A previously unreported potential malaria vector in a dry ecology of Kenya.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
In Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace equally affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies. However, entomologic knowledge of malaria vectors in such areas remains poor.Methods
Morphologically-identified wild-caught Anopheles funestus (s.l.) specimens trapped outdoors from the semi-arid to arid area of Kacheliba, West Pokot County, Kenya, were analysed by PCR and sequencing for species identification, malaria parasite infection and host blood-meal sources.Results
Three hundred and thirty specimens were analysed to identify sibling species of the An. funestus group, none of which amplified using the available primers; two were infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium ovale, separately, while 84% (n = 25) of the blood-fed specimens had fed on humans. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences of 55 specimens (Plasmodium-positive, blood-fed and Plasmodium-negative) did not match reference sequences, possibly suggesting a previously unreported species, resolving as two clades.Conclusions
Our findings indicate the existence of yet-to-be identified and described anopheline species with a potential as malaria vectors in Kenya.
SUBMITTER: Ogola EO
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6369554 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
A previously unreported potential malaria vector in a dry ecology of Kenya.
Ogola Edwin O EO Chepkorir Edith E Sang Rosemary R Tchouassi David P DP
Parasites & vectors 20190211 1
<h4>Background</h4>In Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace equally affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies. However, entomologic knowledge of malaria vectors in such areas remains poor.<h4>Methods</h4>Morphologically-identified wild-caught Anopheles funestus (s.l.) specimens trapped outdoors from the semi-arid to arid area of Kacheliba, West Pokot County, Kenya, were analysed by PCR and sequencing for species identification, malaria parasite infection and host blood-meal sources ...[more]
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