MOLECULAR SYSTEMATICS OF PHLEBOTOMINAE - A PILOT-STUDY - PARAPHYLY OFTHE GENUS PHLEBOTOMUS

Phylogenetic relationships among Phlebotominae were inferred through a pilot study using parsimony analysis of the D2 domain of ribosomal DN A sequences: 455 pairs of bases were sequenced in nine species of Phle botomine sandflies which belong to the genera Lutzomyia, Phlebotomus a nd Sergentomyia. Two taxa are used as outgroups: Psychoda sp, and Nema palpus flavus which is the sister group of the Phlebotominae. The Sout h American genus Lutzomyia appears to be monophyletic. The Mediterrane an species Sergentomyia dentata is its sister group and is not cluster ed with the Old World genus Phlebotomus. The latter is a paraphyletic genus with an early individualisation of the branch including the clos ely related subgenera Phlebotomus and Paraphlebotamus, and a late indi vidualisation of the subgenus Larroussius. These results have some con sequences on the biogeography of the leishmaniasis in the Old World. ( C) Academie des sciences / Elsevier, Paris.