Central Africa Research Articles

Risk Assessment of Spodoptera exempta against Food Security: Estimating the Potential Global Overlapping Areas of Wheat, Maize, and Rice under Climate Change

Spodoptera exempta, known as the black armyworm, has been extensively documented as an invasive agricultural pest prevalent across various crop planting regions globally. However, the potential geographical distribution and the threat it poses to host crops of remains unknown at present. Therefore, we used an optimized MaxEnt model based on 841 occurrence records and 19 bioclimatic variables to predict the potential suitable areas of S. exempta under current and future climatic conditions, and the overlap with wheat, rice, and maize planting areas was assessed. The optimized model was highly reliable in predicting potential suitable areas for this pest. The results showed that high-risk distribution areas for S. exempta were mainly in developing countries, including Latin America, central South America, central Africa, and southern Asia. Moreover, for the three major global food crops, S. exempta posed the greatest risk to maize planting areas (510.78 × 104 km2), followed by rice and wheat planting areas. Under future climate scenarios, global warming will limit the distribution of S. exempta. Overall, S. exempta had the strongest effect on global maize production areas and the least on global wheat planting areas. Our study offers a scientific basis for global prevention of S. exempta and protection of agricultural crops.

Anti-monkeypox virus-neutralizing activities of human immunoglobulin manufactured between 1999 and 2021 and derived from donors in the United States and Japan.

In May 2022, the United Kingdom reported the first case of chained transmission of the monkeypox (mpox) virus without any known epidemiological links to west or central Africa. The monthly number of mpox patients currently has passed a peak and is declining globally, and infected patients include both non-vaccinated and vaccinated individuals. Herein, the virus-neutralizing (VN) activity against vaccinia viruses, which are considered to cross-react with the mpox virus, in the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) lots derived from donors, including vaccinated Japanese populations, was evaluated to clarify the status of the Japanese blood donor population. VN titres against vaccinia and human mpox viruses in IVIG lots derived from donors in Japan and the United States manufactured between 1999 and 2021 and 1995 and 2001, respectively, were evaluated by neutralization testing. VN titres of IVIG derived from donors in Japan and the United States against vaccinia and mpox viruses showed a slowly decreasing trend between 1999 and 2021. VN titres are expected to decrease in the future since the percentage of vaccinated donors in the donor population seems to have decreased. Therefore, continuous monitoring of VN titres is required.

Prevalence trends of anemia impairment in adolescents and young adults with HIV/AIDS

BackgroundAnemia is a common complication of HIV/AIDS, particularly in adolescents and young adults across various countries and regions. However, little is known about the changing prevalence trends of anemia impairment in this population over time.MethodsData on anemia in adolescents and young adults with HIV/AIDS from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease. Prevalence was calculated by gender, region, and country for individuals aged 10–24, and trends were measured using estimating annual percentage changes (EAPC).ResultsGlobally, the prevalence of adolescents and young adults with HIV/AIDS increased from 103.95 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 203.78 in 2019. However, anemia impairment has decreased over the past three decades, with a global percentage decreasing from 70.6% in 1990 to 34.7% in 2019, mainly presenting as mild to moderate anemia and significantly higher in females than males. The largest decreases were observed in Central Sub-Saharan Africa, North America, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, with EAPCs of -2.8, -2.34, and -2.17, respectively. Tajikistan (78.76%) and Madagascar (74.65%) had the highest anemia impairment percentage in 2019, while China (16.61%) and Iceland (13.73%) had the lowest. Anemia impairment was closely related to sociodemographic index (SDI) levels, with a high proportion of impairment in low SDI regions but a stable decreasing trend (EAPC = -0.37).ConclusionContinued anemia monitoring and management are crucial for patients with HIV, especially in high-prevalence regions and among females. Public health policies and interventions can improve the quality of life and reduce morbidity and mortality.

