ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Field Station, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Parasit Vectors. 2024 Sep 12;17(1):388. doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06468-2.
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.
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.
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.
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.
西高止山脉是一个生物多样性的宝库，有报道称那里存在土著利什曼病病例。因此，对部落人群进行了系统的沙蝇监测。本研究报告了一种新的沙蝇物种，即 Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii n. sp.（双翅目：丽蝇科），它在印度的西高止山脉被发现。
在印度喀拉拉邦的科拉姆、特里苏尔、伊杜基、卡萨拉戈德和马拉普兰地区进行了全面的沙蝇调查。该调查跨越了室内和室外栖息地，使用标准的收集方法，历时 3 年 3 个月。对样本进行了线粒体细胞色素 c 氧化酶亚基 I（COI）基因的 DNA 条码分析，并对生成的序列进行了系统发育分析。
记录并描述了一种新的沙蝇物种，即 Phlebotomus (Anaphlebotomus) ajithii。讨论了该新种与亚属其他种的形态关系。线粒体 COI 条码分析和系统发育分析证实，Ph. ajithii 的标本属于同一分类群，而与近缘种的遗传距离为 11.7%，确立了它是一个独特的物种。
西高止山脉以其丰富的生物多样性而闻名，但缺乏针对沙蝇的系统昆虫学调查。本研究旨在填补这一空白，并报告和描述了一种新的沙蝇物种。
