Identification of cutaneous Leishmaniasis vectors, Phlebotomus papatasi and P-duboscqi using random amplified polymorphic DNA

Phlebotomus papatasi and P. duboscqi are two closely related, morphological ly similar sandfly species that are established Vectors of zoonotic cutaneo us leishmaniasis in the Old World. We have developed a Random Amplified Pol ymorphic DNA (RAPD) method to find species-specific DNA profiles of these t wo species. It was found that using a single 10-mer primer a 'species speci fic' amplification band of about 0.49 kb was produced in all specimens of P . duboscqi while it was absent in P. papatasi. The 0.49 kb diagnostic band was consistently present in both males and females of P. duboscqi. The suit ability of this primer for Phlebotomus species identification will help to find the true vector-parasite relationship in the epidemiology of leishmani asis, particularly in the African countries where both species are prevalen t. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.