<i>Anopheles stephensi</i>as an emerging malaria vector in the Horn of Africa with high susceptibility to Ethiopian<i>Plasmodium vivax</i>and<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>isolates

Abstract

Anopheles stephensi, an efficient Asian malaria vector, recently spread into the Horn of Africa and may increase malaria receptivity in African urban areas. We assessed occurrence, genetic complexity, blood meal source and infection status ofAn. stephensiin Awash Sebat Kilo town, Ethiopia. We used membrane feeding assays to assess competence of localAn. stephensitoP. vivaxandP. falciparumisolates from clinical patients. 75.3% of the examined waterbodies were infested withAn. stephensidevelopmental stages that were genetically closely related to isolates from Djibouti and Pakistan. BothP. vivaxandP. falciparumwere detected in wild-caught adultAn. stephensi. LocalAn. stephensiwas more receptive toP. vivaxcompared to a colony ofAn. arabiensis. We conclude thatAn. stephensiis an established vector in this part of Ethiopia, highly permissive for localP. vivaxandP. falciparumisolates and presents an important new challenge for malaria control.

Summary of the article

An. stephensi, a metropolitan malaria vector that recently expanded to the Horn of African, was highly susceptible to localP. falciparumandP. vivaxisolates from Ethiopia and may increase malariogenic potential of rapidly expanding urban settings in Africa.