title: Characterization of the Anopheles funestus group, including Anopheles funestus-like, from Northern Malawi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited information is available on malaria vector composition, feeding habits and malaria transmission in northern Malawi. Evidence of mosquito species diversity in this area was established in 2009, when Anopheles funestus-like, a new member of the An. funestus group was described. Additional biological information is needed to identify this species and to understand its role in malaria transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anopheline mosquitoes were collected in northern Malawi and analyzed for Plasmodium species infection, blood meal source and susceptibility to insecticides. A new hydrolysis probe assay was designed to identify An. funestus-like.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anopheles funestus and An. rivulorum predominated in the indoor collections. Most An. funestus-like were collected indoors, mainly fed on animals and were uninfected with P. falciparum. Anopheles funestus showed insecticide resistance to deltamethrin and bendiocarb. A high-precision hydrolysis probe assay was successfully developed to identify An. funestus-like.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four species in the An. funestus group were collected in Karonga. Resistance to deltamethrin and bendiocarb was observed in An. funestus and further investigation is needed on the insecticide resistance mechanisms. Anopheles funestus-like, while collected indoors, is mainly zoophilic and most likely not a malaria vector.
  An. funestus (GenBank accession no. KC771136), An. funestus-like (GenBank accession no. KC771137), An. parensis GenBank accession no. KC771138) and An. vaneedeni GenBank accession no. KC771139).
authors.affiliation: Vector Control Reference Laboratory, Centre for Opportunistic, Tropical and Hospital Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Vezenegho
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiphwanya
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coetzee
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Lizette L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Koekemoer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission; D008295:Malawi; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009570:Nitriles; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017180:decamethrin; D004247:DNA; C007725:bendiocarb
keywords: African malaria vector; Identification; Insecticide resistance