Biochemical identification of Phlebotomus (larroussius) pedifer and Phlebotomous (larroussius) elegonensis

Abstract Females of the vector of Leishmania aethiopica, Phlebotomus pedifer , have previously been morphologically indistinguishable from the non-vector, P. elegonensis . The present studies have biochemically separated these two species. Differences were observed in the mobility of four enzymes, GPI, HK, ICD and PGM on thin-layer starch gel electrophoresis. Using the isoelectric focusing technique, the two species could be differentiated by one enzyme, GPI.