title: Differential ecological traits of two Phlebotomus sergenti mitochondrial lineages in southwestern Europe and their epidemiological implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The introduction of leishmaniasis in a new area requires a well-established population of the sandfly vector species of the parasite. No autochthonous cases of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis have been detected in southwestern Europe, and Leishmania infantum is the only causative agent of leishmaniasis in this area. Phlebotomus sergenti, the main vector of Leishmania tropica, is commonly found in the Iberian Peninsula at sufficient densities to be able to act as a vector. It is characterised by high genetic diversity and classified in four mitochondrial lineages. Our aim was to analyse the composition and distribution of P. sergenti mitochondrial lineages in southwestern Europe given the possibility of phenotypic differences of biomedical importance between them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sandflies were captured in the Iberian Peninsula and on the Canary and Balearic Islands. Mitochondrial lineage identification of 137 P. sergenti was performed using a novel PCR-RFLP that avoids the necessity of gene sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two lineages were evidenced, the typical Iberian one (lineage I) and another, held in common with North Africa (lineage III), that show a distinctive distribution. P. sergenti lineage I shows a better correlation to the bioclimatic diversity in southwestern Europe. Conversely, P. sergenti lineage III prefers warmer temperatures and less precipitation, which are typical of the Mediterranean.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lineage I seems to have adaptive advantages given its wider tolerance to temperature and altitude than lineage III, and it would seem more suitable to lead a potential geographical expansion towards the rest of Europe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merino-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corpas-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Callejón-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Regional Development Institute, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porcel-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Díaz-Sáez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gállego
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ballart
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, Service of Parasitology, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health "Carlos III" Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, Service of Parasitology, National Center of Microbiology, Institute of Health "Carlos III" Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morillas-Márquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057231:Climate Change; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011156:Population Density; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Citocromo b; Cytochrome b; Europe du sud-ouest; Leishmania tropica; PCR-RFLP; Phlebotomus sergenti; South-western Europe; Sudoeste de Europa; características ecológicas; cytochrome b; ecological traits; lignées mitochondriales; linajes mitocondriales; mitochondrial lineages; traits écologiques