Journal of Medical Entomology (2023) 60, 546-553

Ousmane Sy, Pape C. Sarr, Benoit S. Assogba, Mouhamed A. Nourdine, Assane Ndiaye, Lassana Konaté, Ousmane Faye, Martin J. Donnelly, Oumar Gaye, David Weetman and Elhadji A. Niang (2023)
Residual malaria transmission and the role of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles melas in central Senegal
Journal of Medical Entomology 60 (3), 546-553
Abstract: Understanding the behavior and ecology of local malaria vectors is essential for the effectiveness of the commonly used vector-targeted malaria control tools in areas of low malaria transmission. This study was conducted to determine species composition, biting behavior and infectivity of the major Anopheles vectors of Plasmodium falciparum in low transmission settings in central Senegal. Adult mosquitoes were collected using human landing catches during 2 consecutive nights and Pyrethrum Spray Catches in 30–40 randomly selected rooms, from July 2017 to December 2018 in 3 villages. Anopheline mosquitoes were morphologically identified using conventional keys; their reproductive status assessed by ovary dissections, and a sub-sample of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were identified to species level using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Plasmodium sporozoite infections were detected using real-time quantitative PCR. During this study 3684 Anopheles were collected of which 97% were An. gambiae s.l., 0.6% were Anopheles funestus, and 2.4% were Anopheles pharoensis. Molecular identification of 1,877 An. gambiae s.l. revealed a predominance of Anopheles arabiensis (68.7%), followed by Anopheles melas (28.8%), and Anopheles coluzzii (2.1%). The overall human-biting rate of An. gambiae s.l. was highest in the inland site of Keur Martin with 4.92 bites per person per night, while it was similar in the deltaic site, Diofior (0.51) and the coastal site, Mbine Coly (0.67). Parity rates were similar in An. arabiensis (45%) and An. melas (42%). Sporozoite infections were detected in both An. arabiensis and An. melas with the respective infection rates of 1.39% (N = 8) and 0.41% (N = 1). Results suggest that low residual malaria in central Senegal is transmitted by An. arabiensis and An. melas. Consequently, both vectors will need to be targeted as part of malaria elimination efforts in this area of Senegal.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Martin J. Donnelly

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anopheles arabiensis		Senegal
	Anopheles funestus		Senegal
	Anopheles pharoensis		Senegal
	Anopheles melas		Senegal
	Anopheles coluzzii		Senegal