A Simple Key for Identifying the Sibling Species of the Malaria Vector Anopheles gambiae (Giles) Complex by Polytene Chromosome Cytogenetics

Music Temitope Obembe,Idowu Awopetu,Michael Awodiran

doi:10.15835/nsb10110182

Abstract

It has been established that Anopheles gambiae complex sibling species are the major Plasmodium malaria vectors in Africa; however, not all the sibling species transmit the infection. Easier molecular methods, PCR-based assays, have been developed to distinguish the several members of the A. gambiae complex. However, malaria vector research in less developed countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, is being hampered by the lack of PCR facilities in laboratories and the cost of carrying out the assay within lack of funding. Hence, the present study was designed to develop a simple identification key, based on an affordable method of polytene chromosome cytotaxonomy, for identifying the major P. falciparum vectors. The Identification Key was successfully used to identify two members of the A. gambiae complex, A. gambiae sensu stricto and A. arabiensis, which are the most potent malaria vectors in Africa; even so, it could not be used to establish the infective and the refractory strains.

Highlights

Malaria remains a major burden to human health in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, where Plamodium malaria is the most prevalent and infectious (WHO, 1993; Hoffman et al, 1996; Davidson, 2000; WHO, 2009)
The A. gambiae complex members are the dominant vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (Sinka et al, 2010; Gregory and Yoosook, 2013)
A. gambiae complex consists of eight sibling species, which include A. gambiae sensu stricto Giles; A. bwambae White; A. merus Dönitz; A

Summary

Introduction

Malaria remains a major burden to human health in the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world, where Plamodium malaria is the most prevalent and infectious (WHO, 1993; Hoffman et al, 1996; Davidson, 2000; WHO, 2009). Plasmodium consists of four species, P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale that cause human malaria (Nonstrand, 1978). P. falciparum is the most deadly (Hoffman et al, 1996; Miller and Marley, 1999). Sub-Saharan Africa, suffers from the highest global malaria transmission levels, and high mortality rate due to malaria (Fontenille and Simard, 2004; Hay et al, 2005 and 2009); in Nigeria alone, ninety percent of malaria infections are caused by P. falciparum. The A. gambiae complex members are the dominant vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa (Sinka et al, 2010; Gregory and Yoosook, 2013). A. gambiae complex consists of eight sibling species, which include A. gambiae sensu stricto Giles; A. bwambae White; A. merus Dönitz; A

Methods

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Conclusion