title: Chromosomal inversion polymorphism of Anopheles funestus from forest villages of South Cameroon.
abstract: The polymorphism of paracentric inversions of Anopheles funestus polytene chromosomes was studied in three villages (Nkoteng, Obala, and Simbock) located in a forest area of South Cameroon in order to analyse the genetic structure of these populations. A total of 146-210 chromatids could be scored from specimens collected over about two years. A low degree of chromosomal polymorphism was observed with two floating inversions on chromosomal arm 2 (2h and 2d), and three fixed arrangements on arms 3 (3a and 3b), and 5 (5a). Such arrangement of inversions has never been recorded elsewhere so far. The chromosome analysis indicated that the population from Obala was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, whereas the samples from Nkoteng and Simbock showed a significant excess and deficit of heterokaryotypes, respectively. Significant differences in inversion frequencies on chromosomal arm 2 among villages lying in contrasting eco-climatic settings suggested an adaptive role of these inversions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire IRD d'Entomologie Médicale, Institut Pasteur, BP 220, Dakar, Sénégal. diaibra@dakar.ird.sn
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boccolini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antonio-Nkondjio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fontenille
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002163:Cameroon; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*