Expanded Access Programme for the use of tecovirimat for the treatment of monkeypox infection: A study protocol for an Expanded Access Programme.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease commonly reported in humans in parts of Central and West Africa. This protocol is for an Expanded Access Programme (EAP) to be implemented in the Central African Republic, where Clade I monkeypox virus diseases is primarily responsible for most monkeypox infections. The objective of the programme is to provide patients with confirmed monkeypox with access to tecovirimat, a novel antiviral targeting orthopoxviruses, and collect data on clinical and virological outcomes of patients to inform future research. The study will be conducted at participating hospitals in the Central African Republic. All patients who provide informed consent to enrol in the programme will receive tecovirimat. Patients will remain in hospital for the duration of treatment. Data on clinical signs and symptoms will be collected every day while the patient is hospitalised. Blood, throat and lesion samples will be collected at baseline and then on days 4, 8, 14 and 28. Patient outcomes will be assessed on Day 14 -end of treatment-and at Day 28. Adverse event and serious adverse event data will be collected from the point of consent until Day 28. This EAP is the first protocolised treatment programme in Clade I MPXV. The data generated under this protocol aims to describe the use of tecovirimat for Clade I disease in a monkeypox endemic region of Central Africa. It is hoped that this data can inform the definition of outcome measures used in future research and contribute to the academic literature around the use of tecovirimat for the treatment of monkeypox. The EAP also aims to bolster research capacity in the region in order for robust randomised controlled trials to take place for monkeypox and other diseases. {2a & 2b}: ISRCTN43307947.

Genotypic spectrum of albinism in Mali.

Albinism is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous condition characterized by a variable degree of hypopigmentation and by ocular features leading to reduced visual acuity. Whereas numerous genotypic studies have been conducted throughout the world, very little is known about the genotypic spectrum of albinism in Africa and especially in sub-Saharan Western Africa. Here we report the analysis of all known albinism genes in a series a 23 patients originating from Mali. Four were diagnosed with OCA 1 (oculocutaneous albinism type 1), 17 with OCA 2, and two with OCA 4. OCA2 variant NM_000275.3:c.819_822delinsGGTC was most frequently encountered. Four novel variants were identified (two in TYR, two in OCA2). A deep intronic variant was found to alter splicing of the OCA2 RNA by inclusion of a pseudo exon. Of note, the OCA2 exon 7 deletion commonly found in eastern, central, and southern Africa was absent from this series. African patients with OCA 1 and OCA 4 had only been reported twice and once, respectively, in previous publications. This study constitutes the first report of the genotypic spectrum of albinism in a western sub-Saharan country.

Characterizing the performances of different observational precipitation products and their uncertainties over Africa

Validation of observed gridded precipitation datasets sourced from satellites or reanalysis over Africa remains a challenge due to the dearth of in-situ products that can act as a true estimate. To address this gap, this study compares the performance of different precipitation products (gauge, reanalysis, and satellite-based) sourced from the Frequent Rainfall Observations on GridS (FROGS) database over Africa. Satellite products are classified as corrected (incorporating gauge observations into their algorithms) or uncorrected, which implies that temporal variations depend entirely on the satellite. The main aim is to identify regions where precipitation products depict minimal uncertainties, supporting the use of the datasets in understanding precipitation variability in the specific regions. This is achieved by applying the triple collocation approach, which takes advantage of three collocated datasets of the same variable to derive the mean square error without requiring knowledge of the true value. The results show that light precipitation (1–5 mm d−1) was prevalent in most regions of Africa during the study duration (2001–2016). Estimating the spatial distribution of daily precipitation greater than the 90th percentiles suggests that extreme precipitation is mainly detected over the Central Africa region and coastal regions of West Africa, where the majority of uncorrected satellite products show consistent performance. The satellite product CMORPH_V1_RAW shows higher estimates of 90th percentile precipitation among the uncorrected satellite products. The ability of precipitation products to detect rainy or non-rainy days shows that corrected satellite products depict notable agreement for probability of detection and false alarm ratio over most regions of Africa. Overall, better performance is demonstrated by the IMERG products, ARCv2, CHIRPSv2 and PERSIANN_CDRv1r1 (corrected), and GPCC, CPC_v1.0 and REGEN_ALL (gauge) during the study period. Among the reanalysis products, ERA5 datasets shows good performance in estimating daily precipitation over Africa. The optimal maps that show the classification of products in regions where they depict reliable performance can be recommended for various usage by different stakeholders.

