Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon
Abstract Background Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations, vector diversity and spatial distribution. The intensification of malaria prevention and control through the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets in recent years may...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05472-8 |
| _version_ | 1828166770550112256 |
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| author | Pilate N. Kwi Elvis E. Ewane Marcel N. Moyeh Livinus N. Tangi Vincent N. Ntui Francis Zeukeng Denis D. Sofeu-Feugaing Eric A. Achidi Fidelis Cho-Ngwa Alfred Amambua-Ngwa Jude D. Bigoga Tobias O. Apinjoh |
| author_facet | Pilate N. Kwi Elvis E. Ewane Marcel N. Moyeh Livinus N. Tangi Vincent N. Ntui Francis Zeukeng Denis D. Sofeu-Feugaing Eric A. Achidi Fidelis Cho-Ngwa Alfred Amambua-Ngwa Jude D. Bigoga Tobias O. Apinjoh |
| author_sort | Pilate N. Kwi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations, vector diversity and spatial distribution. The intensification of malaria prevention and control through the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets in recent years may have altered the composition, geographic distribution and natural infection rate of Anopheles species, with implications for malaria transmission dynamics. The present study seeks to assess the vectorial diversity, dynamics and infectivity across different seasons and altitudes in relationship to parasite prevalence around the slopes of Mount Cameroon, southwestern region. Method Mosquitoes were sampled (indoors and outdoors) in 11 eco-epidemiological settings at low (18–197 m), intermediate (371–584 m) and high (740–1067 m) altitude by nightly human landing catches. The mosquitoes were identified morphologically and Anopheles gambiae sibling species identified by PCR. Parity status was ascertained by examining the ovaries and the entomological inoculation rates (EIR) determined by Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite antigen ELISA of the head-thorax. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection across target communities was assessed using rapid diagnostic tests. Results A total of 7327 (18.0 mosquitoes/trap/night) mosquitoes were trapped, mainly during the rainy season (5678, 77.5%) and at low altitude (3669, 50.1%). Anopheles spp. (5079, 69.3%) was the most abundant genera and An. gambiae complex (2691, 36.7%) the major vector, varying with altitude (χ 2 = 183.87, df = 8, P < 0.001) and season (χ 2 = 28.14, df = 4, P < 0.001). Only An. gambiae (s.s.) was identified following molecular analysis of An. gambiae complex siblings. The overall biting peak for An. gambiae complex was 2—3 a.m. Anopheles cinctus was the most abundant secondary vector in the area. The average EIR in the area was 2.08 infective bites per person per night (ib/p/n), higher at low (2.45 ib/p/n) than at intermediate altitude (1.39 ib/p/n) and during the rainy (1.76 ib/p/n) compared to the dry season (0.34 ib/p/n). Anopheles funestus was most infectious overall (28.1%, 16/57) while An. gambiae had the highest inoculation rates averaging 1.33 ib/p/n. Most Anopheles species across all altitudes and seasons were parous, highest in communities with the highest proportion of malaria parasite infections. Conclusion Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) remains the major malaria vector in the area and An. cinctus possibly a secondary vector of the disease in the slopes of Mt. Cameroon. The seasonal and altitudinal effects on the distribution of these mosquitoes may have implications for the transmission of malaria and its control strategies in the area. Regular monitoring of the bionomics of local Anopheles vector species and targeted control interventions in the ‘hotspots’ is necessary to curb the prevalence of the infection and incidence of disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:07:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7387bbd6797a442e8cebee403c9fd587 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:07:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-7387bbd6797a442e8cebee403c9fd5872022-12-22T03:52:30ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052022-09-0115111310.1186/s13071-022-05472-8Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount CameroonPilate N. Kwi0Elvis E. Ewane1Marcel N. Moyeh2Livinus N. Tangi3Vincent N. Ntui4Francis Zeukeng5Denis D. Sofeu-Feugaing6Eric A. Achidi7Fidelis Cho-Ngwa8Alfred Amambua-Ngwa9Jude D. Bigoga10Tobias O. Apinjoh11Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaMedical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London, School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLaboratory for Vector Biology and Control, The Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaounde 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of BueaAbstract Background Malaria remains endemic in Cameroon, with heterogeneous transmission related to eco-climatic variations, vector diversity and spatial distribution. The intensification of malaria prevention and control through the free distribution of insecticide-treated nets in recent years may have altered the composition, geographic distribution and natural infection rate of Anopheles species, with implications for malaria transmission dynamics. The present study seeks to assess the vectorial diversity, dynamics and infectivity across different seasons and altitudes in relationship to parasite prevalence around the slopes of Mount Cameroon, southwestern region. Method Mosquitoes were sampled (indoors and outdoors) in 11 eco-epidemiological settings at low (18–197 m), intermediate (371–584 m) and high (740–1067 m) altitude by nightly human landing catches. The mosquitoes were identified morphologically and Anopheles gambiae sibling species identified by PCR. Parity status was ascertained by examining the ovaries and the entomological inoculation rates (EIR) determined by Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite antigen ELISA of the head-thorax. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection across target communities was assessed using rapid diagnostic tests. Results A total of 7327 (18.0 mosquitoes/trap/night) mosquitoes were trapped, mainly during the rainy season (5678, 77.5%) and at low altitude (3669, 50.1%). Anopheles spp. (5079, 69.3%) was the most abundant genera and An. gambiae complex (2691, 36.7%) the major vector, varying with altitude (χ 2 = 183.87, df = 8, P < 0.001) and season (χ 2 = 28.14, df = 4, P < 0.001). Only An. gambiae (s.s.) was identified following molecular analysis of An. gambiae complex siblings. The overall biting peak for An. gambiae complex was 2—3 a.m. Anopheles cinctus was the most abundant secondary vector in the area. The average EIR in the area was 2.08 infective bites per person per night (ib/p/n), higher at low (2.45 ib/p/n) than at intermediate altitude (1.39 ib/p/n) and during the rainy (1.76 ib/p/n) compared to the dry season (0.34 ib/p/n). Anopheles funestus was most infectious overall (28.1%, 16/57) while An. gambiae had the highest inoculation rates averaging 1.33 ib/p/n. Most Anopheles species across all altitudes and seasons were parous, highest in communities with the highest proportion of malaria parasite infections. Conclusion Anopheles gambiae (s.s.) remains the major malaria vector in the area and An. cinctus possibly a secondary vector of the disease in the slopes of Mt. Cameroon. The seasonal and altitudinal effects on the distribution of these mosquitoes may have implications for the transmission of malaria and its control strategies in the area. Regular monitoring of the bionomics of local Anopheles vector species and targeted control interventions in the ‘hotspots’ is necessary to curb the prevalence of the infection and incidence of disease.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05472-8MalariaAnophelesDiversityAltitudeInfectivity |
| spellingShingle | Pilate N. Kwi Elvis E. Ewane Marcel N. Moyeh Livinus N. Tangi Vincent N. Ntui Francis Zeukeng Denis D. Sofeu-Feugaing Eric A. Achidi Fidelis Cho-Ngwa Alfred Amambua-Ngwa Jude D. Bigoga Tobias O. Apinjoh Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon Parasites & Vectors Malaria Anopheles Diversity Altitude Infectivity |
| title | Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon |
| title_full | Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon |
| title_short | Diversity and behavioral activity of Anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of Mount Cameroon |
| title_sort | diversity and behavioral activity of anopheles mosquitoes on the slopes of mount cameroon |
| topic | Malaria Anopheles Diversity Altitude Infectivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05472-8 |
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