Abstract
BackgroundAnopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to apply effective control measures against this vector, it is necessary to understand the underlying physiological factors that play a critical role in its development, reproduction, fertility and susceptibility to insecticides. One enzyme family involved in the above mentioned biological pathways is the esterases. The aim of this study was to analyse esterase activity levels at different ages during the life-span of adult Anopheles funestus Giles in order to better understand the complex biological processes in this species.MethodsIsoenzyme electrophoresis (IEE) was used to examine the esterase activity in laboratory colonised An. funestus adults aged between 2 h (h) and 30 days post eclosion as well as in wild An. funestus adults aged between 2 h and 15 days post eclosion. Esterase activity was quantified by densitometry analysis of the IEE gels. Esterases were classified according to their activity inhibition by organic phosphates, eserine sulphate and sulphydryl reagents.ResultsNine esterases IEE profiles were common to both the laboratory colonised and wild An. funestus adults. These esterases were further divided into acetylesterases, arylesterases, carboxylesterases and acetylcholinesterase. The activity level of certain specific esterases was primarily influenced by age and/or gender.ConclusionsThe information from this study contributes towards the general understanding of esterase enzyme activity variation in adults of a major malaria vector An. funestus. This variation likely carries physiological and adaptive significance and may influence specific characteristics, such as reproductive fitness and insecticide resistance that are epidemiologically important.
Highlights
Anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa
There were 9 electrophoretic bands of esterase isoenzymes on the Isoenzyme electrophoresis (IEE) gel that were common to the from southern Mozambique (FUMOZ) and Wild-caught An. funestus from Zimbabwe (FUZIM) samples
Nine specific esterases were evident in the An. funestus adults sampled regardless of whether their genotypes originated from southern Mozambique (FUMOZ) or Honde Valley, Zimbabwe (FUZIM)
Summary
Anopheles funestus is a major vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to apply effective control measures against this vector, it is necessary to understand the underlying physiological factors that play a critical role in its development, reproduction, fertility and susceptibility to insecticides. The aim of this study was to analyse esterase activity levels at different ages during the life-span of adult Anopheles funestus Giles in order to better understand the complex biological processes in this species. The application of effective vector control measures against insect disease vectors is best achieved using an understanding of the reproductive, behavioural and ecological characteristics of each species as well as the underlying physiological processes that govern these characteristics. Esterases are linked with critical physiological roles such as behaviour [7], development [8,9,10], insecticide resistance [11,12,13], and reproduction [14]
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