Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41068953›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2025

Hidden in plain sight: discovery of sand flies in Singapore and description of four species new to science.

Huicong Ding, Majhalia Torno, Khamsing Vongphayloth, Germaine Ng, Denise Tan, Wendy Sng, Kelvin Ho, Fano José Randrianambinintsoa, Jérôme Depaquit, Cheong Huat Tan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Huicong Ding *Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6155-2771
Majhalia Torno *Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-6043-6893
Khamsing VongphaylothUniversité de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR ESCAPE, ANSES USC PETARD, Reims, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4844-8547
Germaine NgEnvironmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-1694-4051
Denise TanEnvironmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138667, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9858-0514
Wendy SngAnimal & Veterinary Service, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-5024-9941
Kelvin HoAnimal & Veterinary Service, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569, Singapore.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-1970-1082
Fano José RandrianambinintsoaUniversité de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR ESCAPE, ANSES USC PETARD, Reims, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9654-1850
Jérôme DepaquitUniversité de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, UR ESCAPE, ANSES USC PETARD, Reims, France. jerome.depaquit@univ-reims.fr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6995-0088
Cheong Huat TanEnvironmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore, 138667, Singapore. TAN_Cheong_Huat@nea.gov.sg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-9721

Funding

Ministry of Finance, Singapore xxxxxx
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are tiny, blood-sucking insects that are of significant public and veterinary health importance for their role in the transmission of Leishmania parasites, bacteria, and arboviruses. Although sand flies have been documented in most Southeast Asian countries, there are no published records confirming their presence in Singapore. Here, we present this fauna with descriptions of new species.

methodsSand fly species identification was confirmed using an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphological analysis with DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes.

resultsWe identified eight sand fly species, including four newly described species: Phlebotomus seowpohi n. sp., Sergentomyia leechingae n. sp., Sergentomyia gubleri n. sp., and Sergentomyia retrocalcarae n. sp. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the new Phlebotomus species, belonging to subgenus Euphlebotomus, is closely related to Phlebotomus argentipes, an important vector of Leishmania donovani from the South Asian region.

conclusionsThe potential risk of leishmaniasis in Singapore is compounded by the recent detection of antibodies to Leishmania infantum in local free-roaming dogs. Therefore, continuous monitoring is essential to assess and manage the risk of disease agent transmission, support the development of an early warning system, and enable timely and targeted public health interventions. The findings of this study contribute to the global knowledge on sand flies and enhance our understanding of local fauna diversity and distribution.

Indexed as

Insect VectorsPsychodidaeAnimalsCytochromes bDNA Barcoding, TaxonomicElectron Transport Complex IVFemaleLeishmaniasisMalePhlebotomusPhylogenySingaporeCytochromes bElectron Transport Complex IVIntegrative taxonomyLeishmaniaPhlebotominaePhlebotomusSergentomyiaSoutheast Asia

Identifiers

PMID41068953
PMCPMC12512794

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.