Distribution Patterns Dispersal And Population Genetics of Anopheline Mosquitoes Along The Kenyan Coast

ABSTRACT

Studies on the distribution patterns, dispersal and population genetics of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) and Anopheles funestus (Diptera: Culicidae) were conducted at two sites, i.e Jaribuni and Mtepeni in Kilifi, along the Kenyan Coast. Longitudinal sampling of mosquito populations was conducted during the period 2002 - 2003. Day resting indoor collections and all night human biting catches revealed the presence of An. funestus, An. gambiae s.s, An. squamosus, An. coustani. An. nili and An. pharoensis. An. gambiae was the most predominant specie at the Mtepeni site representing 91.8% of the total anophelines captured, with the least being An. funestus which accounted for to 6.7% of the total. At the Jaribuni site, An. funestus represented 85% of the total anophelines compared to 14.6% An. gambiae. Sporozoite ELISA tests on these species revealed no significant differences (p>0.05) in the sporozoite rates between An. gambiae and An. funestus from Jaribuni during 2001. In Mtepeni, sporozoite rates were significantly different (p=0.02) between An. gambiae and An. funestus in 2001 and 2002. Variations in Anopheles population density were associated with changes in rainfall, temperature and relative humidity. At Jaribuni, average relative humidity and daily rainfall were significantly (P