Using multiscale lidar to determine variation in canopy structure from African forest elephant trails

AbstractRecently classified as a unique species by the IUCN, African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are critically endangered due to severe poaching. With limited knowledge about their ecological role due to the dense tropical forests they inhabit in central Africa, it is unclear how the Afrotropics are influenced by elephants. Although their role as seed dispersers is well known, they may also drive large‐scale processes that determine forest structure through the creation of elephant trails and browsing the understory, allowing larger, carbon‐dense trees to succeed. Multiple scales of lidar were collected by NASA in Lopé National Park, Gabon from 2015 to 2022. Utilizing two airborne lidar datasets in an African forest elephant stronghold, detailed canopy structural information was used in conjunction with elephant trail data to determine how forest structure varies on and off trails. Forest along elephant trails displayed different structural characteristics than forested areas off trails, with lower canopy height, canopy cover, and different vertical distribution of plant density. Less plant area density was found on trails at 1 m in height, while more vegetation was found at 12 m, compared to off trail locations. Trails in forest areas with previous logging history had lower plant area in the top of the canopy. Forest elephants can be considered as “logging light” ecosystem engineers, affecting canopy structure through browsing and movement. Both airborne lidar scales were able to capture elephant impact along trails, with the high‐resolution discrete return lidar performing higher than waveform lidar.

New species of Pterotiltus from Cameroon, and a new genus, Parapterotiltus (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Oxyinae)

The genus Pterotiltus Karsch, 1893 currently includes 12 described species from the equatorial forests of West and Central Africa. Here, we describe two new species from lowland forests of Southern Cameroon: Pterotiltus ngoylaensissp. nov., and Pterotiltus campoensissp. nov. We further describe two new species and the previously undescribed female of Pterotiltus minimus Ramme, 1929 from the highland areas of West Cameroon. These highland species share a suite of characters that distinguish them from Pterotiltus; these characters include structures of both the male and female reproductive systems, tegmina not completely regressed, and generally smaller size. To accommodate these differences between the species, we erect the new genus Parapterotiltusgen. nov. with P. minimus as the type species and include in it Parapterotiltus minimoidessp. nov. and Parapterotiltus bamboutossp. nov.

Response of regional circulation features to the Indian Ocean dipole and influence on Central Africa climate

Response of regional circulation features to the Indian Ocean dipole and influence on Central Africa climate

NEW APPROACH TO PROXIMITY ANALYSIS BETWEEN TWO HORIZONTAL MULTI-TABLES: DSCIA2 METHOD

In this paper, we propose a new method called Dual Simultaneous Co-Inertia Analysis Type 2 (DSCIA2), which is both a new approach to DSCIA in the context of two horizontal multi-tables and Dual of SCIA2 method. The aim is to study the variability of the proximity between pairs of tables with the same variables, by constructing the common axes of representation of the variables and the individuals simultaneously, i.e. constructing in one go an orthogonal matrix containing the solutions. An example of this method consisting being studied of the compared economic evolution of the countries of the Economic Monetary Community of Central Africa (EMCCA) and the West African Economic Monetary Union(WAEMU) is given.

Mitogenomic Characterization of South African Leopards and the Effect of Past Climatic Events

Revealing phylogeographic structure is important for accurate subspecies delineation and understanding a species’ evolutionary history. In leopards (Panthera pardus), there are currently nine subspecies recognized. On the African continent, only one subspecies occurs (P. p. pardus), although mitochondrial DNA from historical samples suggests the presence of three putative continental clades: (1) West Africa (WA), (2) Central Africa (CA), and (3) Southern Africa (SA). So far, whole genome data did not recover this phylogeographic structure, although leopards in the southern periphery of their distribution range in Africa have not yet been investigated in detail. The Mpumalanga province of South Africa is of particular interest, as here, the CA and the SA clade possibly meet. The aim of this study was to characterize the first mitogenomes of African leopards from Mpumalanga, to help clarifying how South African leopards fit into continental patterns of genetic differentiation. Complete mitogenomes from nine leopards, including a strawberry leopard, were assembled de novo and included in phylogenetic analysis, in combination with 32 publicly available mitogenomes. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses identified two deeply diverged putative clades within South Africa, which were more genetically distinct than two subspecies in Asia. The clades dated back to 0.76-0.86 million years ago, indicating that they originated during the climatically unstable Mid-Pleistocene, as seen in other large mammals. The Pleistocene refuge theory states that the maintenance of savanna refugia in East and Southern Africa promoted the divergence between populations. As such, leopards may reflect the unique climatic history of southern Africa, which has resulted in eminent and endemic genetic diversity.

Feasibility, safety, efficacy and potential scaling-up of sofosbuvir-based HCV treatment in Central and West Africa: (TAC ANRS 12311 trial)

Access to Hepatis C treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa is a clinical, public health and ethical concern. The multi-country open-label trial TAC ANRS 12311 allowed assessing the feasibility, safety, efficacy of a specific care model of HCV treatment and retreatment in patients with hepatitis C in Sub Saharan Africa. Between November 2015 and March 2017, with follow-up until mid 2019, treatment-naïve patients with HCV without decompensated cirrhosis or liver cancer were recruited to receive 12 week-treatment with either sofosbuvir + ribavirin (HCV genotype 2) or sofosbuvir + ledipasvir (genotype 1 or 4) and retreatment with sofosbuvir + velpatasvir + voxilaprevir in case of virological failure. The primary outcome was sustained virological response at 12 weeks after end of treatment (SVR12). Secondary outcomes included treatment adherence, safety and SVR12 in patients who were retreated due to non-response to first-line treatment. The model of care relied on both viral load assessment and educational sessions to increase patient awareness, adherence and health literacy. The study recruited 120 participants, 36 HIV-co-infected, and 14 cirrhotic. Only one patient discontinued treatment because of return to home country. Neither death nor severe adverse event occurred. SVR12 was reached in 107 patients (89%): (90%) in genotype 1 or 2, and 88% in GT-4. All retreated patients (n = 13) reached SVR12. HCV treatment is highly acceptable, safe and effective under this model of care. Implementation research is now needed to scale up point-of-care HCV testing and SVR assessment, along with community involvement in patient education, to achieve HCV elimination in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A new Actinella species (Eunotiaceae, Bacillariophyta) from the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background and aims – Actinella species from Central Africa are only rarely reported. The acid waters from many stream and small rivers in the Congo Basin form a potential environment for species of this genus. We studied several samples from the region of Yangambi to confirm whether species belonging to this genus are present. Material and methods – Samples for diatom investigation were collected in several streams and small rivers (Moni, Ngima, and Libongo), in the tropical rainforest in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve, Tshopo Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The samples were prepared to obtain permanent microscope slides for light microscopy studies using standard methods and cleaned material for scanning electron microscopy. Key results – A novel Actinella was observed in the studied samples. The taxon was compared to other species such as A. disjuncta, A. lange-bertalotii, A. modesta, A. pereunotioides, and A. pseudohantzschia, although the new species morphologically resembles most A. eunotioides, a species discovered in the Amazon basin in Brazil, and A. eunotioides var. minor, described in 1966 from the Central African Republic. The taxon observed in our material differs from A. eunotioides mainly in the valve dimensions, being much smaller, and the higher density of the marginal spines. Stria density also tends to be coarser. The valve length of A. eunotioides var. minor, on the other hand, corresponds with the smallest valves of our taxon but the valves are narrower, with a higher stria density. The ventral margin is slightly convex, while in the new taxon it is slightly concave. Moreover, in the original description of A. eunotioides var. minor, the absence of spines is mentioned, while they are present on the valves in the materials we investigated. Based on the observed morphological differences, we consider the taxon recorded in the streams and small rivers in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve distinct from A. eunotioides and its var. minor and subsequently, we describe Actinella kufferathiana as a species new to science.

Increasing Fire Activity in African Tropical Forests Is Associated With Deforestation and Climate Change

AbstractFires were historically rare in tropical forests of West and Central Africa, where dense vegetation, rapid decomposition, and high moisture limit available fuels. However, increasing heat and drought combined with forest degradation and fragmentation are making these areas more susceptible to wildfires. We evaluated historical patterns of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer active fires in African tropical forests from 2003 to 2021. Trends were mostly positive, particularly in the northeastern and southern Congo Basin, and were concentrated in areas with high deforestation. Year‐to‐year variation of fires was synchronized with increasing temperature and vapor pressure deficit. There was anomalously high fire activity across the region during the 2015–2016 El Niño. These results contrast with the drier African woodlands and savannas, where fire has been decreasing. Further attention to fires in African tropical forests is needed to understand their global impacts on carbon dynamics and their local implications for biodiversity and human livelihoods.

