Molecular identification and phylogeny of East African Simulium damnosum s.l. and their relationship with West African species of the complex (Diptera : Simuliidae)

The phylogenetic relationships of East and West African members of the Simu lium damnosum complex were studied by sequence analyses of the mitochondria l 16s ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Results suggest that: (i) the S. damnosum complex is divided into an East and a West African clade, and (ii) S. panda nophilum and the cytoform 'Kiwira' form an East African subbranch distinct from the 'Sanje' group. In contrast to former assumptions from cytogenetic analyses, our molecular data do not support a direct relationship between t he East African S. kilibanum and the West African S. squamosum. Length diff erences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) turned out to be useful to distinguish between cytoforms.