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. 2023:30:18.
doi: 10.1051/parasite/2023018. Epub 2023 May 24.

Molecular phylogeny of Psychodopygina (Diptera, Psychodidae) supporting morphological systematics of this group of vectors of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis

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Molecular phylogeny of Psychodopygina (Diptera, Psychodidae) supporting morphological systematics of this group of vectors of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis

Sonia Zapata et al. Parasite. 2023.

Abstract

New World sandflies are vectors of leishmaniasis, bartonellosis, and some arboviruses. A classification based on 88 morphological characters was proposed 27 years ago when the New World phlebotomines were organized into two tribes Hertigiini and Phlebotomini. The latter was structured into four subtribes (Brumptomyiina, Sergentomyiina, Lutzomyiina, and Psychodopygina) and 20 genera. The subtribe Psychodopygina, including most of the American vectors of tegumentary Leishmania comprises seven genera from which no molecular work has been produced to support this classification. Here, we carried out a molecular phylogeny based on combined sequences (1,334 bp) of two genes: partial 28S rDNA and mtDNA cytochrome b from 47 taxa belonging to the Psychodopygina. The Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction agreed with the classification based on morphological characters, supporting the monophyly of the genera Psychodopygus and Psathyromyia, whereas Nyssomyia and Trichophoromyia seemed to be paraphyletic. The paraphylies of the two latter groups were exclusively caused by the doubtful position of the species Ny. richardwardi. Our molecular analysis provides additional support to adopt the morphologic classification of Psychodopygina.

Title: La phylogénie moléculaire des Psychodopygina (Diptera, Psychodidae) soutient la systématique morphologique de ce groupe de vecteurs de leishmaniose cutanée du Nouveau Monde.

Abstract: Les phlébotomes du nouveau monde sont des vecteurs de leishmaniose, de bartonellose et de certains arbovirus. Une classification basée sur 88 caractères morphologiques a été proposée il y a 27 ans lorsque les phlébotomes du nouveau monde ont été organisés en deux tribus Hertigiini et Phlebotomini. Cette dernière était structurée en quatre sous-tribus (Brumptomyiina, Sergentomyiina, Lutzomyiina et Psychodopygina) et 20 genres. La sous-tribu des Psychodopygina, qui inclut la plupart des vecteurs américains de la leishmaniose cutanée, comprend sept genres mais aucun travail moléculaire n’a été produit pour soutenir cette classification. Dans cet article, nous avons réalisé une phylogénie moléculaire basée sur des séquences combinées (1334 pb) de deux gènes : ADNr 28S partiel et cytochrome b (ADNmt) chez 47 taxons appartenant aux Psychodopygina. La reconstruction phylogénique bayésienne est en accord avec la classification basée sur les caractères morphologiques, soutenant la monophylie des genres Psychodopygus et Psathyromyia, alors que Nyssomyia et Trichophoromyia semblent être paraphylétiques. Les paraphylies des deux derniers groupes sont exclusivement causées par la position douteuse de la seule espèce Ny. richardwardi. Notre analyse moléculaire fournit une raison supplémentaire pour adopter la classification morphologique des Psychodopygina.

Keywords: Bayesian analysis; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; Molecular systematics; Sandflies; mtDNA; rDNA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Simplified cladograms based on morphological characters (sensu Galati, 1995) representing relationships among Phlebotomini divided into 4 subtribes (A) and among Psychodopygina divided into 7 genera, 3 subgenera, series and groups (B).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Psychodopygina subtribe from Bayesian analysis based on the sequences of D1 and D2 domains of 28SrDNA and cytochrome b gene of mtDNA. The highlighted groups and dotted lines correspond to the six genera analyzed. The numbers in the nodes represent posterior probabilities.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phylogenetic relationships within the Psychodopygina according to Galati’s hypothesis (A) and according to the molecular data of the present study (B).
<i>Figure S1</i>:
Figure S1:
Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Psychodopygina subtribe from Bayesian analysis based on sequences of the D1 and D2 domains of 28SrDNA, the numbers in the nodes representing posterior probabilities.
<i>Figure S2</i>:
Figure S2:
Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Psychodopygina subtribe from Bayesian analysis based on sequences of the cytochrome b gene of mtDNA, the numbers in the nodes representing posterior probabilities.

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