Abstract
BackgroundHistorically, Anopheles atroparvus has been considered one of the most important malaria vectors in Europe. Since malaria was eradicated from the European continent, the interest in studying its vectors reduced significantly. Currently, to better assess the potential risk of malaria resurgence on the continent, there is a growing need to update the data on susceptibility of indigenous Anopheles populations to imported Plasmodium species. In order to do this, as a first step, an adequate laboratory colony of An. atroparvus is needed.MethodsAnopheles atroparvus mosquitoes were captured in rice fields from the Ebro Delta (Spain). Field-caught specimens were maintained in the laboratory under simulated field-summer conditions. Adult females were artificially blood-fed on fresh whole rabbit blood for oviposition. First- to fourth-instar larvae were fed on pulverized fish and turtle food. Adults were maintained with a 10% sucrose solution ad libitum.ResultsAn An. atroparvus population from the Ebro Delta was successfully established in the laboratory. During the colonization process, feeding and hatching rates increased, while a reduction in larval mortality rate was observed.ConclusionsThe present study provides a detailed rearing and maintenance protocol for An. atroparvus and a publicly available reference mosquito strain within the INFRAVEC2 project for further research studies involving vector-parasite interactions.
Highlights
Anopheles atroparvus has been considered one of the most important malaria vectors in Europe
In Europe and the Middle East, dominant Anopheles vector species primarily belong to the Anopheles maculipennis subgroup [1]
The dominance of water systems in the Ebro Delta have favored the proliferation of vector mosquito species, e.g. An. atroparvus which was previously incriminated as a primary malaria vector [28]
Summary
Anopheles atroparvus has been considered one of the most important malaria vectors in Europe. Among its 11 Palaearctic sibling species [2, 3], An. atroparvus (van Thiel, 1927), is the most abundant and widely distributed [4] This species inhabits coastal and inland areas throughout eastern and central Europe, the Iberian Peninsula and the UK [1, 5]. Immature stages of An. atroparvus mostly inhabit a variety of permanent or semi-permanent water bodies characterized by clear standing, or slow flowing, brackish and/or fresh water They are commonly collected along river and lake margins, marshes, irrigation canals and especially in rice fields (primary larval habitat), where aquatic vegetation provides protection from predators and a cooler environment [8, 9].
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