title: Unexpected diversity of Anopheles species in Eastern Zambia: implications for evaluating vector behavior and interventions using molecular tools.
abstract: The understanding of malaria vector species in association with their bionomic traits is vital for targeting malaria interventions and measuring effectiveness. Many entomological studies rely on morphological identification of mosquitoes, limiting recognition to visually distinct species/species groups. Anopheles species assignments based on ribosomal DNA ITS2 and mitochondrial DNA COI were compared to morphological identifications from Luangwa and Nyimba districts in Zambia. The comparison of morphological and molecular identifications determined that interpretations of species compositions, insecticide resistance assays, host preference studies, trap efficacy, and Plasmodium infections were incorrect when using morphological identification alone. Morphological identifications recognized eight Anopheles species while 18 distinct sequence groups or species were identified from molecular analyses. Of these 18, seven could not be identified through comparison to published sequences. Twelve of 18 molecularly identified species (including unidentifiable species and species not thought to be vectors) were found by PCR to carry Plasmodium sporozoites - compared to four of eight morphological species. Up to 15% of morphologically identified Anopheles funestus mosquitoes in insecticide resistance tests were found to be other species molecularly. The comprehension of primary and secondary malaria vectors and bionomic characteristics that impact malaria transmission and intervention effectiveness are fundamental in achieving malaria elimination.
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Neil F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Brandyce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: St Laurent
authors.affiliation: National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, P.O. Box 32509, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Chadwick H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sikaala
authors.affiliation: National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, P.O. Box 32509, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Busiku
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamainza
authors.affiliation: National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, P.O. Box 32509, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Javan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.affiliation: National Malaria Control Centre, Chainama Hospital College Grounds, Off Great East road, P.O. Box 32509, Lusaka, Zambia.
authors.forename: Dingani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chinula
authors.affiliation: Western Triangle Research Center, Montana State University, Conrad, MT, USA 59425.
authors.forename: Sindhu M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Krishnankutty
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Deason
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Quynh T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thumloup
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.; and Macha Research Trust, Choma, Zambia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.affiliation: Abt Associates, Africa Indoor Residual Spraying Project Ghana office, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Aklilu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seyoum
authors.affiliation: Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA 46556.
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D044822:Biodiversity; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D017344:Genes, Insect; D007303:Insect Vectors; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015024:Zambia
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic