Morphology of the larvae,male genitalia and DNA sequences of
Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from
Colombia |
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Authors: | Jesús Eduardo Escovar Ranulfo González Martha L Qui?ones Richard C Wilkerson Fredy Ruiz Bruce A Harrison |
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Institution: | 1.Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia;2.Universidad de la Salle, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia;3.Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, Universidad del Valle, Valle, Colombia;4.Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, Suitland, MD, USA;5.College of Health and Human Sciences, Western Carolina University, Clemmons, NC, USA |
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Abstract: | Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered a
mosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, after
having been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malaria
outbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of females
captured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the species
responsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but rather
Anopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphological
stages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci of
Cunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently from
the outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additional
information by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of male
mosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which was
confirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribed
spacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larval
collections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured from
the same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNA
sequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showed
that the species present in this region corresponds to An.
pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even in
recent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previously
incriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An.
pholidotus, thus ending the controversy. |
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Keywords: | Kerteszia Anopheles pholidotus male genitalia DNA sequences |
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