Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 3 2 2009 12 15 22 35 EN A Absavaran Departement of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Y Rassi Departement of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran P Parvizi Department of Parasitology, Institute of Pasteur, Tehran, Iran MA Oshaghi Departement of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran MR Abaie Departement of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran S Rafizadeh Center of Disease Control, Tehran, Iran M Mohebali Department of Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Z Zarea Institute of Public Health Research, Meshkinshahr Health Research Station, Iran E Javadian Departement of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran 2015 10 03 Background: The adult female sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of the subgenus Larroussius are important vectors of Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Tripanosomatidae) in Meshkinshahr district, Northwest of Iran. Four Phle­boto­mus (Larroussius) species are present in this area, i.e. Phlebotomus (Larroussius) kandelakii, P. (La.) major, P. (La.) perfiliewi and P. (La.) tobbi. The objective of the present study was to identify and distinguish the females of P. per­filiewi, P. major and P. tobbi, in this district. Methods: Adult sand flies were collected with sticky papers, CDC light traps, and aspirator in 2006. Individual sand flies of this four species from thirty different locations were characterized morphologically and by comparative DNA se­quences analyses of a fragment of mitochondrial gene Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and nuclear gene Elongation Factor 1- al­pha (EF-1α). PCR amplification was carried out for all three species P. major, P. perfiliewi and P. tobbi in the sub­ge­nus Larroussius. Results: Phylogenetic analyses of P. major populations in this study displayed two different populations and genetic di­ver­sity. Spermathecal segment number, pharyngeal armature and other morphological characters of these three spe­cies were examined and found to present consistent interspecific differences. Conclusion: According to our findings, the phylogeny of Cyt b and EF-1α haplotypes confirms the relationships be­tween P. major, P. tobbi and P. perfiliewi as already defined by their morphological similarities. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/52 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/52/50