title: Composition and Genetic Diversity of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) on Islands and Mainland Shores of Kenya's Lakes Victoria and Baringo.
abstract: The Lake Baringo and Lake Victoria regions of Kenya are associated with high seroprevalence of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses. However, molecular identification of potential mosquito vector species, including morphologically identified ones, remains scarce. To estimate the diversity, abundance, and distribution of mosquito vectors on the mainland shores and adjacent inhabited islands in these regions, we collected and morphologically identified adult and immature mosquitoes and obtained the corresponding sequence variation at cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) gene regions. A total of 63 species (including five subspecies) were collected from both study areas, 47 of which have previously been implicated as disease vectors. Fourteen species were found only on island sites, which are rarely included in mosquito diversity surveys. We collected more mosquitoes, yet with lower species composition, at Lake Baringo (40,229 mosquitoes, 32 species) than at Lake Victoria (22,393 mosquitoes, 54 species). Phylogenetic analysis of COI gene sequences revealed Culex perexiguus and Cx tenagius that could not be distinguished morphologically. Most Culex species clustered into a heterogeneous clade with closely related sequences, while Culex pipiens clustered into two distinct COI and ITS2 clades. These data suggest limitations in current morphological identification keys. This is the first DNA barcode report of Kenyan mosquitoes. To improve mosquito species identification, morphological identifications should be supported by their molecular data, while diversity surveys should target both adults and immatures. The diversity of native mosquito disease vectors identified in this study impacts disease transmission risks to humans and livestock.
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org).|Department of Botany (Genetics), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya (awmuigai@yahoo.co.uk).
authors.forename: Yvonne Ukamaka
authors.initials: YU
authors.lastname: Ajamma
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org) jandouwe@icipe.org.
authors.forename: Jandouwe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villinger
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org).|Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Egerton University, P. O. Box 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya.|Molecular Biology and Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Biosciences, University of Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Omondi
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org).
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salifu
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org).|Insect Symbiosis Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (MPI-CE), Hans-Knoll Str. 8, 07745-Jena, Germany.|Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Zoology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 13, 55128 Mainz, Germany, and.
authors.forename: Thomas Ogao
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Onchuru
authors.affiliation: Invertebrates Zoology Section, National Museums of Kenya, P. O. Box 40658-00100, Museum Hill Rd., Nairobi, Kenya (lnjoroge@museums.or.ke).
authors.forename: Laban
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Njoroge
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany (Genetics), Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, P. O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya (awmuigai@yahoo.co.uk).
authors.forename: Anne W T
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Muigai
authors.affiliation: Martin Lüscher Emerging Infectious Diseases (ML-EID) Laboratory, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Kasarani, P. O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya (yvonneuo@yahoo.com; jandouwe@icipe.org; domondi@icipe.org; dsalifu@icipe.org; ogathomas@gmail.com; dmasiga@icipe.org).
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Masiga
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D009033:Culicidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D062312:Islands; D007630:Kenya; D060106:Lakes; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011156:Population Density; D011679:Pupa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D019476:Insect Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Anopheles; culicine; genetics; mosquito-borne disease; vector ecology