Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) populations in contrasting areas of the western regions of Burkina Faso: species diversity, abundance and their implications for pathogen transmission

Abstract

Background Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) can have a significant negative impact on human health. The urbanization of natural environments and their conversion for agricultural use, as well as human population growth, may affect mosquito populations and increase the risk of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. We report on the variety and number of adult mosquitoes found in four environments with varying degrees of human impact (rural, urban, rice fields, and forest) located in a savannah zone of West Africa. Methods Mosquitoes were collected from two regions (Hauts-Bassins and Sud-Ouest) of Burkina Faso during five periods between August 2019 and June 2021. Sampling sites were grouped according to environment. Mosquitoes were collected using BG-Sentinel traps and double net traps, and Prokopack Aspirators. Statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.1.2. Logistic regression, using generalised mixed linear models, was used to test the effect of environment on mosquito abundance and diversity. Alpha diversity analysis was also performed, using the vegan package. Results A total of 10,625 adult mosquitoes were collected, belonging to 33 species and five genera: Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Mansonia, and Ficalbia. The most dominant species were Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato and Aedes aegypti. Alpha diversity was similar in the two regions. Habitat had a significant effect on mosquito species richness, the Shannon index and the Simpson index. The rural environment had the highest species richness (n = 28) followed by the forest environment (n = 24). The highest number of mosquitoes (4977/10,625) was collected in the urban environment. Conclusions The species composition of the mosquito populations depended on the type of environment, with fewer species in environments with a high human impact such as urban areas and rice fields. Due to the diversity and abundance of the mosquito vectors, the human populations of all of the environments examined are considered to be at potential risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Graphical Abstract

A metagenomics-based survey of the virus diversity in mosquito vectors allows the first detection of Sindbis virus in Burkina Faso

“…univitattus , considered the main SINV vector in most African countries and usually found in rural environments [7,16], Cx. quinquefasciatus is abundant in both urban and rural areas in Burkina Faso [31]. Moreover, this mosquito, although mainly ornithophilic, readily feeds on humans [54].…”

“…Collection sites have been previously described [31]. Mosquitoes were collected in two regions of Burkina Faso, the Hauts-Bassins and South-West regions (Figure 1).…”

“…Mosquito sampling has been previously described in detail [31]. Briefly, mosquito collection was carried out in all sites in three periods: August/September 2019, June/October 2020 and May/June 2021.…”

“…Thus, the paucity of data on SINV hampers to fully evaluate its distribution in Africa and routes of spread. Methods Collection sites and mosquito sampling Collection sites have been previously described [31]. Mosquitoes were collected in two regions of Burkina Faso, the Hauts-Bassins and South-West regions (Figure 1).…”

Assessment of environmental and spatial factors influencing the establishment of Anopheles gambiae larval habitats in the malaria endemic province of Woleu-Ntem, northern Gabon

“…larvae remain by far the most adapted to urban pollution conditions [ 61 ]. This ability to adapt to environments drastically altered by human activity has led to Culex mosquito being the most common mosquito found in large African cities [ 62 , 63 ]. Although no An.…”