BackgroundIncreased use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) over the last decade has considerably improved the control of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is still a paucity of data on the influence of LLIN use and other factors on mosquito bionomics in different epidemiological foci. The objective of this study was to provide updated data on the evolution of vector bionomics and malaria transmission patterns in the equatorial forest region of Cameroon over the period 2000–2017, during which LLIN coverage has increased substantially.MethodsThe study was conducted in Olama and Nyabessan, two villages situated in the equatorial forest region. Mosquito collections from 2016–2017 were compared to those of 2000–2001. Mosquitoes were sampled using both human landing catches and indoor sprays, and were identified using morphological taxonomic keys. Specimens belonging to the An. gambiae complex were further identified using molecular tools. Insecticide resistance bioassays were undertaken on An. gambiae to assess the susceptibility levels to both permethrin and deltamethrin. Mosquitoes were screened for Plasmodium falciparum infection and blood-feeding preference using the ELISA technique. Parasitological surveys in the population were conducted to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium infection using rapid diagnostic tests.ResultsA change in the species composition of sampled mosquitoes was recorded between the 2000–2001 collections and those of 2016–2017. A drop in the density of the local primary vectors An. nili and An. moucheti in the forest region was recorded, whereas there was an increase in the density of An. gambiae (s.l.), An. marshallii, An. ziemannii and An. paludis. A change in the biting behaviour from indoor to outdoor was recorded in Olama. Very few indoor resting mosquitoes were collected. A change in the night biting cycle was recorded with mosquitoes displaying a shift from night biting to late evening/early in the night. Several mosquitoes were found positive for Plasmodium infection, thus sustaining continuous transmission of malaria in both sites. Reduction of malaria transmission in Nyabessan was lower than that seen in Olama and associated with deforestation and the construction of a dam that may have enabled a more efficient vector, An. gambiae (s.l.), to invade the area. A high level of resistance to pyrethroids (permethrin and deltamethrin) was detected for An. gambiae in both sites. High parasite prevalence was recorded in both sites, with children of 0–16 years being the most affected. In both Olama and Nyabessan, bed net usage appeared to correlate to protection against malaria infection.ConclusionsThe study shows important changes in the bionomics of vector populations and malaria transmission patterns in the equatorial forest region. The changes call for more concerted efforts to address challenges such as insecticide resistance, environmental modifications or behavioural changes affecting the performance of current control measures.

Background Effective malaria control relies on evidence-based interventions. Anopheline behaviour and Plasmodium infections were investigated in North Cameroon, following long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) distribution in 2010. Methods During four consecutive years from 2011 to 2014, adult mosquitoes were collected indoors, outdoors and in exit traps across 38 locations in the Garoua, Pitoa and Mayo-Oulo health districts. Anophelines were morphologically and molecularly identified, then analysed for blood meal origins and Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein ( Pf -CSP). Blood from children under 5 years-old using LLINs was examined for Plasmodium infections. Results Overall, 9376 anophelines belonging to 14 species/sibling species were recorded. Anopheles gambiae ( s.l. ) [ An. arabiensis (73.3%), An. coluzzii (17.6%) and An. gambiae ( s.s. ) (9.1%)] was predominant (72%), followed by An. funestus ( s.l. ) (20.5%) and An. rufipes (6.5%). The recorded blood meals were mainly from humans (28%), cattle (15.6%) and sheep (11.6%) or mixed (45%). Pf -CSP rates were higher indoors (3.2–5.4%) versus outdoors (0.8–2.0%), and increased yearly ( χ 2 < 18, df = 10, P < 0.03). Malaria prevalence in children under 5 years-old, in households using LLINs was 30% (924/3088). Conclusions The present study revealed the variability of malaria vector resting and feeding behaviour, and the persistence of Plasmodium infections regardless the use of LLINs. Supplementary interventions to LLINs are therefore needed to sustain malaria prevention in North Cameroon.

The effectiveness of insecticide-based malaria vector control interventions in Africa is threatened by the spread and intensification of pyrethroid resistance in targeted mosquito populations. The present study aimed at investigating the temporal and spatial dynamics of deltamethrin resistance in An . gambiae s . l . populations from North Cameroon. Mosquito larvae were collected from 24 settings of the Garoua, Pitoa and Mayo Oulo Health Districts (HDs) from 2011 to 2015. Two to five days old female An . gambiae s . l . emerging from larval collections were tested for deltamethrin resistance using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard protocol. Sub samples of test mosquitoes were identified to species using PCR-RFLP and genotyped for knockdown resistance alleles ( Kdr 1014F and 1014S) using Hot Ligation Oligonucleotide Assay (HOLA). All the tested mosquitoes were identified as belonging to the An . gambiae complex, including 3 sibling species mostly represented by Anopheles arabiensis (67.6%), followed by Anopheles coluzzii (25.4%) and Anopheles gambiae (7%). Deltamethrin resistance frequencies increased significantly between 2011 and 2015, with mosquito mortality rates declining from 70–85% to 49–73% in the three HDs (Jonckheere-Terstra test statistic ( JT) = 5638, P < 0.001), although a temporary increase of mortality rates (91–97%) was seen in the Pitoa and Mayo Oulo HDs in 2012. Overall, confirmed resistance emerged in 10 An . gambiae s . l . populations over the 24 field populations monitored during the study period, from 2011 to 2015. Phenotypic resistance was mostly found in urban settings compared with semi-urban and rural settings ( JT = 5282, P < 0.0001), with a spatial autocorrelation between neighboring localities. The Kdr 1014F allelic frequencies in study HDs increased from 0–30% in 2011 to 18–61% in 2014–2015 ( JT = 620, P <0.001), especially in An . coluzzii samples. The overall frequency of the Kdr 1014S allele was 0.1%. This study revealed a rapid increase and widespread deltamethrin resistance frequency as well as Kdr 1014F allelic frequencies in An . gambiae s . l . populations over time, emphasizing the urgent need for vector surveillance and insecticide resistance management strategies in Cameroon.