Role of Anopheles (Cellia) rufipes (Gough, 1910) and other local anophelines in human malaria transmission in the northern savannah of Cameroon: a cross-sectional survey. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tabue, Raymond; Awono-Ambene, Parfait; Etang, Josiane; Atangana, Jean; C, Antonio-Nkondjio; Toto, Jean; Patchoke, Salomon; Leke, Rose; Fondjo, Etienne; Mnzava, Abraham; Knox, Tessa; Tougordi, Alexis; Donnelly, Martin; Bigoga, Jude
• Is Part Of: Parasites & vectors. Volume 10:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Malaria -- Transmission -- Anopheles -- Local vectors -- Northern Cameroon; Parasitism -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Vector-pathogen relationships -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.96
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1933-3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-3305

Abstract

Abstract Background As part of a study to determine the impact of insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) in the north of Cameroon, the unexpectedly high density and anthropophilic behaviour ofAnopheles rufipes lead us to investigate this species bionomics and role in human malaria parasite transmission. Methods For four consecutive years (2011–2014), annual cross-sectional sampling of adult mosquitoes was conducted during the peak malaria season (September-October) in three health districts in northern Cameroon. Mosquitoes sampled by human landing catch and pyrethrum spray catch methods were morphologically identified, their ovaries dissected for parity determination andAnopheles gambiae siblings were identified by molecular assay. Infection withP. falciparum and blood meal source in residual fauna of indoor resting anopheline mosquitoes were determined by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays. Results Anopheles gambiae (sensu lato ) (s.l. ) comprised 18.4% of mosquitoes collected withAn. arabiensis representing 66.27% of the sibling species. The proportion ofAn. rufipes (2.7%) collected was high with a human-biting rate ranging between 0.441 and 11.083 bites/person/night (b/p/n) and an anthropophagic rate of 15.36%. Although overall the members ofAn. gambiae complex were responsible for most of the transmission with entomological inoculation rates (EIR) reaching 1.221 infective bites/person/night (ib/p/n), An. arabiensis andAn. coluzzii were the most implicated. The roles ofAn. funestus, An. pharoensis andAn. paludis were minor.Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein rate inAnopheles rufipes varied from 0.6 to 5.7% with EIR values between 0.010 and 0.481 ib/p/n. Conclusions The study highlights the epidemiological role ofAn. rufipes alongside the members of theAn. gambiae complex, and several other sympatric species in human malaria transmission during the wet season in northern Cameroon. For the first time in Cameroon, An. rufipes has been shown to be an important local malaria vector, emphasising the need to review the malaria entomological profile across the country as pre-requisite to effective vector management strategies.