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Esayas E, Assefa M, Bennett A, Thomsen E, Gowelo S, Vajda E, Getachew A, Ashine T, Yeshaneh A, Kassa FA, Demisse M, Ntuku H, Dinka H, Golassa L, Lobo NF, Gadisa E. Bionomic characterization of Anopheles mosquitoes in the Ethiopian highlands and lowlands. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:306. [PMID: 39014474 PMCID: PMC11251230 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06378-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protective effectiveness of vector control in malaria relies on how the implemented tools overlap with mosquito species-specific compositions and bionomic traits. In Ethiopia, targeted entomological data enabling strategic decision-making are lacking around high-risk migrant worker camps in the lowlands and resident communities in the highlands-resulting in suboptimal malaria control strategies for both populations. This study investigates spatial and temporal mosquito behavior, generating baseline evidence that will improve malaria control for both migrant workers in the lowlands and their home communities in the highlands. METHODS Hourly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light trap collections were performed indoors and outdoors during the peak (October to December 2022) and minor (March to May 2023) malaria transmission seasons. These seasons coincide with the post-long rain and post-short rain seasons, respectively. Eight resident households were sampled from each of four villages in the highlands and eight households/farm structures on and near farms in four villages in the lowlands. The sampling occurred between 18:00 and 06:00. Spatiotemporal vector behaviors and hourly indoor and outdoor mosquito capture rates, used as a proxy for human biting rates, were calculated for overall catches and for individual species. Adult mosquitoes were identified using morphological keys, and a subset of samples were confirmed to species by sequencing ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) and/or mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1). RESULTS In the highlands, 4697 Anopheles mosquitoes belonging to 13 morphologically identified species were collected. The predominant species of Anopheles identified in the highlands was An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) (n = 1970, 41.9%), followed by An. demeilloni (n = 1133, 24.1%) and An. cinereus (n = 520, 11.0%). In the lowland villages, 3220 mosquitoes belonging to 18 morphological species were collected. Anopheles gambiae s.l. (n = 1190, 36.9%), An. pretoriensis (n = 899, 27.9%), and An. demeilloni (n = 564, 17.5%) were the predominant species. A total of 20 species were identified molecularly, of which three could not be identified to species through comparison with published sequences. In highland villages, the indoor Anopheles mosquito capture rate was much greater than the outdoor rate. This trend reversed in the lowlands, where the rate of outdoor captures was greater than the indoor rate. In both highlands and lowlands, Anopheles mosquitoes showed early biting activities in the evening, which peaked between 18:00 and 21:00, for both indoor and outdoor locations. CONCLUSIONS The high diversity of Anopheles vectors and their variable behaviors result in a dynamic and resilient transmission system impacting both exposure to infectious bites and intervention effectiveness. This creates gaps in protection allowing malaria transmission to persist. To achieve optimal control, one-size-fits-all strategies must be abandoned, and interventions should be tailored to the diverse spatiotemporal behaviors of different mosquito populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endashaw Esayas
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Muluken Assefa
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Adam Bennett
- PATH Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Seattle, USA
| | - Edward Thomsen
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Steven Gowelo
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Elodie Vajda
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Asefaw Getachew
- PATH Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Temesgen Ashine
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abebaw Yeshaneh
- West Gondar Zone Health Department, Amhara Regional Health Bureau, Metema, Ethiopia
| | - Fikregabrail Aberra Kassa
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mulugeta Demisse
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Henry Ntuku
- PATH Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), Seattle, USA
| | - Hunduma Dinka
- Department of Applied Biology, School of Applied Natural Science, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia
| | - Lemu Golassa
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Neil F Lobo
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
- Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Endalamaw Gadisa
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Division, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Saeung M, Pengon J, Pethrak C, Thaiudomsup S, Lhaosudto S, Saeung A, Manguin S, Chareonviriyaphap T, Jupatanakul N. Dirus complex species identification PCR (DiCSIP) improves the identification of Anopheles dirus complex from the Greater Mekong Subregion. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:260. [PMID: 38880909 PMCID: PMC11181648 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Anopheles dirus complex plays a significant role as a malaria vector in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), with varying degrees of vector competence among species. Accurate identification of sibling species in this complex is essential for understanding malaria transmission dynamics and deploying effective vector control measures. However, the original molecular identification assay, Dirus allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR), targeting the ITS2 region, has pronounced nonspecific amplifications leading to ambiguous results and misidentification of the sibling species. This study investigates the underlying causes of these inconsistencies and develops new primers to accurately identify species within the Anopheles dirus complex. METHODS The AS-PCR reaction and thermal cycling conditions were modified to improve specificity for An. dirus member species identification. In