Diverzitet i distribucija peščanih mušica (Diptera, Phlebotominae) na teritoriji Srbije / Diversity and distribution of sand flies (Diptera, Phlebotominae) in Serbia

Phlebotomines (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae) are small fragile insects commonly known as sand flies (in Serbian: peščane mušice, papatači). Females are feeding on blood and they are capable to transmit parasitic protozoans from genus Leishmania (causative agent of leishmaniasis) and several phleboviruses (causative agents of sand fly fevers). Intensive sand fly research in Serbia was conducted during the years of the leishmaniasis and sand fly fever outbreaks, mainly in the infested areas. Sand fly research in Serbia was initiated in 1947 and ended in 1990, soon after the sand fly population density significantly diminished and leishmaniasis has been considered eradicated. During this period presence of seven species from Phlebotomus genus were detected – Phlebotomus papatasi, P. perfiliewi, P. tobbi, P. neglectus, P. simici, P. sergenti and P. balcanicus. Although leishmaniasis in Serbia is considered to be eradicated, for the past two decades sporadic human and dog cases were reported. It is suspected that the number of reported cases is higher, but real number remains unknown due to the underreporting and misdiagnosing especially among canine populations. This information suggested that both parasite and vector species are present and implicated the possibility of autochthonous transmission. Regarding these information, sand fly surveillance is resumed in 2013. Entomological surveillance of sand flies started in 2013 in Vojvodina Province, in 2014 it was extended to south-east Serbia and in 2015 to west Serbia. In period 2013-2016 in total 10 species of sand flies were recorded. Seven species were previously detected and 3 are new for sand fly fauna of Serbia. Obtained data provide insight in composition of sand fly fauna of Serbia after a gap of several decades. Within this thesis, detailed morphological descriptions of each recorded species, their distribution around the world and Serbia are given and elaborated. For the first time, the key for morphological identification of species present in Serbia was designed in Serbian language (for males and for females, separately). Morphological identification of samples was for the first time confirmed by molecular methods and by MALDI-TOF method of protein profiling. Obtained sequences for P. papatasi, P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi, P. tobbi, P. mascittii and P. balcanicus are deposited in the GenBank, while obtained protein spectra for P. neglectus, P. perfiliewi, P. sergenti, P. mascittii and P. balcanicus will be attributed to special data bank (currently under establishment).