# Taxonomic assessment of phlebotomine sand flies in Southeast Asia based on records from Cambodia

## TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes sand fly species in Cambodia, revealing new insights into their diversity and potential role in disease transmission.

## Contribution

The first comprehensive inventory of phlebotomine sand flies in Cambodia, identifying 10 species and highlighting potential new species within complexes.

## Key findings

- A total of 10 sand fly species were identified across four genera in Cambodia.
- Genetic and morphological analyses suggest the presence of previously undescribed species within the Sergentomyia barraudi and Se. iyengari complexes.
- Grassomyia specimens showed morphological variation but genetic similarity to Gr. indica from other regions.

## Abstract

Previously considered a leishmaniasis-free region, Southeast Asia has reported emerging cases over the past 20 years. This has renewed interest in the primary vectors, the phlebotomine sand flies. However, information on these vectors in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, remains scarce. To update distribution records and assess species diversity, CDC light traps were deployed to collect sand flies at 16 locations across several provinces of Cambodia in 2011 and 2014. A total of 940 sand flies were collected and identified both morphologically and molecularly using cytochrome b as a marker gene. Species identification revealed the presence of four genera and 10 species. The predominant species was Grassomyia sp. (21.9%), followed by Sergentomyia sylvatica (21.4%) and Sergentomyia iyengari Group (16.7%). Generally identified as Grassomyia indica, the Grassomyia specimens found in this study exhibited morphological disparities, although genetic analysis showed homogeneity with Gr. indica from other countries. Sergentomyia iyengari and Sergentomyia barraudi each displayed two distinct groups based on both morphological and genetic analyses, suggesting that different species within these complexes are present in Cambodia. Further investigation of these species complexes is warranted, since genomic evidence suggests the existence of previously undescribed species in this region.

Image 1

•First inventory of phlebotomine sand flies in Cambodia.•Record of 10 species.•Discussion of the Sergentomyia barraudi and Se. iyengari species complexes.•Phlebotomus kiangsuensis and Sergentomyia anodontis are species complexes.

First inventory of phlebotomine sand flies in Cambodia.

Record of 10 species.

Discussion of the Sergentomyia barraudi and Se. iyengari species complexes.

Phlebotomus kiangsuensis and Sergentomyia anodontis are species complexes.