Report of a new species of sand fly, Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae), from Western Ghats, India.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101462774 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1756-3305 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17563305 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Parasit Vectors Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central

Phlebotomus*/genetics ; Phlebotomus*/classification ; Phylogeny* ; Electron Transport Complex IV*/genetics; Animals ; India ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Female ; Male

Background: Western Ghats is a biodiversity treasure trove with reports of indigenous leishmaniasis cases. Hence, systematic sand fly surveillance was carried out among the tribal population. The present study reports a novel sand fly species, Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae), discovered in the Western Ghats of India.
Methods: A comprehensive sand fly survey was conducted across the Kollam, Thrissur, Idukki, Kasaragod and Malappuram districts of Kerala, India. The survey spanned both indoor and outdoor habitats using standard collection methods over a 3-year, 3-month period. DNA barcoding of samples was performed targeting mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and the sequence generated was subjected to phylogenetic analysis.
Results: Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii, a new sand fly species, is recorded and described in this communication. The morphological relationship of the new species to other members of the subgenus Anaphlebotomus is discussed. Mitochondrial COI barcode followed by phylogenetic analysis confirmed that specimens of Ph. ajithii belong to the same taxonomic group, while a genetic distance of 11.7% from congeners established it as a distinct species.
Conclusions: The Western Ghats, known for its rich biodiversity, has lacked systematic entomological surveys focusing on sand flies. This study aims to fill this gap and reports and describes a new species of sand fly.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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6/9-7(331)/2020/ECD-II Indian Council of Medical Research; IM-1905 Indian Council of Medical Research- Vector Control Research Centre

Keywords: COI barcode; Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii; India; Phlebotomine sand flies; Western Ghats

EC 1.9.3.1 (Electron Transport Complex IV)

Date Created: 20240912 Date Completed: 20240913 Latest Revision: 20240915

20240915

PMC11395777

10.1186/s13071-024-06468-2

39267125