Phenotypic and genotypic variations among three allopatric populations of Lutzomyia umbratilis, main vector of Leishmania guyanensis.
BACKGROUND
In South America, Lutzomyia umbratilis is the main vector of Leishmania guyanensis, one of the species involved in the transmission of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. In Brazil, L. umbratilis has been recorded in the Amazon region, and in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern region, where an isolated population has been identified. This study assessed the phylogeographic structure and size and shape differences of the wing of three Brazilian populations.


METHODS
Samples of L. umbratilis were collected from Rio Preto da Eva (north of the Amazon River, Amazonas), from Manacapuru (south of the Amazon River), and from the isolated population in Recife, Pernambuco state. These samples were processed to obtain sequences of the Cytochrome Oxidase I mitochondrial gene. Geometrics morphometry analysis of the right wing shape of the three populations was made using discriminate canonical analysis.


RESULTS
Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of two distinct monophyletic clades: one clade comprised of the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva samples, and the other clade comprised of the Manacapuru samples. Comparing the Manacapuru population with the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations generated high indices of interpopulational divergence. Geometric morphometry analysis indicated two distinct groups between the studied populations. Canonical variate analysis of wing shape indicated that Rio Preto da Eva population is significantly closer to Recife population, and both populations were genetically distant from Manacapuru.


CONCLUSIONS
The polymorphic sites and geometric morphometry analysis indicate that the distance, lack of continuity and environmental differences have not modified the ancestral relationship between Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations. The genetic and morphological similarities shared by the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations suggest that these populations are more closely related evolutionarily. These results confirm the existence of an L. umbratilis species complex in the North and Northeast regions.
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. moisestsf@hotmail.com.
Moises Thiago
MT
de Souza Freitas
Laboratory of Infectious Disease Ecology in the Amazon, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Rua Terezina, 476, Adrianópolis, Manaus, Amazonas, 69.057-070, Brazil. criosvelasquez@gmail.com.
Claudia Maria
CM
Ríos-Velasquez
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. cjrs@ig.com.br.
César Raimundo Lima
CR
Costa
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. cjsantifigo@hotmail.com.
Carlos Alberto Santiago
CA
Figueirêdo
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. nadibr2@yahoo.com.br.
Nádia Consuelo
NC
Aragão
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. lidianegomesp@hotmail.com.
Lidiane Gomes
LG
da Silva
Department of Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon s/n - Rosa Elze, São Cristóvão, Aracajú, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil. genetics_marcus@hotmail.com.
Marcus Vinicius
MV
de Aragão Batista
Departament of Microbiology, Research Center Aggeu Magalhaes, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. cristina@cpqam.fiocruz.br.
Teresa Cristina Leal
TC
Balbino
Laboratory of Infectious Disease Ecology in the Amazon, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane - Fiocruz Amazônia, Rua Terezina, 476, Adrianópolis, Manaus, Amazonas, 69.057-070, Brazil. facpessoa@gmail.com.
Felipe Arley Costa
FA
Pessoa
Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N,Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, 50732-970, Brazil. vqbalbino@gmail.com.
Valdir
V
de Queiroz Balbino
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007303:Insect Vectors; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis / Q000502:physiology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D010802:Phylogeny; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*