Identification of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry
Abstract Background Phlebotomine sand flies are incriminated in the transmission of several human and veterinary pathogens.To elucidate their role as vectors, proper species identification is crucial.Since traditional morphological determination is based on minute and often dubious characteristics on their head and genitalia, which require certain