title: The current status of the Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) species complex.
abstract: Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. is a complex of sibling species and is the principal vector of American visceral leishmaniasis. The present review summarises the diversity of efforts that have been undertaken to elucidate the number of unnamed species in this species complex and the phylogenetic relationships among them. A wide variety of evidence, including chemical, behavioral and molecular traits, suggests very recent speciation events and complex population structure in this group. Although significant advances have been achieved to date, differential vector capacity and the correlation between structure of parasite and vector populations have yet to be elucidated. Furthermore, increased knowledge about recent epidemiological changes, such as urbanisation, is essential for pursuing effective strategies for sandfly control in the New World.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Vigilância Entomológica em Diptera e Hemiptera, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nataly A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Reginaldo P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brazil
authors.affiliation: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alejandra S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D017344:Genes, Insect; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000635:transmission; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity