First Record of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae), Vector of Leishmania infantum and Phleboviruses, in Spain

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

General comment

This is an important article that describes, morphologically and molecularly, the presence of Phlebotomus perfiliewi, a confirmed vector of L. infantum and phleboviruses, in the Balearic Islands (and Spain) for the first time, being the most westerly location where the species has ever been reported. The finding is therefore important from epidemiological and entomological perspectives. Given the significance of the finding identification must be unequivocal and although I believe it is sufficiently demonstrated, it could certainly be improved in two ways:

(i) morphological identification of females: by providing pictures of the base of the spermathecal ducts, which differ from other morphologically similar species such as P. perniciosus and other P. perfiliewi complex subspecies such as P. galilaeus.

(ii) molecularly:

-          specify % query cover of the COI sequence

-          compare with additional P. perniciosus sequences and other important sympatric vector species such as P. ariasi and P. neglectus.

-          contemplate the possibility of analyzing a additional genes, used by other sand fly taxonomists (Cyt B, ITS2). You mention in L179 that COI is superior but no reference or explanation is provided.

 

Other points

The use of references needs some improvements:

L33: according to a recent ECDC report, autochthonous cases of leishmaniosis have been reported from more than 9 countries. Please check: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/leishmaniasis

L46-47: The following sentence is not very informative, almost misleading: “However, other sand fly species have also been highlighted in other European countries to be involved in the transmission of diseases such as Phlebotomus papatasi (Scolopi, 1976) and Phlebotomus perfiliewi s.l. Parrot, 1930.” If you decide to talk about the vectorial role of Phlebotomus spp you should specifically mention which species transmit what pathogens. Outside Spain, major L. infantum vectors in Europe include as P. tobbii and P. neglectus, as well as P. perfiliewi, and P. papatasi is a main vector of Sandfly Sicilian Phlebovirus.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript “First record of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of  Leishmania infantum and phleboviruses, in Spain” identifies Phlebotomus perfiliewi s.l. for the first time in Mallorca, the largest island of the Balearic Islands, Spain. This short-communication is of interest regarding the distribution of Phlebotomina in Spain. Furthermore, perfiliewi is the vector of Leishmania infantum, a parasitosis that is becoming endemic in many European territories. The paper is well written, well structured in its materials and methods. The results are well presented and detailed: the morphological description of the phlebotomes and the molecular analyses.

Just one correction I would request: in the abstract the authors should remove the abbreviations, and in the introduction they should adjust the abbreviations: use it in all the words Phlebotomus and not sometimes.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The article: First record of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae), vector of Leishmania infantum and phleboviruses, in Spain. 

The reported study provides new information about the detection of Ph. perfiliewi in Spain, specifically on the Island of Mallorca. The manuscript merits publication after some minor corrections. 

The quality of Figures 1 and 2 needs to be improved. The same degree of magnification should be used throughout, indicating the scale. Also, the morphological structures described in the text that allow the species to be identified should be marked. 

In the Results section, all the sampling locations should be provided, and not only the two where Ph. Perfiliewi was detected.  

Please include a table that provides all the measurements. As there are only 37 specimens, the full range of measurements can be indicated. 

If, in addition to these two species, other Phlebotomus species were caught, they should be named. 

I congratulate the group of researchers on this finding. Also, the authors are right to stress the importance of working with different techniques (morphological and molecular) for correct identification. 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

I congratulate the group of researchers on this finding.