First record of Phlebotomus (Larroussius) orientalis (Parrot, 1936) (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Israel: phylogeographic placement and implications for leishmaniasis surveillance

Phlebotomus orientalis is a confirmed vector of L. donovani, the main agent of visceral leishmaniasis in East Africa. Its detection as a distinct and apparently long-established lineage in the Negev, in a region where parasites of the L. donovani complex are already involved in cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission, highlights the need to clarify the distribution, ecology, and host preferences of Ph. orientalis in Israel. Further studies are required to characterize its spatial and seasonal occurrence, evaluate its vector competence for L. donovani and L. infantum, and assess its potential contribution to current and future leishmaniasis transmission risks.