silico analyses with Benchling and Primer-BLAST were conducted to identify problematic primers and design a new set for Dirus complex species identification PCR (DiCSIP). DiCSIP was then validated with laboratory and field samples of the An. dirus complex. RESULTS Despite several optimizations by reducing primer concentration, decreasing thermal cycling time, and increasing annealing temperature, the Dirus AS-PCR continued to produce inaccurate identifications for Anopheles dirus, Anopheles scanloni, and Anopheles nemophilous. Subsequently, in silico analyses pinpointed problematic primers with high Guanine-Cytosine (GC) content and multiple off-target binding sites. Through a series of in silico analyses and laboratory validation, a new set of primers for Dirus complex species identification PCR (DiCSIP) has been developed. DiCSIP primers improve specificity, operational range, and sensitivity to identify five complex member species in the GMS accurately. Validation with laboratory and field An. dirus complex specimens demonstrated that DiCSIP could correctly identify all samples while the original Dirus AS-PCR misidentified An. dirus as other species when used with different thermocyclers. CONCLUSIONS The DiCSIP assay offers a significant improvement in An. dirus complex identification, addressing challenges in specificity and efficiency of the previous ITS2-based assay. This new primer set provides a valuable tool for accurate entomological surveys, supporting effective vector control strategies to reduce transmission and prevent malaria re-introducing in the GMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manop Saeung
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- HSM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jutharat Pengon
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Chatpong Pethrak
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Saranya Thaiudomsup
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Suthat Lhaosudto
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Atiporn Saeung
- Parasitology and Entomology Research Cluster (PERC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | - Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Research and Lifelong Learning Center for Urban and Environmental Entomology, Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Natapong Jupatanakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Pathum Thani, Thailand.
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Abossie A, Demissew A, Getachew H, Tsegaye A, Degefa T, Habtamu K, Zhong D, Wang X, Lee MC, Zhou G, King CL, Kazura JW, Yan G, Yewhalaw D. Higher outdoor mosquito density and Plasmodium infection rates in and around malaria index case households in low transmission settings of Ethiopia: Implications for vector control. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:53. [PMID: 38321572 PMCID: PMC10848356 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06088-2] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the clustering of infections for persistent malaria transmission is critical to determining how and where to target specific interventions. This study aimed to determine the density, blood meal sources and malaria transmission risk of anopheline vectors by targeting malaria index cases, their neighboring households and control villages in Arjo-Didessa, southwestern Ethiopia. METHODS An entomological study was conducted concurrently with a reactive case detection (RCD) study from November 2019 to October 2021 in Arjo Didessa and the surrounding vicinity, southwestern Ethiopia. Anopheline mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors in index case households and their surrounding households (neighboring households), as well as in control households, using pyrethrum spray cache (PSC) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps. Adult mosquitoes were morphologically identified, and speciation in the Anopheles gambiae complex was done by PCR. Mosquito Plasmodium infections and host blood meal sources were detected by circumsporozoite protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CSP-ELISA) and cytochrome b-based blood meal PCR, respectively. RESULTS Among the 770 anopheline mosquitoes collected, An. gambiae sensu lato (A. gambiae s.l.) was the predominant species, accounting for 87.1% (n = 671/770) of the catch, followed by the Anopheles coustani complex and Anopheles pharoensis, which accounted for 12.6% (n = 97/770) and 0.26% (n = 2/770) of the catch, respectively. From the sub-samples of An. gambiae s.l.analyzed with PCR, An. arabiensis and Anopheles amharicus were identified. The overall mean density of mosquitoes was 1.26 mosquitoes per trap per night using the CDC light traps. Outdoor mosquito density was significantly higher than indoor mosquito density in the index and neighboring households (P = 0.0001). The human blood index (HBI) and bovine blood index (BBI) of An. arabiensis were 20.8% (n = 34/168) and 24.0% (n = 41/168), respectively. The overall Plasmodium sporozoite infection rate of anophelines (An. arabiensis and An. coustani complex) was 4.4% (n = 34/770). Sporozoites were detected indoors and outdoors in captured anopheline mosquitoes. Of these CSP-positive species for Pv-210, Pv-247 and Pf, 41.1% (n = 14/34) were captured outdoors. A significantly higher proportion of sporozoite-infected mosquitoes were caught in index case households (5.6%, n = 8/141) compared to control households (1.1%, n = 2/181) (P = 0.02), and in neighboring households (5.3%, n = 24/448) compared to control households (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicated that malaria index cases and their neighboring households had higher outdoor mosquito densities and Plasmodium infection rates. The study also highlighted a relatively higher outdoor mosquito density, which could increase the potential risk of outdoor malaria transmission and may play a role in residual malaria transmission. Thus, it is important to strengthen the implementation of vector control interventions, such as targeted indoor residual spraying, long-lasting insecticidal nets and other supplementary vector control measures such as larval source management and community engagement approaches. Furthermore, in low transmission settings, such as the Arjo Didessa Sugarcane Plantation, providing health education to local communities, enhanced environmental management and entomological surveillance, along with case detection and management by targeting of malaria index cases and their immediate neighboring households, could be important measures to control residual malaria transmission and achieve the targeted elimination goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashenafi Abossie
