A previously unreported potential malaria vector in a dry ecology of Kenya

A previously unreported potential malaria vector in a dry ecology of Kenya

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Abstract Background In Kenya, malaria remains a major public health menace equally affecting the semi-arid to arid ecologies.However, entomologic knowledge of malaria vectors in such areas remains poor.Methods Morphologically-identified wild-caught Anopheles funestus (s.

l.) specimens trapped outdoors from the semi-arid to arid area of Kacheliba, West Pokot County, Kenya, were analysed by PCR and sequencing for species identification, malaria parasite infection ultrastar dc hc550 and host blood-meal sources.Results Three hundred and thirty specimens were analysed to identify sibling species of the An.

funestus group, none of which amplified using the available primers; two were infected with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium ovale, separately, while 84% (n = 25) of the blood-fed specimens had fed on humans.Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences of 55 specimens (Plasmodium-positive, blood-fed and Plasmodium-negative) did not match reference sequences, possibly suggesting a previously unreported species, resolving as two clades.Conclusions Our findings indicate the existence of yet-to-be identified and berness white sneakers described anopheline species with a potential as malaria vectors in Kenya.