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Takken W, Charlwood D, Lindsay SW. The behaviour of adult Anopheles gambiae, sub-Saharan Africa's principal malaria vector, and its relevance to malaria control: a review. Malar J 2024; 23:161. [PMID: 38783348 PMCID: PMC11112813 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04982-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex are one of the major vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Their ability to transmit this disease of major public health importance is dependent on their abundance, biting behaviour, susceptibility and their ability to survive long enough to transmit malaria parasites. A deeper understanding of this behaviour can be exploited for improving vector surveillance and malaria control. FINDINGS Adult mosquitoes emerge from aquatic habitats at dusk. After a 24 h teneral period, in which the cuticle hardens and the adult matures, they may disperse at random and search upwind for a mate or to feed. Mating generally takes place at dusk in swarms that form over species-specific 'markers'. Well-nourished females may mate before blood-feeding, but the reverse is true for poorly-nourished insects. Females are monogamous and only mate once whilst males, that only feed on nectar, swarm nightly and can potentially mate up to four times. Females are able to locate hosts by following their carbon dioxide and odour gradients. When in close proximity to the host, visual cues, temperature and relative humidity are also used. Most blood-feeding occurs at night, indoors, with mosquitoes entering houses mainly through gaps between the roof and the walls. With the exception of the first feed, females are gonotrophically concordant and a blood meal gives rise to a complete egg batch. Egg development takes two or three days depending on temperature. Gravid females leave their resting sites at dusk. They are attracted by water gradients and volatile chemicals that provide a suitable aquatic habitat in which to lay their eggs. CONCLUSION Whilst traditional interventions, using insecticides, target mosquitoes indoors, additional protection can be achieved using spatial repellents outdoors, attractant traps or house modifications to prevent mosquito entry. Future research on the variability of species-specific behaviour, movement of mosquitoes across the landscape, the importance of light and vision, reproductive barriers to gene flow, male mosquito behaviour and evolutionary changes in mosquito behaviour could lead to an improvement in malaria surveillance and better methods of control reducing the current over-reliance on the indoor application of insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Takken
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Derek Charlwood
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Hygiene e Medicina Tropical, Lisbon, Portugal
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Charlwood JD. Swarming and mate selection in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:857-864. [PMID: 37392071 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Treating both male and female Anopheles gambiae as if they are "boids" (a computer program that mimics flocking in birds) explains much of the swarming and mating behavior in this important group of malaria vectors. It is suggested that species specific swarm sites act as the mate recognition system in anophelines and it is proposed that virgin females respond to the swarm site per se rather than the swarm itself. Given the high operational sex ratio and the inability of any male to dominate all females within the swarm, it is considered that chance, rather than sexual selection, is the most important determinant of mating. The male being in the swarm may be a sufficiently strong signal to the female of his fitness, so that more elaborate sexual selection is unnecessary. The possibility of alternative mechanisms for mating may also exist but need to be investigated further. Given the importance of swarms as the isolating mechanism between species, emphasis should be placed on determining the characteristics of swarm sites and markers between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Derek Charlwood
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira, 100, Lisbon 1349-008, Portugal
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Muyaga LL, Meza FC, Kahamba NF, Njalambaha RM, Msugupakulya BJ, Kaindoa EW, Ngowo HS, Okumu FO. Effects of vegetation densities on the performance of attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) for malaria vector control: a semi-field study. Malar J 2023; 22:190. [PMID: 37344867 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04625-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) control sugar-feeding mosquitoes with oral toxicants, and may effectively complement core malaria interventions, such as insecticide-treated nets even where pyrethroid-resistance is widespread. The technology is particularly efficacious in arid and semi-arid areas. However, their performance remains poorly-understood in tropical areas with year-round malaria transmission, and where the abundant vegetation constitutes competitive sugar sources for mosquitoes. This study compared the efficacies of ATSBs (active ingredient: 2% boric acid) in controlled settings with different vegetation densities. METHODS Potted mosquito-friendly plants were introduced inside semi-field chambers (9.6 m by 9.6 m) to simulate densely-vegetated, sparsely-vegetated, and bare sites without any vegetation (two chambers/category). All chambers had volunteer-occupied huts. Laboratory-reared Anopheles arabiensis were released nightly (200/chamber) and host-seeking females recaptured using human landing catches outdoors (8.