Abstract
The Anopheles maculipennis complex comprises several sibling species including major vectors of malaria parasites of historic Europe. In present-day Europe, these species are probably more relevant with regard to transmission of pathogens other than plasmodia, such as viruses and dirofilariae. Distribution data facilitating risk assessments and modelling of An. maculipennis complex-borne diseases, however, are generally outdated. In Germany, the occurrence and geographic distribution of the complex species have recently been updated within the framework of a national monitoring programme. In addition to the known indigenous species An. maculipennis, Anopheles messeae and Anopheles atroparvus, the newly described sibling species Anopheles daciae was demonstrated. Distribution maps of these species based on the data collected from 2011 to 2014 are presented, whilst ecological characteristics and vector roles are presented and discussed.
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Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), grant number 2810HS022, and by the Robert Koch-Institute, grant number 1362/1-982. We are grateful to all supporters taking care of our mosquito traps and to countless participants to the ‘Mueckenatlas’ (www.mueckenatlas.de). Special thanks go to Brigitte Dannenfeld, Jutta Falland, Christin Henke, Juliane Horenk, Martina Pusch and Oliver Tauchmann for excellent technical assistance in the laboratory.
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Kampen, H., Schäfer, M., Zielke, D.E. et al. The Anopheles maculipennis complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in Germany: an update following recent monitoring activities. Parasitol Res 115, 3281–3294 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5189-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5189-9