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Localized breeding of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae) along the River Gambia, West Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

C. Bøgh ,
S.E. Clarke ,
M. Jawara ,
C.J. Thomas  and
S.W. Lindsay
C. Bøgh*
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jaegersborg Allé 1D, DK-2920, Charlottenlund, Denmark
S.E. Clarke
Affiliation:
Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory, Jaegersborg Allé 1D, DK-2920, Charlottenlund, Denmark
M. Jawara
Affiliation:
Medical Research Councils Laboratories, PO Box 273, Fajara, The Gambia
C.J. Thomas
Affiliation:
School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
S.W. Lindsay
Affiliation:
School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
*
*Apartment. 505, Apartment Regency Menteng, Jalan Soeroso 10–12 Gondangdia Lama, Jakarta 10310, Indonesia Fax: (+62) 21 31 55 654. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A study was undertaken to identify the major larval habitats of the Anopheles gambiae (Giles) complex in rural Gambia. Mosquito larvae and pupae were sampled along transects and in specific habitats in the central region of the country during the rainy seasons of 1996 and 1997. The sampling showed that the major breeding sites were located on the flooded alluvial soils bordering the river. The largest numbers of larvae were found during September, one month after the peak rains. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of specimens showed that Anopheles melas (Theobald) was the dominant species in the flooded areas (81.5%), followed by A. gambiae sensu stricto (Giles) (18.0%) and A.arabiensis (Patton) (0.5%). By sampling in specific habitats it was evident that A.arabiensis was mainly breeding in rain-fed rice fields along the edge of the alluvial soils. Anophelesmelas and A.gambiae s.s. often coexisted but whereas A. melas were found in water with a salinity of up to 72% sea water (25.2 g NaCl l−1), A.gambiae s.s. only occurred in water with up to 30% sea water (10.5 g NaCl l−1). Anophelesmelas larvae were found in association with plant communities dominated by sedges and grasses (Eleocharis sp., Paspalum sp., Sporobolus sp.) and sea-purslane Sesuviumportulacastrum (L.) and the presence of cattle hoof prints, whereas A.gambiae s.s. larvae mainly occurred in association with Paspalum sp. and Eleocharis sp. The study showed that even during the peak rainy season, breeding of the A.gambiae complex is almost entirely restricted to the extensive alluvial areas along the river.

Type
Review Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 93 , Issue 4 , July 2003 , pp. 279 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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