2026-10-07T14:07:48Z
https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai
oai:figshare.com:article/34074357
2026-10-05T17:58:52Z
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month_year_10_2026
<p>Sand fly specimen identification results.</p>
Haowei Dong (11282752)
Anjie Yang (11789940)
Wenqi Shan (6109217)
Chunyan Zhao (141856)
Xiangyu Li (1475548)
Bing Rui (23144016)
Jiangshan Zhao (16020218)
Maimaitijiang Wumaier (23144013)
Heng Peng (508975)
Yajun Ma (212616)
Medicine
Cell Biology
Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
Ecology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Cancer
Infectious Diseases
Computational Biology
two sampling localities
significant genetic differentiation
recognized endemic focus
potential epidemiological implications
pooled samples revealed
border collaborative efforts
sand fly bites
phylogenetic analysis based
leishmania tropica </
first confirmed record
phlebotomus sergenti </
leishmania </
first record
sergenti </
sand flies
molecular analysis
trypanosoma </
bartonella </
wolbachia endosymbionts
west asia
vl ),
study represents
south asia
residential areas
populations clustered
north africa
neighboring countries
morphological examination
metagenomic screening
livestock pens
july 2023
field investigations
enhanced surveillance
distribution map
cytochrome b
cyt b
critical gap
borne diseases
artux city
akto county
145 specimens
<div>
<p>Background</p><p>Leishmaniasis is a severe parasitic disease transmitted by sand fly bites. <i>Phlebotomus sergenti</i> is a principal vector of <i>Leishmania tropica</i>, causing anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) across the Mediterranean, North Africa, South Asia, and West Asia. The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, located in northwestern China, is a well-recognized endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), with sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis cases also documented in the region. Nevertheless, <i>Ph. sergenti</i> has never been reported in China prior to this study.</p>
<p>Methodology/principal findings</p><p>Field investigations were carried out in Artux City (July 2023) and Akto County (August–September 2024), Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Sand flies were collected using light traps in livestock pens and residential areas. A total of 2,013 sand fly specimens were collected and 319 of them were identified through morphological examination of the pharynx, spermathecae, and genitalia, combined with molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes. Among the identified specimens, 145 specimens were identified as <i>Ph. sergenti</i> (36 from Artux City, 109 from Akto County), representing the first record of this species in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on COI and Cyt b sequences showed that Chinese <i>Ph. sergenti</i> populations clustered with those from neighboring countries (e.g., Afghanistan), with no significant genetic differentiation between the two sampling localities. Metagenomic screening of pooled samples revealed the presence of Wolbachia endosymbionts but no detection of <i>Leishmania</i> spp., <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. or <i>Bartonella</i> spp. in the collected <i>Ph. sergenti</i> specimens.</p>
<p>Conclusions/significance</p><p>This study represents the first confirmed record of <i>Ph. sergenti</i> in China, filling a critical gap in the distribution map of this medically important sand fly species. The occurrence of <i>Ph. sergenti</i> at the China—Kyrgyzstan border region suggests potential transboundary dispersal of this vector and underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and cross-border collaborative efforts to monitor the spread of leishmaniasis and other vector-borne diseases in Central Asia.</p></div>
2026-10-05T17:58:42Z
Dataset
Dataset
10.1371/journal.pntd.0014726.t002
https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_Sand_fly_specimen_identification_results_p_/34074357
CC BY 4.0