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
| | - Assalif Demissew
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Hallelujah Getachew
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Arba Minch College of Health Sciences, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Arega Tsegaye
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Teshome Degefa
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Kassahun Habtamu
- Menelik II College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Ming-Chieh Lee
- Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Guofa Zhou
- Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Christopher L King
- Center for Global Health & Diseases, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, 44106 OH, USA
| | - James W Kazura
- Center for Global Health & Diseases, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, 44106 OH, USA
| | - Guiyun Yan
- Program in Public Health, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
- School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Eligo N, Wegayehu T, Pareyn M, Tamiru G, Lindtjørn B, Massebo F. Anopheles arabiensis continues to be the primary vector of Plasmodium falciparum after decades of malaria control in southwestern Ethiopia. Malar J 2024; 23:14. [PMID: 38195563 PMCID: PMC10777518 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04840-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigating the species distribution and their role in malaria transmission is important as it varies from place to place and is highly needed to design interventions appropriate to the site. The current study aimed to investigate the Anopheles mosquito species distribution and their infection rate in southwestern Ethiopia. METHODS The study was conducted in 14 malaria-endemic kebeles (the smallest administrative unit), which were situated in eight different malaria-endemic districts and four zones in southwestern Ethiopia. Ten per cent of households in each village were visited to collect adult mosquitoes using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps. The larval and pupal collection was done from breeding sites within the villages, and reared to adults. Female mosquitoes were morphologically identified. The head and thorax of adult Anopheles mosquitoes were tested for circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) using ELISA. At the same time, legs, wings, and abdomen were used to identify sibling species using PCR targeting the rDNA intergenic spacers region for species typing of the Anopheles funestus group and the internal transcribed spacer 2 region genes for Anopheles gambiae complex. RESULTS A total of 1445 Anopheles mosquitoes comprising eight species were collected. Of 813 An. gambiae complex tested by PCR, 785 (97%) were Anopheles arabiensis, and the remaining 28 (3%) were not amplified. There were 133 An. funestus group captured and tested to identify the species, of which 117 (88%) were positive for Anopheles parensis, and 15 (11%) were not amplified. A single specimen (1%) showed a band with a different base pair length from the known An. funestus group species. Sequencing revealed this was Anopheles sergentii. Among 1399 Anopheles tested for CSPs by ELISA, 5 (0.4%) An. arabiensis were positive for Plasmodium falciparum and a single (0.07%) was positive for Plasmodium vivax. CONCLUSIONS Anopheles arabiensis continues to play the principal role in malaria transmission despite implementing indoor-based interventions for decades. Sequencing results suggest that An. sergentii was amplified by the An. funestus group primer, producing PCR amplicon size of different length. Therefore, relying solely on amplifying a specific gene of interest in grouping species could be misleading, as different species may share the same gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigatu Eligo
- Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Teklu Wegayehu
- Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Myrthe Pareyn
- Clinical Sciences Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Girum Tamiru
- Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
| | - Bernt Lindtjørn
- Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
- Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fekadu Massebo
- Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
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Martens-Koop A, Thakur A. Intracellular Pathogens: Infection, Immunity, and Intervention. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2813:1-17. [PMID: 38888767 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3890-3_1] [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] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens comprise a diverse group of pathogens that all share a required location in a host cell to infect, survive, and replicate. Intracellular location allows pathogens to hide from host immune responses, avoid competition with other pathogens, mediate host cellular functions, replicate safely, and cause infection that is difficult to target with therapeutics. All intracellular pathogens have varying routes of infiltration into host cells and different host cell preferences. For example, bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis chooses to invade antigen-presenting cells, which allows them to moderate host antigen presentation to memory cells, whereas rabies virus prefers to invade neurons because they have pre-existing innate immunity protection systems. Regardless of the pathway that each intracellular pathogen follows, all share the capacity to cause disease if they succeed in entering host cells. Here, we give an overview of selected intracellular pathogens and infections they cause, immune responses they induce, and intervention strategies used to treat and control them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Martens-Koop
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Aneesh Thakur
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
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