title: Morphometric and meristic characterization of Phlebotomus argentipes species complex in northern Sri Lanka: evidence for the presence of potential leishmaniasis vectors in the country.
abstract: The transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is of public health concern in Sri   Lanka. The parasite Leishmania donovani is reported to be the causative agent for CL in Sri   Lanka. However there is no report on the vector of CL in the country. Phlebotomus argentipes   sensu lato is the well known vector of L. donovani which causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL)   in the nearby South India. The taxon Ph. argentipes previously reported to occur as a species   complex comprising of two morphospecies namely A and B. The taxonomy of the Argentipes   complex was reassessed recently and reported to have three species viz. Phlebotomus   glaucus, Ph. argentipes sensu stricto and Ph. annandalei. A study was carried out in Jaffna   mainland, where three CL patients have been recorded, and two associated islands in northern   Sri Lanka to record the presence of the members of the Argentipes complex. Sandflies were   collected using human landing and cattle baited collections. Collected samples were analyzed   based on reported morphometric and meristic characteristics. The study revealed the presence   of all three members of the complex in which Ph. glaucus and Ph. argentipes s.s. are reported   for the first time in Sri Lanka.
authors: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Jaffna, Jaffna 40000. gajapathyk@jfn.ac.lk
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Gajapathy
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Jude
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Surendran
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry / Q000379:methods; D002417:Cattle; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013188:Sri Lanka