Abstract
BackgroundIn Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace equally affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies. However, entomologic knowledge of malaria vectors in such areas remains poor.MethodsMorphologically-identified wild-caught Anopheles funestus (s.l.) specimens trapped outdoors from the semi-arid to arid area of Kacheliba, West Pokot County, Kenya, were analysed by PCR and sequencing for species identification, malaria parasite infection and host blood-meal sources.ResultsThree hundred and thirty specimens were analysed to identify sibling species of the An. funestus group, none of which amplified using the available primers; two were infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium ovale, separately, while 84% (n = 25) of the blood-fed specimens had fed on humans. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences of 55 specimens (Plasmodium-positive, blood-fed and Plasmodium-negative) did not match reference sequences, possibly suggesting a previously unreported species, resolving as two clades.ConclusionsOur findings indicate the existence of yet-to-be identified and described anopheline species with a potential as malaria vectors in Kenya.
Highlights
In Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies
Previous studies have highlighted the importance of applying molecular approaches including sequencing in malaria entomologic surveillance, involving species among known vector complexes as in the Anopheles funestus group [1,2,3]
Anopheles funestus mosquitoes have been previously reported in semi-arid to arid areas of Kenya [4, 5]; these studies were not supported by molecular data
Summary
In Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of applying molecular approaches including sequencing in malaria entomologic surveillance, involving species among known vector complexes as in the Anopheles funestus group [1,2,3]. This way, the identity and distribution of the species including their bionomic roles in malaria transmission can be accurately and comprehensively determined to guide appropriate measures in their control [3]. Anopheles funestus mosquitoes have been previously reported in semi-arid to arid areas of Kenya [4, 5]; these studies were not supported by molecular data. While An. funestus (s.s.) is the most ubiquitous species in the An. funestus group, our recent findings
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