Morphology of the larvae, male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia

Abstract

(Marrelli et al. 2007), with some species present at altitudes of more than 1,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.) (Cova-García 1961, Harbach & Navarro 1996.Kerteszia subgenus consists of species that have been incriminated as malaria vectors and are related to the emergence of malaria in thermal floors at altitudes of over 1,500 m a.s.l. Moreover, in the malaria-heavy coastal regions of South America and in the eastern slopes of the Venezuelan Andes, members of this subgenus seem to be the most important species involved in the transmission of malaria (Benítez et al. 2004, Montoya-Lerma et al. 2011. Similarly, the species of Kerteszia have been incriminated in the transmission of "malaria by bromeliads", which is typical of protected areas because the (Carvajal et al. 1989, Gutierrez et al. 2008 and Anopheles lepidotus (Quiñones et al. 1984, Montoya-Lerma et al. 2011.In Colombia, seven species of the subgenus have been reported, among which An. neivai and An. lepidotus are considered malaria vectors, while Anopheles boliviensis is considered a seasonal vector only (Quiñones et al. 1984, Montoya et al. 1994, Olano et al. 2001.Since 1984, An. lepidotus has been considered, using epidemiological evidence (namely, mosquito density correlated with malaria cases; 98% of the Anopheles species found in the malaria focal area corresponded to this species), to be one of the species responsible for malaria transmission in Colombia, particularly in the focal area of Cunday-Villarrica, Department of Tolima. It has been suggested that An. lepidotus is part of a complex of species in which members of this complex are difficult to be differentiated morphologically. Specimens of Kerteszia from Ecuador and Venezuela have been analysed using molecular tools, thereby providing evidence for a complex of species: An. lepidotus could exist with Anopheles pholidotus and An. boliviensis in a complex of at least (2009), based on the analysis of male genitalia and larvae of four specimens from Cunday-Villarrica, suggested the possibility that An. pholidotus occurred in this region. The importance of the above conclusion is that in Colombia, the region of Cunday-Villarrica is considered to be a focal area of malaria, where An. lepidotus had been incriminated as the possible vector for more than 25 years (Quiñones et al. 1984).Recently, Harrison et al. (2012) resolved the problem of separating An. lepidotus from An. pholidotus females by re-describing both species and preparing a taxonomic key. These methods were used to differentiate females, the IV instar larvae, pupae and male genitalia of An. lepidotus from other species of Kerteszia. [1981][1982][1983] in Tolima. Therefore, this conclusion was pending the analysis of the morphology of associated stages, the male genitalia and the inclusion of DNA sequences from samples of An. pholidotus that were recently obtained from the study area.Since the controversy surrounding the identity of the vector in Tolima began more than 30 years ago, the aim of this study was to provide updated and addit...

Human biting activity, spatial–temporal distribution and malaria vector role of Anopheles calderoni in the southwest of Colombia

“…pseudopunctipennis, An. neivai, Anopheles pholidotus ( as Anopheles lepidotus) [ 12 ] , An. oswaldoi, and An.…”

Malaria risk stratification in Colombia 2010 to 2019

“…[ 50 , 51 ], although An . pholidotus has also been incriminated in the southeast of this region as a local malaria vector [ 52 ]. On the other hand, S3 is found in the Orinoco and Amazonian regions, which include savanna, rainforest and interior lowland forest ecoregions.…”

Molecular Analysis Reveals a High Diversity of Anopheline Mosquitoes in Yanomami Lands and the Pantanal Region of Brazil

“…Despite having been implicated previously as a malaria vector in Colombia [ 60 ], subsequent studies found that Kerteszia lepidota was misidentified and the local vector was Ke. pholidota [ 93 , 94 ]. Kerteszia lepidota is therefore not considered to be an important vector in the Yanomami regions studied herein.…”