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m.) and CDC-light traps indoors (9.00 p.m.-6.00 a.m.). Additionally, resting mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors each morning using Prokopack aspirators. The experiments included a "before-and-after" set-up (with pre-ATSBs, ATSBs and post-ATSBs phases per chamber), and a "treatment vs. control" set-up (where similar chambers had ATSBs or no ATSBs). The experiments lasted 84 trap-nights. RESULTS In the initial tests when all chambers had no vegetation, the ATSBs reduced outdoor-biting by 69.7%, indoor-biting by 79.8% and resting mosquitoes by 92.8%. In tests evaluating impact of vegetation, the efficacy of ATSBs against host-seeking mosquitoes was high in bare chambers (outdoors: 64.1% reduction; indoors: 46.8%) but modest or low in sparsely-vegetated (outdoors: 34.5%; indoors: 26.2%) and densely-vegetated chambers (outdoors: 25.4%; indoors: 16.1%). Against resting mosquitoes, the ATSBs performed modestly across settings (non-vegetated chambers: 37.5% outdoors and 38.7% indoors; sparsely-vegetated: 42.9% outdoors and 37.5% indoors; densely-vegetated: 45.5% outdoors and 37.5% indoors). Vegetation significantly reduced the ATSBs efficacies against outdoor-biting and indoor-biting mosquitoes but not resting mosquitoes. CONCLUSION While vegetation can influence the performance of ATSBs, the devices remain modestly efficacious in both sparsely-vegetated and densely-vegetated settings. Higher efficacies may occur in places with minimal or completely no vegetation, but such environments are naturally unlikely to sustain Anopheles populations or malaria transmission in the first place. Field studies therefore remain necessary to validate the efficacies of ATSBs in the tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letus L Muyaga
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania.
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Felician C Meza
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Najat F Kahamba
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Rukiyah M Njalambaha
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Betwel J Msugupakulya
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Emmanuel W Kaindoa
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pathology, Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, Wits Research Institute for Malaria, University of the Witwatersrand, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Halfan S Ngowo
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Fredros O Okumu
- Department of Environmental Health, and Ecological Science, Ifakara Health Institute, Morogoro, United Republic of Tanzania.
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania.
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Assogba BS, Sillah S, Opondo KO, Cham ST, Camara MM, Jadama L, Camara L, Ndiaye A, Wathuo M, Jawara M, Diabaté A, Achan J, D'Alessandro U. Anopheles gambiae s.l. swarms trapping as a complementary tool against residual malaria transmission in eastern Gambia. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17057. [PMID: 36224312 PMCID: PMC9556655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a major health problem and vector control is an essential approach to decrease its burden, although it is threatened by insecticide resistance. New approaches for vector control are needed. The females of Anopheles gambiae s.l. mate once in their life and in the swarms formed by males. Trapping swarms of Anopheles gambiae s.l. males is a potential new intervention for vector control, alternative to the use of insecticides, as it would disrupt mating . The proof-of-concept pilot study aiming at investigating swarm trapping as a potential vector control intervention, was carried out in 6 villages as in eastern Gambia. Swarms of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were identified and their size, height, and duration determined during the baseline year. Swarm trapping by local volunteers was implemented the following transmission season in 4 villages while the other 2 villages were taken as controls. Entomological outcomes were monitored by Human Landing Catches and Pyrethrum Spray Catches. A cross-sectional survey to determine malaria prevalence was carried out at the peak of the malaria transmission season for two consecutive years. At baseline, 23 swarming sites of Anopheles gambiae s.l. were identified. Before the intervention, mean indoor resting density per house and malaria prevalence were similar between control and intervention villages. Following the intervention, Anopheles gambiae s.l. indoor resting density was 44% lower in intervention than in control villages (adj IRR: 0.0.56; 95% CI 0.47-0.68); the odds of malaria infections were 68% lower in intervention than in control villages (OR: 0.32; 95% CI 0.11-0.97). Swarm trapping seems to be a promising, community-based vector control intervention that could reduce malaria prevalence by reducing vector density. Such results should be further investigated and confirmed by larger cluster-randomized trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Sessinou Assogba
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia.
