title: Mapping the distribution ofAnopheles funestusacross Benin highlights a sharp contrast of susceptibility to insecticides and infection rate toPlasmodiumbetween southern and northern populations.
abstract: Background.Malaria remains an important public health issue in Benin, withAnopheles gambiae s.l.andAnopheles funestus s.sbeing the predominant vectors. This study was designed to generate information onAn. funestusdistribution, molecular speciation,Plasmodiuminfection rate and insecticide susceptibility status across Benin.Methods.Mosquito samples were collected from December 2014 to January 2016 in 46 localities in Benin. These samples were mapped andAn. funestuscollected were speciated to the molecular level.Plasmodiuminfection rate was determined using a Taqman assay and susceptibility to insecticides was assessed using the WHO guidelines. The genotyping of the L119F- Gste2 mutation was also carried out.Results.An. funestuswas found in 8 out of the 46 localities surveyed with a high presence in Tanongou (wet Sudanese ecological zone), Kpome, Doukonta and Pahou (sub-equatorial ecological zone). Molecular identifications revealed that onlyAn. funestuss.swas present in southern Benin, whereas in Tanongou (northern Benin)An. funestus s.s.andAn. leesoniwere found in sympatry at proportions of 77.7% and 22.3% respectively.Plasmodiuminfection rate ofAn. funestuswas higher in southern Benin at a range of 13 to 18% compared to 5.6% recorded in Tanongou. High DDT (8±0.5%) and permethrin (11±0.5%) resistance were observed in Doukonta, Kpome and Pahou, contrasting with relatively low resistance profiles: mortality-DDT=90±3.18% and mortality-permethrin=100% in Tanongou. Genotyping analysis revealed  high frequency  of the resistant 119F allele in the South (Kpome and Doukonta) compared to the North (Tanongou).Discussion and Conclusion.The high presence ofAn. funestusin the South compared to the North  could be due to favorable environmental and climatic conditions found in both regions. A significantPlasmodiuminfection rate was recorded across the country. A high resistance profile was recorded in the southern Benin; this raises the need for further investigations on resistance selection factors.
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Rousseau
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djouaka
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.|University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Romaric
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6609-7859
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akoton
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.|University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Genevieve M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tchigossou
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.|Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Seun M
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4987-7300
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Atoyebi
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0447-0398
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kusimo
authors.affiliation: University of Sciences, Arts and Techniques of Natitingou, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Natitingou, Natitingou, Benin.
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Djegbe
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Jacob M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Riveron
authors.affiliation: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin.|University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tossou
authors.affiliation: University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Akadiri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yessoufou
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0791-3673
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Wondji
keywords: Anopheles funestus; Benin; Plasmodium infection; South-North; distribution; insecticide resistance