Measuring the impact of ginning stages on cotton fiber quality in the context of west and central Africa

The ginning process has an effect on fiber quality. Avoiding fiber quality deterioration due to mistune or overspeed is crucial, especially in west and central Africa where value chains are highly dependent on prices paid for premium fiber quality. Indeed, fiber classification alone does not permit a reliable measurement of ginning impact, as it depends on many factors such as incoming seed cotton quality, equipment type, number, and settings within each ginning process stage. This study describes a sampling and analysis method precise enough to detect any commercial impact on fiber quality at each main ginning stage. It is based on fiber quality characteristic measurements before and after each main stage: seed cotton cleaning, ginning, and lint cleaning. The sampling and testing protocol was applied in Mali in seven industrial gins during the 2015–2016 ginning season. Seed cotton samples were taken before and after the seed cotton cleaning stage, and fiber samples before and after the lint cleaning stage. Seed cotton samples were ginned with a reference saw micro-gin. The precision of fiber characterization was measured by replicating twice each fiber sample characterization in a laboratory meeting the international standards. Based on the variability measured in Mali, we determined for each fiber characteristic the number of replicates required to detect any commercially harmful impact. Growing and ginning conditions in Mali are representative of those in west and central Africa. Based on this method, one needs to develop an on-line tool to measure fiber quality at every stage of industrial ginning.

The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. These infections are diverse, but the majority are lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), surgical site infection (SSI), bloodstream infection (BSI), and urinary tract infection (UTI). For most sub-Saharan African countries, studies revealing the burden and impact of HAI are scarce, and few systematic reviews and meta-analysis have been attempted. We sought to fill this gap by reporting recent trends in HAI in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with attention to key patient populations, geographic variation, and associated mortality. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a literature search of six electronic databases (Web of Science, Pubmed, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) to identify studies assessing the prevalence of HAI in SSA countries. Studies published between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2023 were included. We applied no language or publication restrictions. Record screening and data extractions were independently conducted by teams of two or more reviewers. Using the R software (version 4.3.1) meta and metafor packages, we calculated the pooled prevalence estimates from random-effect meta-analysis, and further explored sources of heterogeneity through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023433271. Forty-one relevant studies were identified for analysis, consisting of 15 from West Africa (n=2107), 12 from Southern Africa (n=2963), 11 from East Africa (n=2142), and 3 from Central Africa (n=124). A total of 59.4% of the patient population were associated with paediatric admissions. The pooled prevalence of HAI was estimated at 12.9% (95% CI: 8.9-17.4; n=7336; number of included estimates [k]=41, p<0.001). By subregions, the pooled current prevalence of HAI in the West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa and Central Africa were estimated at 15.5% (95% CI: 8.3-24.4; n=2107; k=15), 6.5% (95% CI: 3.3-10.7; n=2963; k=12), 19.7% (95% CI: 10.8-30.5; n=2142; k=11) and 10.3% (95% CI: 1.1-27.0; n=124; k=3) of the patient populations respectively. We estimated mortality resulting from HAI in SSA at 22.2% (95% CI: 14.2-31.4; n=1118; k=9). Our estimates reveal a high burden of HAI in SSA with significant heterogeneity between regions. Variations in HAI distribution highlight the need for infection prevention and surveillance strategies specifically tailored to enhance prevention and management with special focus on West and East Africa, as part of the broader global control effort. No funding was received for this study.

Spatial–temporal trends in leprosy burden and its associations with socioeconomic and physical geographic factors: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

