Laboratory colonization and maintenance of Anopheles atroparvus from the Ebro Delta, Spain

Abstract

Background: Historically, Anopheles atroparvus has been considered one of the most important malaria vectors in Europe. Since malaria was eradicated from the European continent, the interest in studying its vectors reduced significantly. Currently, to better assess the potential risk of malaria resurgence on the continent, there is a growing need to update the data on susceptibility of indigenous Anopheles populations to imported Plasmodium species. In order to do this, as a first step, an adequate laboratory colony of An. atroparvus is needed. Methods: Anopheles atroparvus mosquitoes were captured in rice fields from the Ebro Delta (Spain). Field-caught specimens were maintained in the laboratory under simulated field-summer conditions. Adult females were artificially blood-fed on fresh whole rabbit blood for oviposition. First-to fourth-instar larvae were fed on pulverized fish and turtle food. Adults were maintained with a 10% sucrose solution ad libitum. Results: An An. atroparvus population from the Ebro Delta was successfully established in the laboratory. During the colonization process, feeding and hatching rates increased, while a reduction in larval mortality rate was observed. Conclusions: The present study provides a detailed rearing and maintenance protocol for An. atroparvus and a publicly available reference mosquito strain within the INFRAVEC2 project for further research studies involving vectorparasite interactions.

Airport Malaria in Non-Endemic Areas: New Insights into Mosquito Vectors, Case Management and Major Challenges

“…infections, 9.1% (3/33) about treatment and management of cases, and 21.2% (7/33) about mass prevention strategies, as shown in Table 1. Airport malaria mass prevention strategies [9,[22][23][24][25][26]28,39,40] 3.1. Mosquito Vectors…”

“…Anopheles atroparvus is present in Eastern and Central Europe, as well as in the United Kingdom [22,46]. Its absence has been reported in Greece, Turkey [47], and southern Italy [22].…”

“…Anopheles atroparvus is present in Eastern and Central Europe, as well as in the United Kingdom [22,46]. Its absence has been reported in Greece, Turkey [47], and southern Italy [22]. Although described as a species with a preference for brackish larval habitats [23], this species has been found in a number of freshwater habitats, including canals, ditches, riverbanks, pools in riverbeds, and rice paddies [19].…”

“…Historically, An. atroparvus was involved in the transmission of local strains of P. vivax [52] and P. falciparum in Spain [22]. Studies have shown that this vector species is refractory to Asian and African P. falciparum [19,22].…”

“…atroparvus was involved in the transmission of local strains of P. vivax [52] and P. falciparum in Spain [22]. Studies have shown that this vector species is refractory to Asian and African P. falciparum [19,22]. De Zulueta et al [53] and Cambournac [54] though that the refractory character of An.…”