Title
Nyssorhynchus dunhami: bionomics and natural infection by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in the Peruvian Amazon
Date Issued
01 December 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Prussing C.
Bickersmith S.A.
Sallum M.A.M.
Conn J.E.
University of California San Diego
Publisher(s)
Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nyssorhynchus dunhami, a member of the Nuneztovari Complex, has been collected in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru and described as zoophilic. Although to date Ny. dunhami has not been documented to be naturally infected by Plasmodium, it is frequently misidentified as other Oswaldoi subgroup species that are local or regional malaria vectors. OBJECTIVES The current study seeks to verify the morphological identification of Nuneztovari Complex species collected in the peri-Iquitos region of Amazonian Peru, to determine their Plasmodium infection status, and to describe ecological characteristics of their larval habitats. METHODS We collected Ny. nuneztovari s.l. adults in 2011-2012, and Ny. nuneztovari s.l. larvae and adults in 2016-2017. When possible, samples were identified molecularly using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequencing. Adult Ny. nuneztovari s.l. from 2011-2012 were tested for Plasmodium using real-time PCR. Environmental characteristics associated with Ny. nuneztovari s.l. larvae-positive water bodies were evaluated. FINDINGS We collected 590 Ny. nuneztovari s.l. adults and 116 larvae from eight villages in peri-Iquitos. Of these, 191 adults and 111 larvae were identified by COI sequencing; all were Ny. dunhami. Three Ny. dunhami were infected with P. falciparum, and one with P. vivax, all collected from one village on one night. Ny. dunhami larvae were collected from natural and artificial water bodies, and their presence was positively associated with other Anophelinae larvae and amphibians, and negatively associated with people living within 250m. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Of Nuneztovari Complex species, we identified only Ny. dunhami across multiple years in eight peri-Iquitos localities. This study is, to our knowledge, the first report of natural infection of molecularly identified Ny. dunhami with Plasmodium. We advocate the use of molecular identification methods in this region to monitor Ny. dunhami and other putative secondary malaria vectors to more precisely evaluate their importance in malaria transmission.
Volume
113
Issue
12
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Medicina tropical
Subjects
Publication version
Version of Record
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85061266664
PubMed ID
Source
Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
ISSN of the container
00740276
Sponsor(s)
NIH-NIAID (U19AI089681) to JMV, NIH-NIAID (R01AI110112) to JEC, and WHO (TDR Contract 201460655) to DG. The Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease training fellowship grant T32AI05532901 provided partial support for CP.
doi: 10.1590/0074-02760180380 Financial support: NIH-NIAID (U19AI089681) to JMV, NIH-NIAID (R01AI110112) to JEC, and WHO (TDR Contract 201460655) to DG. The Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Disease training fellowship grant T32AI05532901 provided partial support for CP. * Current affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Immunology and Infection, London, UK. ** Current affiliation: Yale University School of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, New Haven, CT, USA + Corresponding author: cprussing@albany.edu Received 8 August 2018 Accepted 30 October 2018
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases- U19AI089681- NIAID
World Health Organization -T32AI05532901-WHO
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus