Abstract

The phlebotomine flies of the Verrucarum group are vectors of interest in public health because of their participation in the transmission of the tropical diseases: leishmaniasis and bartonellosis. The use of molecular markers, as a tool for the identification and genetic analysis of species that behave as potential and confirmed vectors, show a widely disseminated use that generates a set of information that is constantly updated, even more when the identification of these species is a priority in the countries where these diseases occur on a recurring basis. Objective: The paper presents a systematic review that aims at compiling and presenting an update on the use of molecular markers employed in species of the Verrucarum group. Materials and methods: This search was conducted in a range of relevant literature published in a period of 24 years which included 23 articles on the subject of genetics and molecular biology of sand flies, and 39 articles from other areas such as systematic, ecology of sand flies and microbiology of related pathogenic agents. Results: The results show the use of genes coding for ribosomal 18S RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I as the most effective to observe the phylogenetic relationships among species of the Verrucarum group; the use of the cytochrome b gene as alternative taxonomic character to correctly identify the sand flies, and the use of spacer sequences of the internal transcript of the ribosomal RNA and the Cytochrome b gene to determine the genetic variation of intra- and inter-specific populations. Conclusions: This review will contribute to phylogenetic studies of vectors of public health importance.