title: DNA barcoding of Sri Lankan phlebotomine sand flies using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I reveals the presence of cryptic species.
abstract: Sri Lanka is known for high diversity of phlebotomine sand flies and prevalence of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis; a disease vectored by sand flies. The taxonomy of phlebotomine sand flies is complicated and often the diversity is over/underrated. The current study aims to use the cytochrome c oxidase gene subunit 1 (COI) sequence and formulate a barcode for the sand fly species in Sri Lanka. A total of 70 samples comprising seven species morphologically identified and collected from dry zone districts of Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Jaffna were processed. Neighbour-joining (NJ) tree created using the sequences revealed the species identity is compatible with the current morphology based identification. Further the analysis delineated morphologically identified Se. bailyi, Se babu babu and Se babu insularis into genetically distinct groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Jaffna, Thirunalvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: gayan156@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kanapathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gajapathy
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Jaffna, Thirunalvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Tharmatha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tharmasegaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Jaffna, Thirunalvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Thampoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eswaramohan
authors.affiliation: Anti Malaria Campaign, Regional Health Services, Hamabantota, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Lalanthika B S L
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Peries
authors.affiliation: Anti Malaria Campaign, Regional Health Services, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Raveendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jayanetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Jaffna, Thirunalvely, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Sinnathamby N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Surendran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000145:classification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013188:Sri Lanka
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: COI; DNA barcoding; Leishmaniasis; Phlebotomine sand flies; Sri Lanka; Vectors