Eave and swarm collections prove effective for biased captures of male Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes in Uganda

Parasites & Vectors

Frederic Tripet¹  Elinor W. Chemoges²  Annet Namukwaya²  Victor Balyesima²  Krystal Birungi²  Danspaid P. Mabuka²  Jonathan K. Kayondo²  Sylvia Kiwuwa-Muyingo³  C. Matilda Collins⁴ 

[1] Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, ST5 5BG, Staffordshire, UK;Entomology Division, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), P.O. Box 49, Plot 51-59, Entebbe, Uganda;MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Plot 51-59, Entebbe, Uganda;The Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, The Weeks Building, 16-18 Princes Gardens, SW7 1NE, London, UK;

关键词: Malaria;    Mosquito sampling;    Vector ecology;    Resting traps;    Swarm sampling;    Aspiration;    Eave;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-021-04770-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTraditional malaria vector sampling techniques bias collections towards female mosquitoes. Comprehensive understanding of vector dynamics requires balanced vector sampling of both males and females. Male mosquito sampling is also necessary for population size estimations by male-based mark-release-recapture (MRR) studies and for developing innovations in mosquito control, such as the male-targeted sterile insect technique and other genetic modification approaches. This study evaluated a range of collection methods which show promise in providing a more equal, or even male-biased, sex representation in the sample.ResultsSwarms were found at all study sites and were more abundant and larger at the peak of the wet season. Swarm sampling caught the most males, but when man/hour effort was factored in, sampling of eaves by aspiration was the more efficient method and also provided a representative sample of females. Grass-roofed houses were the most productive for eave collections. Overall few mosquitoes were caught with artificial resting traps (clay pots and buckets), although these sampling methods performed better at the start of the wet season than at its peak, possibly because of changes in mosquito ecology and an increased availability of natural resting sites later in the season. Aspiration of bushes was more productive at the peak of the wet season than at the start.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate that eave aspiration was an efficient and useful male mosquito collection method at the study sites and a potentially powerful aid for swarm location and MRR studies. The methods evaluated may together deliver more sex-balanced mosquito captures and can be used in various combinations depending on the aims and ecological parameters of a given study.Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY