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Spatial distribution of adult Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles albimanus in relation to riparian habitats in Belize, Central America.

Collections of Anopheles darlingi Root and An. albimanus Wiedemann from central and northern Belize were conducted as landing captures from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. to define spatial distributions and outdoor:indoor ratios of biting during the early evening. In central Belize, collections were made at 31 houses in riparian zones (> or = 1 km from rivers) and 14 houses in upland zones (>1 km from rivers) during the dry and wet seasons of 1993 and 1994. Females of both species were abundant in houses < or = 1 km from rivers. Females were not present in houses located in upland areas during the dry season, but were present in the wet season. A total of 63 paired collections (representing 130 individual captures) from 42 houses showed An. darlingi females were more endophagic (ratio of 1:0.6) during the early evening than were An. albimanus females (ratio of 1:0.21). Paired landing collections from 22 houses in riparian zones in April-May were analyzed in an index of species abundance (ISA). ISA values rated An. darlingi as the dominant Anopheles mosquito indoors and An. albimanus was dominant outside. Although An. darlingi and An. albimanus were abundant in riparian zones, there was no association in their numerical abundance, suggesting that different environmental factors influenced their abundance. In northern Belize, one house for each of 16 villages was sampled during April and May 1994. Large numbers ofAn. albimanus were captured outdoors in houses located in riparian and marshland areas (means of 217.5 and 247.5/1.5 personhours outdoors, respectively). Numbers of An. albimanus were low at houses located away from rivers and marshes (12.2 per collection). Anopheles darlingi was uncommon at sites in northern Belize. Proportionally fewer An. albimanus females entered houses in the north (outdoor:indoor ratio of 1:0.16) compared to the central region (ratio of 1:0.21), which probably reflects differences in house construction, anti-mosquito behavior (i.e., closing windows and doors at sunset), and insecticide treatments. The ISA gave a quantitative assessment of vector dominance in relation to the parameters of spatial distribution and numerical abundance. The index was also sensitive to the variables of indoor and outdoor biting behaviors.

Animals↗

Anopheles parensis: the main member of the Anopheles funestus species group found resting inside human dwellings in Mwea area of central Kenya toward the end of the rainy season.

A total of 460 Anopheles funestus s.l. was collected inside human dwellings in Mwea, central Kenya. Of the 414 specimens that were positively identified, 1 was Anopheles leesoni and the others were Anopheles parensis. None of the 373 specimens tested were positive for Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium malariae sporozoites by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the 139 ELISA blood-meal-positive specimens, 82.01% and 1.44% had fed on cattle and humans, respectively. These results are discussed in the context of implications for malaria control through vector-control strategies.

Animals↗

Comparison of life table attributes from newly established colonies of Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles vestitipennis in northern Belize.

A life table study was conducted for recently established colonies of Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles vestitipennis in Belize, Central America. The colonies were reared in the northern Orange Walk District under uncontrolled environmental conditions (29-32 degrees C, 87-90% RH, and 13:11 L:D photoperiod). The mean time of larval development for An. albimanus was 10.8 days for males and 11.7 days for females. Mean times for An. vestitipennis larval development were 11.3 days for males and 13.5 days for females. Anopheles albimanus exhibited a 92% survival rate from egg hatch to adult emergence, while that of An. vestitipennis was 82%. Neither species showed a sex ratio that was significantly different from 1:1. Adult male An. albimanus lived for an average of 13.6 days, while the females lived for an average of 21.2 days. The An. vestitipennis adult males lived for a mean of 14.8 days, while the females lived considerably longer with a mean of 25.6 days. The reproductive rate and age of mean cohort reproduction were calculated as 287 and 11.3 days for An. albimanus and 302 and 13.4 days for An. vestitipennis. The r/B and B/D ratios of 0.13 and 1.15, respectively, for An. albimanus and 0.1 and 1.1, respectively, for An. vestitipennis indicate that these species have a low potential for colonization.

Animals↗

[Recent observations on the sensitivity to pyrethroids and DDT of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus in the central Highlands of Madagascar; preliminary results on the absence of the kdr mutation in An. arabiensis].

Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus are the principal vectors of malaria on the central highlands of Madagascar. These two species of mosquito are directly or indirectly the targets of indoor insecticide spread. The survey of the susceptibility of these two vectors to insecticides is essential specifying for the anti-vectorial current directives and for the future programs. This paper describes: --the recent tests of susceptibility and the study of the knock-down effect of four pyrethroids (deltamethrin 0.50%, permethrin 0.250%, alpha-cypermethrin 0.025%, cyfluthrin 0.150%) and DDT 4% on An. arabiensis collected from December 2002 to May 2003 in three villages on the district of Tsiroanomandidy and in Alasora, a rural area near the capital, Antananarivo. --the susceptibility tests of An. funestus realised in Morafeno, against cyfluthrin 0.150%, deltaméthrin 0.050%, lambda-cyhalothrin 0.050% and DDT 4%. --the preliminary study of the kdr gene mutation, which might account for the pyrethrinoid and DDT resistance, of An. arabiensis in Alasora. The data indicate a decrease in the efficiency of alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% (Tkd99 = 21 mn) and of DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 191.5 mn) on An. arabiensis in Analamiranga. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of permethrin 0.250% has been notified. In Soanierana, alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% was effective against An. arabiensis, whilst the ineffectiveness of the DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 116 mn) in Andranonahoatra was observed. In Alasora, a fall in the effectiveness of alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% (Tkd99 = 21 mn) and the resistance to DDT 4% (Tkd99 = 6894 mn) was noted. No kdr mutation was detected on the kd gene of An. arabiensis resistant to the alpha-cypermethrin 0.025% and to DDT 4%, collected in Alasora. An. funestus collected in the district of Miandrivazo is susceptible to pyrethroids and to DDT. To conclude, in the Malagasy Central Highlands, An. arabiensis is ordinary sensitive to pyrethroid and poorly sensitive, or even resistant to DDT (as observed in Antananarivo plain). However, An. funestus remains sensitive to all tested insecticides; this observation is crucial because this anopheles vector is the first target of the campaigns of indoor spraying insecticides.

Altitude↗

[Comparative studies on the role of Anopheles anthropophagus and Anopheles sinensis in malaria transmission in China].

This paper reports on the studies of the role of Anopheles anthropophagus and Anopheles sinensis in malaria transmission in a sense to elucidate which one of the two species the predominance in this respect. Systematic investigations including artificial infection of mosquitoes, quantitative entomological studies and parasitological research were conducted in 1982-1987 in 5 pilot areas in Anhui (1), Guangxi (2), Sichuan (1) and Guangdong (1). The results revealed that the susceptibility of An. anthropophagus to Plasmodium falciparum was significantly higher than that of An. sifefsis. The oocyst rate and sporozoite rate of the former were 27.9% and 10.9%, while those of the latter being 11.3% and 3.0%. Significant difference in natural infection rate of the two species was also observed. The mean sporozoite rate of An. anthropophagus was 0.58% (105/17984), and that of An. sinensis was 0.02% (4/17718). Taking several essential parameters (man-biting rate, human blood index, vectorial capacity and entomological inoculation rate) into consideration, the role of An. anthropophagus in malaria transmission was 20 times more vigorous than that of An. sinensis. The malaria incidence and parasite rate of the inhabitants in site were closely related to the proportion of An. anthropophagus in human dwellings. According to the survey pursued in 1983; An. anthropophagus was the major vector playing an important role in the outbreak of vivax malaria in Shenzhen. The preceding results disclosed the important role of Anopheles anthropophagus in the transmission of falciparum and vivax malaria. The findings are of significance in the stratification of malaria endemic areas of the country and the analysis of current situation and programming malaria control measures as well.

Animals↗

Distribution of the species of the Anopheles gambiae complex and first evidence of Anopheles merus as a malaria vector in Madagascar.

BACKGROUND: Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are amongst the best malaria vectors in the world, but their vectorial capacities vary between species and populations. A large-scale sampling of An. gambiae sensu lato was carried out in various bioclimatic domains of Madagascar. Local abundance of an unexpected member of this complex raised questions regarding its role in malaria transmission. METHODS: Sampling took place at 38 sites and 2,067 females were collected. Species assessment was performed using a PCR targeting a sequence in the IGS of the rDNA. Analysis focused on the relative prevalence of the species per site, bioclimatic domain and altitude. Infectivity of Anopheles merus was assessed using an ELISA to detect the presence of malarial circumsporozoite protein in the head-thorax. RESULTS: Three species were identified: An. gambiae, Anopheles arabiensis and An. merus. The distribution of each species is mainly a function of bioclimatic domains and, to a lesser extent, altitude. An. arabiensis is present in all bioclimatic domains with highest prevalence in sub-humid, dry and sub-arid domains. An. gambiae has its highest prevalence in the humid domain, is in the minority in dry areas, rare in sub-humid and absent in sub-arid domains. An. merus is restricted to the coastal fringe in the south and west; it was in the majority in one southern village. The majority of sites were sympatric for at least two of the species (21/38) and two sites harboured all three species.The role of An. merus as malaria vector was confirmed in the case of two human-biting females, which were ELISA-positive for Plasmodium falciparum. CONCLUSION: Despite the huge environmental (mainly man-made) changes in Madagascar, the distribution of An. gambiae and An. arabiensis appears unchanged for the past 35 years. The distribution of An. merus is wider than was previously known, and its effectiveness as a malaria vector has been shown for the first time; this species is now on the list of Malagasy malaria vectors.

Journal Article↗

OBSERVATIONS ON THE DETERMINATION OF THE AGE COMPOSITION AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF POPULATIONS OF ANOPHELES GAMBIAE GILES AND ANOPHELES FUNESTUS GILES IN TANGANYIKA.

Following a request from the World Health Organization an investigation was undertaken to determine whether the method developed by Polovodova in the USSR for determining the physiological age of female anophelines could be applied to the two main vectors of malaria in Africa, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus.It was demonstrated that Polovodova's method was fully applicable to these African species. The greater difficulties encountered in determining the age of these species, as compared with A. maculipennis, are due to the smaller size of A. gambiae and A. funestus and to the paucity of ovarioles in which follicular degeneration has occurred.Among the mosquitos examined during a short-term investigation were individuals that had completed up to nine ovipositions. Among the mosquitos infected with sporozoites were females that had completed between three and seven ovipositions. Observations on the numbers of eggs developing in gravid females showed that, in these African species, there was no clear-cut fall in fecundity with age, such as occurs in A. maculipennis.

Africa↗

Laboratory evaluation of fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, against adult Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) and investigation of its possible cross-resistance with dieldrin in Anopheles stephensi.

Adult mosquitoes from two strains of Anopheles gambiae and from three strains of Anopheles stephensi were exposed to 0.25% fipronil-treated papers in WHO test kits or to 500 mg fipronil m-2 impregnated mosquito netting in bioassay spheres. For comparison, tests were also carried out with the pyrethroid permethrin, using the same methods and doses, and on papers treated with 0.4 and 4% of the cyclodiene insecticide dieldrin. Compared with the same doses of permethrin, fipronil showed less and delayed activity. Two of the An stephensi strains were resistant to fipronil and dieldrin. To investigate whether this was due to a resistance mechanism in the An stephensi strains acting against both insecticides, the most fipronil- and dieldrin-tolerant strain was further selected in two separate lines with one of the insecticides, followed by tests with the insecticide that the line had not been selected with. This indicated a concomitant rise of resistance to dieldrin in the fipronil-selected line and vice versa. Repeated back-crossing of the two lines with a susceptible strain and re-selection with either dieldrin or fipronil gave evidence for the involvement of a single resistance mechanisms to both insecticides. Permethrin resistance in both lines declined with selection for dieldrin or fipronil and confirms the absence of cross-resistance between fipronil and pyrethroids.

Animals↗

The ITS2 ribosomal DNA of Anopheles beklemishevi and further remarks on the phylogenetic relationships within the Anopheles maculipennis group of species (Diptera: Culicidae).

Anopheles beklemishevi specimens from Russia were analysed by their ITS2 ribosomal DNA sequence to amend and to specify the phylogenetic tree of the Anopheles maculipennis species complex. Surprisingly, with 638 base pairs, the ITS2 regions of all the 34 An beklemishevi specimens examined were considerably longer than those of all their sibling species. Sequence alignment with GenBank derived sequences of the other siblings was only possible in the beginning (for approx. 335 bp) and at the end (for approx. 150 bp) of the PCR-amplified DNA fragment, whereas in the middle, the An beklemishevi DNA sequence found no counterpart in sequences of the other siblings. Closer analysis of this intermediate part suggests a duplicated insertion of about 140 bp that has undergone subsequent mutational changes. Due to this large putative insertion, computerized phylogenetic analysis by the Bayesian inference method locates An beklemishevi in a closer relationship to the nearctic than to the palaearctic sibling species. However, when only ITS2 regions are compared, that have corresponding sequences in the other siblings, An beklemishevi forms a lineage with the palaearctic species although it is still most remotely related. It is hypothesized that during the evolution An beklemishevi separated first from the common ancestor of the palaearctic species, which had presumably made its way from the Nearctic to the Palaearctic.

Animals↗

Isolation of Japanese encephalitis virus from Anopheles annularis and Anopheles vagus in Lombok, Indonesia.

Three strains of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus were recorded from mosquitoes collected in Lombok, Indonesia, during March 1979, from pools of Anopheles vagus, An. annularis and Culex tritaeniorhynchus respectively. This is believed to be the first report of isolation of JE virus from An. vagus. The frequencies of JE viral infection in zoophilic Anopheles species were higher than in Cx tritaeniorhynchus, the principle vector of JE virus in Asia. The low frequency of infection in Cx tritaeniorhynchus and the relatively infrequent raising of pigs may account for the low prevalence of JE neutralizing antibodies in the human populations of Lombok.

Animals↗

The effects of rainfall and evapotranspiration on the temporal dynamics of Anopheles gambiae s.s. and Anopheles arabiensis in a Kenyan village.

The population dynamics of the larval and adult life stages of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae Giles were studied in Miwani, western Kenya, in relation to meteorological conditions. Larval density within a habitat, the number of larval habitats and sibling species composition were investigated as determinants of larval population dynamics. Female vector densities inside local houses and sibling species composition were investigated as determinants of adult population dynamics. Larval densities were estimated using a modified area-sampling method. Within the habitats, all instars showed a highly aggregated distribution, with the exception of second instars. A longitudinal study on the larval populations of A. gambiae s.l. in two different types of habitat (dirt track and ditch) was carried out, using a novel sampling procedure. A. gambiae s.s. and Anopheles arabiensis, the two sibling species occurring sympatrically in the study area, showed some spatial segregation between the two types of habitat. Rainfall was significantly correlated with the number of A. gambiae s.l. larval habitats during the first 6 weeks of study taking 1 week time lag into account, while over the entire 5-month study period correlations were less clear. With 1 week time lag, rainfall was also significantly correlated with the number of female A. gambiae s.l. collected from CDC-light traps in the study houses. Both larval and adult populations showed a significant increase in the proportion of A. gambiae s.s. within the mixed population of A. gambiae s.s. and A. arabiensis over time. Although not significantly correlated, the ratio of rainfall over precipitation/potential evapotranspiration (P/PE), indicative of the humidity conditions in the area, was probably the driving force of this increase.

Animals↗

Chymotrypsin genes in the malaria mosquitoes Anopheles aquasalis and Anopheles darlingi.

Four closely related chymotrypsin genes were identified in Anopheles aquasalis and Anopheles darlingi (Anachy1, Anachy2, Andchy1 and Andchy2). The deduced amino-acid sequences were compared to other chymotrypsin sequences. These sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among the different species. Genomic cloning revealed that, in contrast to An. aquasalis and A. gambiae, the chymotrypsin genomic locus in An. darlingi had a short intergenic region that accompanied the inverted position of the genes, suggesting inversion mechanisms in this species related to transposable elements. Alignments of the sequences upstream of the transcription start sites of Anachy1, Anachy2, Andchy1 and Andchy2 revealed areas with high similarity containing palindromic sequences. Northern analysis from An. aquasalis indicated that the transcription of chy 1 and 2 are induced by blood feeding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of genetic variability in Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae using microsatellite loci.

We analysed genetic variability in Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae populations using microsatellite loci to determine whether the Rift Valley restricts the flow of genes. Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations were significant, and were most likely to be due to the high frequency of null alleles observed. An. arabiensis populations occurring between 40 and 700 km apart across the Eastern arm of the Rift Valley were not differentiated (pair-wise F(ST) range: 0.0033-0.0265, P > 0.05). Neither were An. gambiae populations from Asembo Bay and Ghana (F(ST): 0.0063, P > 0.05) despite a geographical separation of about 5000 km. In contrast, significant differentiation was observed between An. gambiae populations from Asembo Bay and Kilifi (about 700 km apart; F(ST) = 0.1249, P < 0.01), suggesting the presence of a barrier to gene flow.

Alleles↗

PCR assay for identification of Anopheles quadriannulatus species B from Ethiopia and other sibling species of the Anopheles gambiae complex.

Sibling species A and B of Anopheles quadriannulatus (Theobald) are recognized as allopatric members of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex of Afrotropical mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Species A represents An. quadriannulatus sensu stricto, widespread in southern Africa, whereas An. quadriannulatus species B occurs in Ethiopia. Because of difficulty of identification, distribution of An. quadriannulatus sensu lato remains poorly known. Cytotaxonomy and the standard DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay do not distinguish between species A and B of An. quadriannulatus. By optimizing the standard PCR assay (Scott et al., 1993) for identification of members of the An. gambiae complex, we identified two discriminant fragments of 153 bp and 900 bp from DNA of An. quadriannulatus species B, whereas only the 153 bp fragment was amplified for species A from South Africa. This modified PCR assay can therefore be used to distinguish between species A and B of An. quadriannulatus s.l. as well as other members of the An. gambiae complex.

Africa, Southern↗

Seasonal density, sporozoite rates and entomological inoculation rates of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus in a high-altitude sugarcane growing zone in Western Kenya.

An entomological study was conducted on vectors of malaria and their relative contribution to Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Mumias, a high-altitude site and large-scale sugarcane growing zone in Kakamega district, western Kenya. Anopheles gambiae s.l., the predominant vector species, represented 84% (n=2667) of the total Anopheles mosquitoes collected with An. funestus comprising only 16%. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified all 600 specimens of the An. gambiae complex tested as An. gambiae sensu stricto, an indication that it is the only sibling species represented in the high-altitude sites in western Kenya. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rates of 6.3% (133/2118) for An. gambiae s.l. and 9.5% (38/402) for An. funestus by ELISA were obtained in Mumias. None of 1600 mosquitoes tested for P. malariae sporozoites was positive. ELISA tests of mosquito blood meals indicated a high tendency of anthropophagy, a behaviour contributing significantly to malaria transmission by the vector species, with 95.9%, 4.86% and 0.2% having taken at least one blood meal on human, bovine and avian hosts, respectively Malaria transmission intensity was low as revealed by the low entomological inoculation rates (EIR) recorded. The EIR values for An. gambiae s.l. were 29.2 infective bites per person per year (ib/p/year) and 17.5 ib/p/year for An. funestus in Mumias. The highest inoculation rate for both vector species was 7.0 ib/p/month in July. Plasmodium falciparum parasite rate among asymptomatic children was 55.4% and 44% in the wet (July-September) and dry (December-February) seasons, respectively. These results indicate that malaria transmission intensity in the high-altitude site is low but perennial, with transmission being maintained by An. gambiae s.s. and An. funestus.

