Behaviour and molecular identification of Anopheles malaria vectors in Jayapura district, Papua province, Indonesia. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: St. Laurent, Brandy; Supratman, Sukowati; Asih, Puji; Bretz, David; Mueller, John; Miller, Helen; Baharuddin, Amirullah; Shinta, ; Surya, Asik; Ngai, Michelle; Laihad, Ferdinand; Syafruddin, Din; Hawley, William; Collins, Frank; Lobo, Neil
• Is Part Of: Malaria journal. Volume 15:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Malaria -- Anopheles -- Vector ecology -- Molecular tools -- Indonesia; Malaria -- Periodicals; 616.9362
• DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1234-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-2875

Abstract

Abstract Background Members of theAnopheles punctulatus group dominate Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), with a geographic range that extends south through Vanuatu.An. farauti andAn. punctulatus are the presumed major vectors in this region. Although this group of species has been extensively studied in PNG and the southern archipelagoes within their range, their distribution, ecology and vector behaviours have not been well characterized in eastern Indonesia. Methods Mosquitoes were collected in five villages in Jayapura province, Papua, Indonesia using human-landing collections, animal-baited tents and backpack aspirators. Mosquitoes were morphologically typed and then molecularly distinguished based on ribosomal ITS2 sequences and tested forPlasmodium falciparum andP. vivax infection using circumsporozoite ELISA and PCR. Results The presence and vector status ofAn. farauti 4 in Papua, Indonesia is confirmed here for the first time. The data indicate that this species is entering houses at a rate that increases its potential to come into contact with humans and act as a major malaria vector.An. farauti 4 was also abundant outdoors and biting humans during early evening hours. Other species collected in this area includeAn. farauti 1, An. hinesorum, An. koliensis, An. punctulatus, andAn. tessellatus. Proboscis morphology was highly variable within each species, lending support to the notion that this characteristic is not a reliable indicator to distinguish species within theAn. punctulatus group. Conclusions The vector composition in Papua, Indonesia is consistent with certain northern areas of PNG, but the behaviours of anophelines sampled in this region, such as early and indoor human biting ofAn. farauti 4, may enable them to act as major vectors of malaria. Presumed major vectorsAn. farauti andAn. punctulatus were not abundant among these samples. Morphological identification of anophelines in this sample was often inaccurate, highlighting the importance of using molecular analysis in conjunction with morphological investigations to update keys and training tools.