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

Abstract

Identifying the species of the subfamily Anophelinae that are Plasmodium vectors is important to vector and malaria control. Despite the increase in cases, vector mosquitoes remain poorly known in Brazilian indigenous communities. This study explores Anophelinae mosquito diversity in the following areas: (1) a Yanomami reserve in the northwestern Amazon Brazil biome and (2) the Pantanal biome in southwestern Brazil. This is carried out by analyzing cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene data using Refined Single Linkage (RESL), Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP), and tree-based multi-rate Poisson tree processes (mPTP) as species delimitation approaches. A total of 216 specimens collected from the Yanomami and Pantanal regions were sequenced and combined with 547 reference sequences for species delimitation analyses. The mPTP analysis for all sequences resulted in the delimitation of 45 species groups, while the ASAP analysis provided the partition of 48 groups. RESL analysis resulted in 63 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). This study expands our scant knowledge of anopheline species in the Yanomami and Pantanal regions. At least 18 species of Anophelinae mosquitoes were found in these study areas. Additional studies are now required to determine the species that transmit Plasmodium spp. in these regions.

High Levels of Diversity in Anopheles Subgenus Kerteszia Revealed by Species Delimitation Analyses

“…Within the latter Guiana Shield clade, at least three clusters were identified. These clusters were found in collections made by Silva-do-Nascimento et al [43] in northwest Roraima State, one of which (An. neivai 5) was also collected in the Sinnamary Commune of French Guiana by Talaga et al [44], demonstrating a geographical distribution that extends for more than 1000 km through much of the Guiana Shield.…”

Bacterial community associated with Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae) from an urban area in the Amazon, Brazil

“…The thermal cycling conditions comprised a cycle of 94 °C for 3 min followed by 40 cycles of 94 °C for 30 s, 50 °C for 30 s, 72 °C for 1 min and 30 s, and a final extension of 72 °C for 10 min. PCR products were purified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation (Silva-do-Nascimento et al, 2021). Sequencing was performed in the forward direction using the same forward PCR primer and the Big Dye Terminator cycle sequencing kit v3.1 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA).…”

Nondestructive Methods of Pathogen Detection: Importance of Mosquito Integrity in Studies of Disease Transmission and Control

“…Thus, even with the advances obtained through integrated taxonomy using molecular tools and markers, such as the COI gene (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], classical taxonomy based on morphology is still considered the golden standard for vector incrimination and control, which ultimately leads to the interruption of disease transmission. In this sense, the specimen value is enhanced, mainly if deposited in scientific entomological collections, where its additional records can be assessed, supporting research on Culicidae diversity or providing information on introduced and invasive species [ 24 , 25 ].…”