The Taxonomic Status of Genetically Divergent Populations ofLutzomyia longipalpis(Diptera: Psychodidae) Based on the Distribution of Mitochondrial and Isozyme Variation

Abstract

The sand fly, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) reputedly is a complex of cryptic species; however, there is currently no consensus as to the number of species in the complex or their geographic distributions. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of 31 populations from throughout the species range, using seven isozyme loci and genes in the mitochondrial genome. Analyses of these two independent sets of markers were largely concordant and revealed four distinct clades that support the existence of four species. The four clades have distinct geographic ranges: (1) Brazil (Species A = Lu. longipalpis sensu stricto), (2) Laran (Species B = Lu. pseudolongipalpis), (3) cis-Andean (Species C), and (4) trans-Andean (Species D). The cis-Andean clade may be subdivided further into two groups, one in Colombia and one in northwestern Venezuela, but their taxonomic status remains unresolved. Knowledge that Lu. longipalpis is a complex of species may ultimately shed light on anomalies in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in the New World.

Lutzomyia longipalpis and the eco-epidemiology of American visceral leishmaniasis, with particular reference to Brazil: a review

“…The existence of such cryptic species in Brazil was disputed by Mukhopadhyay et al (1998), Mutebi et al (1999), Azevedo et al (2000), and Arrivillaga et al (2002Arrivillaga et al ( , 2003 who considered that there is only a single species in that country, based on a study of several widely separated populations for genetic variability in biochemical characters. They felt that the reasons for any epidemiological variations in AVL should be sought elsewhere.…”

“…longipalpis which was found to be at its greatest before 23.00 h and to steadily decrease from that time onwards (Feliciangeli et al 2004). Arrivillaga et al (2003) made phylogenetic analyses of thirty-one populations of Lu. longipalpis s.l.…”

Activity ofLutzomyia pseudolongipalpisandL. longipalpis s.l.(Diptera: Psychodidae) in Venezuela

“…two different pat terns of activity) seem to correlate with genetic data that indicate the presence of at least two sibling spe cies in Venezuela: L. pseudolongipalpis and L. longi palpis s.l. Lampo et al, 1999;Arrivillaga et al, 2003 (Mutebi et al, 2002;Arrivillaga et al, 2003). In El Callejón, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia, Morrison et al (1995) studied the nocturnal activity of L. longipalpis s.l.…”

“…2000a). Many workers now accept that the L. longipalpis complex consists of at least four species (Uribe 1999; Arrivillaga et al, 2003). Since not all of these have been formally described, the members are commonly referred to in the literature as L. longipalpis sensu lato.…”

Dos nuevas poblaciones de Lutzomyia pseudolongipalpis Arrivillaga y Feliciangeli (Diptera: Phlebotominae) vector de leishmaniasis visceral en Venezuela

“…Es la única especie descrita formalmente dentro del complejo Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), el cual esta conformado por cinco especies monofi léticas identifi cadas por marcadores moleculares diagnósticos isoenzimáticos y de ADN mitocondrial (Arrivillaga et al 2000(Arrivillaga et al , 2003.…”