Evolution, systematics and historical biogeography of sand flies of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotomus) inferred using restriction-site associated DNA markers

Abstract

Phlebotomine sand flies are the main natural vectors of Leishmania, which cause visceral and tegumentary tropical diseases worldwide. However, their taxonomy and evolutionary history remain poorly studied. Indeed, as for many human disease vectors, their small size is a challenge for morphological and molecular works. Here, we successfully amplified unbiased copies of whole genome to sequence thousands of restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) markers from single specimens of phlebotomines. RAD markers were used to infer a fully resolved phylogeny of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus (11 species + 5 outgroups, 32 specimens). The subgenus was not recovered as monophyletic and we describe a new subgenus Artemievus subg. nov. Depaquit for Phlebotomus alexandri. We also confirm the validity of Ph. riouxi which is reinstated as valid species. Our analyses suggest that Paraphlebotomus sensu nov. originated ca 12.9–8.5 Ma and was possibly largely distributed from peri-Mediterranean to Irano-Turranian regions. Its biogeographical history can be summarized into three phases: i) a first split between Ph. riouxi + Ph. chabaudi and other species that may have resulted from the rise of the Saharan belt ca 8.5 Ma; ii) a Messinian vicariant event (7.3–5.3 Ma) during which the prolonged drought could have resulted in the divergence of main lineages; iii) a recent radiation event (3–2 Ma) that correspond to cycles of wet and dry periods in the Middle East and the East African subregions during the Pleistocene. Interestingly these cycles are also hypothetical drivers of the diversification of rodents, in the burrows of which Paraphlebotomus larvae develop. By meeting the challenge of sequencing pangenomics markers from single, minute phlebotomines, this work opens new avenues for improving our understanding of the epidemiology of leishmaniases and possibly other human diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors.

Comparative genomics uncovers the evolutionary dynamics of detoxification and insecticide target genes across 11 phlebotomine sand flies

“…This analysis identified 575 universal single-copy orthologs which were used to build the species tree (Figure 1A). The reconstructed phlebotomine phylogeny is consistent with previously published sand fly species trees (Grace-Lema et al, 2015;Cruaud et al, 2021;Labbé et al, 2023). Most importantly, in agreement with Labbé et al (2023), this species tree supports clustering of the 11 sand flies with the Nematocera rather than the Brachycera suborder (Figure 1A).…”

Discovery of the vector of visceral leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus (Artemievus) alexandri Sinton, 1928, in Kenya suggests complex transmission dynamics

“…Our study also highlights the occurrence of the recently reclassified Artemievus sand fly Ph. ( Artemievus ) alexandri ( Cruaud et al, 2021 ) for the first time in Kenya. Phlebotomus alexandri is a vector of VL in some countries of the Middle East (Iran), Mediterranean (Spain) and Asia (northwestern China).…”

On the systematics of Phlebotomus betisi and two new related species from Laos with proposal of the new subgenus Lewisius

“…Moreover, the molecular approach (Fig. [12]. Our goal was not to reconstruct a phylogeny of the genus Phlebotomus but to test the monophyly of Lewisius as well as its relationships with the Larroussius.…”

“…Phlebotomine sandflies represent a tiny blood sucking insect group which has been proven to be the vector of several human pathogens for decades [2,3] [9,12,14,27,38,43,46,47].…”