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Genetic characterization of a new entomo-pathogenic nematode (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) parasite in wild-caught sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Western Ghats, India

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Abstract

Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are medically important insects prevalent in tropical and temperate regions of the world. About 30 species of these flies have been recorded from the Western Ghats region of Kerala. While carrying out epidemiological investigations on Leishmaniasis in this region, we found two species of field-collected sandflies viz., Phlebotomus argentipes and Sergentomyia monticola infected with Tylenchid nematode parasites. The infection rates were 0.89% and 0.9%, respectively. The parasite density of nematode juvenile stages was more than 1000 in all the specimens. Both males and females were found infected. We performed molecular characterization of these nematode parasites using multiple genetic markers, mitochondrial COI, and two different regions of 18S rDNA. The genetic analysis revealed that the nematode belonged to the genus Howardula of family Allantonematidae, one infesting P. argentipes (major vector species of Leishmania) and the other, S. monticola. This is the first report of natural infection with the entomo-parasitic nematode species, belonging to Allantonematidae among these sandfly species from India. Genetically related and unclassified species of nematodes belonging to this family had been reported elsewhere from termite species. As larval stages of sandflies develop in the organic matter of termite mounds, this finding may have significant implications on their bionomics and control.

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All the data submitted in this manuscript are original and available at the ICMR Vector Control Research Centre field station data bank.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the technical staff of ICMR Vector Control Research Centre Field Station at Kottayam for their technical help and to the Directorate of Health Services, Government of Kerala, India, for facilitating the survey.

Funding

This study was supported by the ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre intramural funding (Project grant no.: IM-1905).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India

    Prasanta Saini, Ajithlal PM, Jessu Mathew, Sonia T & N Pradeep Kumar

  2. ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India

    Ashwani Kumar

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  1. Prasanta Saini
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  2. Ajithlal PM
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  3. Jessu Mathew
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  4. Sonia T
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  5. N Pradeep Kumar
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Contributions

All Authors contributed to the study conception and design, conceived the ideas and designed the methodology. Prasanta Saini, P.M.Ajithlal, and Jessu Mathew performed the experiments. Prasanta Saini, Sonia T and N. Pradeep Kumar analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. Prasanta Saini, N. Pradeep Kumar, and Ashwani Kumar supervised the practical and theoretical works. All authors contributed to the preparation of the final manuscript and gave approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Prasanta Saini.

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The study was approved by ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry scientific advisory committee and no such ethics were involved in this study.

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The manuscript was approved by the research integrity unit of ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry. Publication related content will be provided to the journal upon acceptance of the manuscript.

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The authors hereby declared that no conflict of interest is involved in this study.

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Saini, P., PM, A., Mathew, J. et al. Genetic characterization of a new entomo-pathogenic nematode (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) parasite in wild-caught sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) from Western Ghats, India. Int J Trop Insect Sci 43, 2145–2150 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-023-01124-1

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