Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the populations of great gerbils, Rhombomys opimus, the main reservoir of cutaneous leishmaniasis

► Great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) is the main reservoir of Leishmania major in central and south Asia. ► We identified two major lineages within the species using the mtDNA cytochrome b gene analysis. ► DNA variation ranged 1-10% among populations, which were well associated with biogeographic origins. ► Cross hybridization revealed no pre- or post-zygotic barriers between the subspecies. ► The genetic variation rates between subspecies are high enough to lead them to speciation in future.