First report of co-occurrence of Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae): comparative blood meal sources and infection rates in Ethiopia.
11 affiliations
- 1School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 2Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 3Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 4Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. [email protected].
- 5Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- 6Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Center (TIDRC), Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- 7Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia.
- 8School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- 9Department of Biology, College of Natural Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- 10Abt Global, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- 11Abt Global, PMI Evolve Ethiopia Project, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abstract
Background
Entomological surveillance is critical for understanding the species composition, behavior, and transmission roles of malaria vectors to guide evidence-based control strategies. This study aimed to determine the species composition, blood meal sources, and infection rates of the Anopheles gambiae complex in three regions of Ethiopia.Methods
Surveillance was conducted from July to November 2024 in six sites across three regions (Southwest, Gambella, and Oromia) of Ethiopia. Mosquitoes were collected using human landing catches, CDC light traps, and Prokopack aspirators. Specimens were identified morphologically, followed by species-specific PCR. Blood meal sources and Plasmodium infection rates were determined using PCR and Circumsporozoite Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (CSP-ELISA), respectively.Results
Of 284 morphologically identified An. gambiae s.l., PCR identified 39.8% as An. gambiae, 26.7% as An. arabiensis, and 6% as An. amharicus (27.8% non-amplified). Anopheles gambiae was present in all sites, with the highest prevalence in Godere (96.2%) and South Bench (60%). In contrast, An. arabiensis predominated in Seka Chekorsa (67.9%). Blood meal analysis results showed that the human blood index (HBI), bovine blood index (BBI) and goat blood index (GBI) for An. gambiae was 41.8%, 18.2% and 14.5% respectively while HBI, OBI and GBI for An. arabiesnsis was 0%, 28% and 71.4%, respectively. An. gambiae infection rates for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax were 2.8% and 0.9%, respectively and no Plasmodium infection was detected for An. arabiensis.Conclusion
This study provides the first report of An. gambiae in three regions of Ethiopia and its co-occurrence with the major malaria vector, An. arabiensis was also documented for the first time in Ethiopia. The high HBI and infection rates suggest that An. gambiae could contribute to local malaria transmission in Ethiopia. Hence, the national control/elimination program should prioritize indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to target this indoor-resting species (An. gambiae) in these areas.
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BibTeX
@article{yewhalaw2026first,
title = {{First report of co-occurrence of Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae): comparative blood meal sources and infection rates in Ethiopia.}},
author = {Delenasaw Yewhalaw and Arega Tsegaye and Gudissa Assefa and Alamayo Ayala and Mesfin Endale and Kassahun Zeleke and Mebrat Keya and Bezuayehu Alemayehu and Teshome Degefa and Eba Alemayehu and Ephrem Abiy and Amha Worku and Gedeon Yohannes and Dereje Olana and Meshesha Balkew},
journal = {Malaria journal},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12936-026-06076-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972403},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - First report of co-occurrence of Anopheles gambiae and An. arabiensis (Diptera: Culicidae): comparative blood meal sources and infection rates in Ethiopia.
AU - Delenasaw Yewhalaw
AU - Arega Tsegaye
AU - Gudissa Assefa
AU - Alamayo Ayala
AU - Mesfin Endale
AU - Kassahun Zeleke
AU - Mebrat Keya
AU - Bezuayehu Alemayehu
AU - Teshome Degefa
AU - Eba Alemayehu
AU - Ephrem Abiy
AU - Amha Worku
AU - Gedeon Yohannes
AU - Dereje Olana
AU - Meshesha Balkew
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/05
JO - Malaria journal
DO - 10.1186/s12936-026-06076-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42972403
AB - Background Entomological surveillance is critical for understanding the species composition, behavior, and transmission roles of malaria vectors to guide evidence-based control strategies. This study aimed to determine the species composition, blood meal sources, and infection rates of the Anopheles gambiae complex in three regions of Ethiopia.Methods Surveillance was conducted from July to November 2024 in six sites across three regions (Southwest, Gambella, and Oromia) of Ethiopia. Mosquitoes were collected using human landing catches, CDC light traps, and Prokopack aspirators. Specimens were identified morphologically, followed by species-specific PCR. Blood meal sources and Plasmodium infection rates were determined using PCR and Circumsporozoite Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (CSP-ELISA), respectively.Results Of 284 morphologically identified An. gambiae s.l., PCR identified 39.8% as An. gambiae, 26.7% as An. arabiensis, and 6% as An. amharicus (27.8% non-amplified). Anopheles gambiae was present in all sites, with the highest prevalence in Godere (96.2%) and South Bench (60%). In contrast, An. arabiensis predominated in Seka Chekorsa (67.9%). Blood meal analysis results showed that the human blood index (HBI), bovine blood index (BBI) and goat blood index (GBI) for An. gambiae was 41.8%, 18.2% and 14.5% respectively while HBI, OBI and GBI for An. arabiesnsis was 0%, 28% and 71.4%, respectively. An. gambiae infection rates for Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax were 2.8% and 0.9%, respectively and no Plasmodium infection was detected for An. arabiensis.Conclusion This study provides the first report of An. gambiae in three regions of Ethiopia and its co-occurrence with the major malaria vector, An. arabiensis was also documented for the first time in Ethiopia. The high HBI and infection rates suggest that An. gambiae could contribute to local malaria transmission in Ethiopia. Hence, the national control/elimination program should prioritize indoor residual spraying (IRS) and insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to target this indoor-resting species (An. gambiae) in these areas.
SN - 1475-2875
ER -