Potential malaria vector Anopheles minimus (species A) still persisting in North East India

Abstract

Vector borne infectious diseases affect two third of the world's human population and cause millions of deaths every year. Among these, malaria remains one of the major killer in the Indian sub-continent and transmitted uninterruptedly by many efficient vectors and their sibling species. In North East India (NE), Anopheles minimus has been recognized as an important vector which transmits majority of malaria cases. This study primarily focuses on to recognize the presence and distribution of sibling species of An. minimus in certain endemic areas of NE India. Anopheles mosquitoes collected were identified using available morphological keys. The genomic DNA was extracted from the mosquitoes and used to perform species specific PCR (ss PCR) for molecular identification of major malaria vector An. minimus sibling species. Morphological identification suggested the presence of An. minimus sl in low density in the study area. The specimen of An. minimus subjected to ss PCR confirmed the prevalence of only one sibling species namely An. minimus 'A' in Sialmari and Chandubi areas. Though in low density, but malaria vector An. minimus is still present in certain endemic areas of NE India. The ss PCR assay used presently suggested that An. minimus sibling species A is prevailing in the region. Presently used ss PCR assay was simpler, faster, cheaper and more readily interpretable than the earlier assays. This information could be useful in understanding of current prevalence and distribution of malaria vector An. minimus and its sibling species complex in NE region of India.