| | - Salimina Sillah
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Kevin O Opondo
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Sheikh Tijan Cham
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Muhammed M Camara
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Lamin Jadama
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Lamin Camara
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Assane Ndiaye
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Vectorielle et Parasitaire, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Miriam Wathuo
- Statistic and Bioinformatic Department, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Musa Jawara
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Abdoulaye Diabaté
- Institut de Recherche en Science de la Santé/Centre Muraz, BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Jane Achan
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Disease Control and Elimination Theme, Medical Research Council, Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, PO Box 273, Banjul, The Gambia.
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Kahamba NF, Finda M, Ngowo HS, Msugupakulya BJ, Baldini F, Koekemoer LL, Ferguson HM, Okumu FO. Using ecological observations to improve malaria control in areas where Anopheles funestus is the dominant vector. Malar J 2022; 21:158. [PMID: 35655190 PMCID: PMC9161514 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04198-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The most important malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa are Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles arabiensis, Anopheles funestus, and Anopheles coluzzii. Of these, An. funestus presently dominates in many settings in east and southern Africa. While research on this vector species has been impeded by difficulties in creating laboratory colonies, available evidence suggests it has certain ecological vulnerabilities that could be strategically exploited to greatly reduce malaria transmission in areas where it dominates. This paper examines the major life-history traits of An. funestus, its aquatic and adult ecologies, and its responsiveness to key interventions. It then outlines a plausible strategy for reducing malaria transmission by the vector and sustaining the gains over the medium to long term. To illustrate the propositions, the article uses data from south-eastern Tanzania where An. funestus mediates over 85% of malaria transmission events and is highly resistant to key public health insecticides, notably pyrethroids. Both male and female An. funestus rest indoors and the females frequently feed on humans indoors, although moderate to high degrees of zoophagy can occur in areas with large livestock populations. There are also a few reports of outdoor-biting by the species, highlighting a broader range of behavioural phenotypes that can be considered when designing new interventions to improve vector control. In comparison to other African malaria vectors, An. funestus distinctively prefers permanent and semi-permanent aquatic habitats, including river streams, ponds, swamps, and spring-fed pools. The species is therefore well-adapted to sustain its populations even during dry months and can support year-round malaria transmission. These ecological features suggest that highly effective control of An. funestus could be achieved primarily through strategic combinations of species-targeted larval source management and high quality insecticide-based methods targeting adult mosquitoes in shelters. If done consistently, such an integrated strategy has the potential to drastically reduce local populations of An. funestus and significantly reduce malaria transmission in areas where this vector species dominates. To sustain the gains, the programmes should be complemented with gradual environmental improvements such as house modification to maintain biting exposure at a bare minimum, as well as continuous engagements of the resident communities and other stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najat F Kahamba
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania.
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Marceline Finda
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Halfan S Ngowo
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Betwel J Msugupakulya
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Francesco Baldini
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lizette L Koekemoer
- Wits Research Institute for Malaria, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Heather M Ferguson
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow, UK
| | - Fredros O Okumu
- Environmental Health and Ecological Sciences Department, Ifakara Health Institute, P. O. Box 53, Ifakara, Tanzania.
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, G128QQ, Glasgow, UK.
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania.
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