Abstract
BackgroundAnopheles moucheti is a major malaria vector in forested areas of Africa. However, despite its important epidemiological role, it remains poorly known and insufficiently studied. Here, levels of genetic differentiation were estimated between different A. moucheti populations sampled throughout its distribution range in Central Africa.MethodsPolymorphism at ten microsatellite markers was compared in mosquitoes sampled in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and an island on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Microsatellite data were used to estimate genetic diversity within populations, their relative long-term effective population size, and the level of genetic differentiation between them.ResultsAll specimens collected in Tsakalakuku (Democratic Republic of Congo) were identified as A. m. bervoetsi while other samples consisted of A. m. moucheti. Successful amplification was obtained at all microsatellite loci within all A. m. moucheti samples while only six loci amplified in A. m. bervoetsi. Allelic richness and heterozygosity were high for all populations except the island population of Uganda and A. m. bervoetsi. High levels of genetic differentiation were recorded between A. m. bervoetsi and each A. m. moucheti sample as well as between the island population of A. m. moucheti and mainland populations. Significant isolation by distance was evidenced between mainland populations.ConclusionHigh levels of genetic differentiation supports complete speciation of A. m. bervoetsi which should henceforth be recognized as a full species and named A. bervoetsi. Isolation by distance is the main force driving differentiation between mainland populations of A. m. moucheti. Genetically and geographically isolated populations exist on Lake Victoria islands, which might serve as relevant field sites for evaluation of innovative vector control strategies.
Highlights
Anopheles moucheti is a major malaria vector in forested areas of Africa
This study further suggested that A. m. moucheti is widespread throughout the forested areas of Central Africa, whereas A. m. nigeriensis and A. m. bervoetsi were found only in their type localities in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), respectively
Successful amplification at each microsatellite locus was obtained for all A. m. moucheti specimens while only six loci could be amplified in the A. m. bervoetsi sample, one of which did not show any polymorphism, all specimens investigated showing the same single allele at a homozygous state
Summary
Anopheles moucheti is a major malaria vector in forested areas of Africa. despite its important epidemiological role, it remains poorly known and insufficiently studied. In the forested areas of equatorial Africa, where malaria transmission occurs all year long, Anopheles moucheti mosquitoes can sustain malaria transmission intensities as high as 100–300 infected bites per man per year in villages located at the vicinity of large rivers and slowmoving streams where its larvae develop [2,3,4,5] Despite playing such an important epidemiological role in malaria transmission, this group of mosquitoes remains poorly known and insufficiently studied. Population genetics studies using allozyme markers revealed that these morphological variations were not segregating between the different taxonomic units that build up the A. moucheti group in Central Africa and were of poor diagnostic value [9]. Very low levels of genetic differentiation (Fst
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