ObjectivesThe purpose of our study was to assess the multiscalar changes in leprosy burden and its associated risk factors over the last three decades. Study designWe conducted an in-depth examination of leprosy's spatial–temporal trends at multiple geographical scale (global, regional, and national), utilizing information from Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD 2019). MethodsIncidence and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of leprosy were determined, with countries categorized based on leprosy incidence changes. We examined socioeconomic and physical geography influences on leprosy incidence via Spearman correlation analysis, using ternary phase diagrams to reveal the synergetic effects on leprosy occurrence. ResultsGlobally, incident cases of leprosy decreased by 27.86% from 1990 to 2019, with a reduction in ASIR (EAPC = −2.53), yet trends were not homogeneous across regions. ASIR and EAPC correlated positively with sociodemographic index (SDI), and an ASIR growth appeared in high SDI region (EAPC = 3.07). Leprosy burden was chiefly distributed in Tropical Latin America, Oceania, Central Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Negative correlations were detected between the incidence of leprosy and factors of SDI, GDP per capita, urban population to total population, and precipitation, whereas the number of refugee population, temperature, and elevation showed opposite positive results. ConclusionsDespite a global decline in leprosy over the past three decades, the disparities of disease occurrence at regional and national scales still persisted. Socioeconomic and physical geographic factors posed an obvious influence on the transmission risk of leprosy. The persistence and regional fluctuations of leprosy incidence necessitate the ongoing dynamic and multilayered control strategies worldwide in combating this ancient disease.

Genetic Diversity and Detection of Respiratory Viruses Excluding SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Gabon, 2020–2021

Acute respiratory infections are a major global burden in resource-limited countries, including countries in Africa. Although COVID-19 has been well studied since the pandemic emerged in Gabon, Central Africa, less attention has been paid to other respiratory viral diseases, and very little data are available. Herein, we provide the first data on the genetic diversity and detection of 18 major respiratory viruses in Gabon during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 582 nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected from March 2020 to July 2021, which were SARS-CoV-2 negative, 156 were positive (26%) for the following viruses: enterovirus (20.3%), human rhinovirus (HRV) (4.6%), human coronavirus OC43 (1.2%), human adenovirus (0.9%), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (0.5%), influenza A virus (IAV) (0.3%), and human parainfluenza viruses (0.5%). To determine the genetic diversity and transmission route of the viruses, phylogenetic analyses were performed using genome sequences of the detected viruses. The IAV strain detected in this study was genetically similar to strains isolated in the USA, whereas the hMPV strain belonging to the A2b subtype formed a cluster with Kenyan strains. This study provides the first complete genomic sequences of HRV, IAV, and hMPV detected in Gabon, and provides insight into the circulation of respiratory viruses in the country.

Labial-velar stops in Sakata (Bantu C34)

Labial-velar stops in Sakata (Bantu C34)

The Anopheles coluzzii range extends into Kenya: detection, insecticide resistance profiles and population genetic structure in relation to conspecific populations in West and Central Africa

BackgroundAnopheles coluzzii is a primary vector of malaria found in West and Central Africa, but its presence has hitherto never been documented in Kenya. A thorough understanding of vector bionomics is important as it enables the implementation of targeted and effective vector control interventions. Malaria vector surveillance efforts in the country have tended to focus on historically known primary vectors. The current study sought to determine the taxonomic status of samples collected from five different malaria epidemiological zones in Kenya as well as describe the population genetic structure and insecticide resistance profiles in relation to other An. coluzzii populations.MethodsMosquitoes were sampled as larvae from Busia, Kwale, Turkana, Kirinyaga and Kiambu counties, representing the range of malaria endemicities in Kenya, in 2019 and 2021 and emergent adults analysed using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data processed in accordance with the Anopheles gambiae 1000 Genomes Project phase 3. Where available, historical samples from the same sites were included for WGS. Comparisons were made with An. coluzzii cohorts from West and Central Africa.ResultsThis study reports the detection of An. coluzzii for the first time in Kenya. The species was detected in Turkana County across all three time points from which samples were analyzed and its presence confirmed through taxonomic analysis. Additionally, there was a lack of strong population genetic differentiation between An. coluzzii from Kenya and those from the more northerly regions of West and Central Africa, suggesting they represent a connected extension to the known species range. Mutations associated with target-site resistance to DDT and pyrethroids and metabolic resistance to DDT were found at high frequencies up to 64%. The profile and frequencies of the variants observed were similar to An. coluzzii from West and Central Africa but the ace-1 mutation linked to organophosphate and carbamate resistance present in An. coluzzii from coastal West Africa was absent in Kenya.ConclusionsThese findings emphasize the need for the incorporation of genomics in comprehensive and routine vector surveillance to inform on the range of malaria vector species, and their insecticide resistance status to inform the choice of effective vector control approaches.