than Leishmania;
- Specimens will be prepared and tissue samples preserved for taxonomic comparison by morphometry.
Sandfly studies at M'sila
- Sandfly (P. papatasi and others) numbers will be compared throughout three seasons in a variety of P. obesus colonies in different habitats;
- Sandflies will be dissected. Parasites will be isolated and identified;
- Results obtained at Sidi Bouzid will be used as a baseline for comparison with P. obesus populations in other North African and West Asian countries. In particular, apparently different populations and, possibly, a second species exists in Libya and Israel.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
L3 5QA Liverpool
United Kingdom