Agriculture↗

Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Anopheles funestus mosquito distributions at 30 villages along the Kenyan coast.

This study investigated whether Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Anopheles funestus Giles mosquito populations were distributed randomly among houses on the coast of Kenya. Sample means and variances of mosquitoes were estimated from bimonthly pyrethrum spray collections at 30 villages from July 1997 through May 1998. In total, 5,476 An. gambiae s.l. and 3,461 An. funestus were collected. The number of An. gambiae s.l. collected was highest in November/December and lowest in May. The number of An. funestus collected was highest during September/October and lowest during May. As the density of mosquitoes decreased, there was a tendency toward randomness in the distribution. The proportion of An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus mosquitoes collected per house for each sampling period also showed patterns of clustering, with 80% of An. gambiae s.l. collected from <30% of the houses and 80% of An. funestus collected from <20% of the total houses. The total number of mosquitoes collected from any one house ranged from 0 to 121 for An. gambiae s.l. and from 0 to 152 for An. funestus. This coupled with the results of the variance to mean ratio plots suggests extensive clustering in the distribution of An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus mosquito populations throughout the year along the coast of Kenya.

Animals↗

Evidence for recent population expansion in the evolutionary history of the malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae.

Gene flow in malaria vectors is usually estimated based on differentiation indices (e.g., F(ST)) in order to predict the contemporary spread of genes such as those conferring resistance to insecticides. This approach is reliant on a number of assumptions, the most crucial, and the one most likely to be violated in these species, being mutation-migration-drift equilibrium. Tests of this assumption for the African malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis are the focus of this study. We analyzed variation at 18 microsatellite loci and the ND5 region of the mitochondrial genome in two populations of each species. Equilibrium was rejected by six of eight tests for the A. gambiae population from western Kenya and by three tests in eastern Kenya. In western Kenya, all departures from equilibrium were consistent with a recent population expansion, but in eastern Kenya, there were traces of a recent expansion and a bottleneck. Equilibrium was also rejected by two of the eight tests for both A. arabiensis populations; the departure from equilibrium was consistent with an expansion. These multiple-locus tests detected a genomewide effect and therefore a demographic event rather than a locus-specific effect, as would be caused by selection. Disequilibrium due to a recent expansion in these species implies that rates of gene flow, as inferred from differentiation indices, are overestimates as they include a historical component. We argue that the same effect applies to the majority of pest species due to the correlation of their demography with that of humans.

Africa↗

Anopheles (Anopheles) neomaculipalpus: a new malaria vector in the Amazon basin?

Anopheles (Anopheles) neomaculipalpus Curry (Diptera: Culicidae) collected by human landing catches and light traps in southern Venezuela were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Plasmodium circumsporozoite (CS) protein. A total of 356 An. neomaculipalpus were collected, of which three (0.84%) were positive for P. vivax, two for the variant 247 and one for the variant 210. The overall sporozoite rate in An. neomaculipalpus was similar to that for the principal vector An. (Nyssorhynchus) darlingi Root (0.82%) and higher than in An. (Nys.) marajoara Galvão & Damasceno (0.27%). This is the first report of An. neomaculipalpus naturally infected with Plasmodium parasites in Venezuela.

Animals↗