Abstract
Knowledge of vector species composition and monitoring their change over time is critical to evaluate malaria transmission and assess control interventions. This is especially important in countries such as Botswana, where malaria transmission is subjected to fluctuations due to climate variability. Another important aspect that impacts vector populations is the insecticide resistance. In order to assess species composition and the presence of mutations associated with insecticide resistance, Anopheles specimens from larval samplings and indoor pyrethrum spray sheet collections were analysed. A total of 349 Anopheles were screened by morphology and PCR as belonging to the An. gambiae complex and An. funestus group. Specimens were subsequently analysed for human blood meal and Plasmodium index. Finally, knock-down resistance polymorphisms were assessed. Anopheles arabiensis accounted for the majority of specimens collected through larval (96.7%) and pyrethrum spray sheet collection (87.4%) across all sampling sites, and this species was the only one found positive for human blood and for P. falciparum. Other Anopheles species were collected in small numbers by pyrethrum spray catches, namely An. quadriannulatus, An. longipalpis type C and An. parensis. The authors speculate on changing climate patterns and their possible impact on species composition. The kdr assay revealed that Anopheles mosquitoes were homozygous wild type for both L1014F (kdr-w) and L1014S (kdr-e) mutations. These results highlight the unique vectorial role of An. arabiensis in Botswana and indicated that even with prolonged use of pyrethroids and DDT, the mosquito population has not developed kdr mutations, despite some in vivo evidence of insecticide resistance.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Lizette Koekemoer and the Malaria Entomology Research Group at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, for assisting with kdr genotyping; Dr. Verena Pichler at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, for providing the control DNA of An. arabiensis specimen of the three different kdr genotypes; finally, Mr. Charles Waithaka Muthoga, Mr. Leabaneng Tawe and Mr. Zackary Bango from Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, for their assistance and endless efforts in helping the team.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Malaria Programme in the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Botswana, Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Botswana, University of Botswana (grant # P1130) and with support from the Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, Penn Center for AIDS Research (grant # P30 AI045008).
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Kgoroebutswe, T.K., Ramatlho, P., Reeder, S. et al. Distribution of Anopheles mosquito species, their vectorial role and profiling of knock-down resistance mutations in Botswana. Parasitol Res 119, 1201–1208 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06614-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06614-6