Reduced human-biting preferences of the African malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae in an urban context: controlled, competitive host-preference experiments in Tanzania

Abstract

Background Host preference is a critical determinant of human exposure to vector-borne infections and the impact of vector control interventions. Widespread use of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) across sub-Saharan Africa, which protect humans against mosquitoes, may select for altered host preference traits of malaria vectors over the long term. Here, the host preferences of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.) were experimentally assessed in the field, using direct host-preference assays in two distinct ecological settings in Tanzania. Methods Eight Ifakara Tent Trap (ITT), four baited with humans and four with bovine calves, were simultaneously used to catch malaria vectors in open field sites in urban and rural Tanzania. The numbers of mosquitoes collected in human-baited traps versus calf-baited traps were used to estimate human feeding preference for each site's vector species. Results The estimated proportion [95% confidence interval (CI)] of mosquitoes attacking humans rather than cattle was 0.60 [0.40, 0.77] for An. arabiensis in the rural setting and 0.61 [0.32, 0.85] for An. gambiae s.s. in the urban setting, indicating no preference for either host in both cases (P = 0.32 and 0.46, respectively) and no difference in preference between the two (Odds Ratio (OR) [95%] = 0.95 [0.30, 3.01], P = 0.924). However, only a quarter of An. arabiensis in the urban setting attacked humans (0.25 [0.09, 0.53]), indicating a preference for cattle that approached significance (P = 0.08). Indeed, urban An. arabiensis were less likely to attack humans rather than cattle when compared to the same species in the rural setting (OR [95%] = 0.21 [0.05, 0.91], P = 0.037). Conclusion Urban An. arabiensis had a stronger preference for cattle than the rural population and urban An. gambiae s.s. showed no clear preference for either humans or cattle. In the urban setting, both species exhibited stronger tendencies to attack cattle than previous studies of the same species in rural contexts. Cattle keeping may, therefore, particularly limit the impact of human-targeted vector control interventions in Dar es Salaam and perhaps in other African towns and cities.

Seasonal variation in abundance and blood meal sources of primary and secondary malaria vectors within Kilombero Valley, Southern Tanzania

“…The overall feeding patterns observed in this study are consistent with those previously described for the primary and secondary vector species in this study, in regions with similar host availability [ 76 – 78 ]. Blood meal analysis, as a proxy for host preference, is confounded by host availability [ 27 , 36 ]; therefore, we used a direct measure of host preference, the METs, to provide supporting evidence of the seasonal shift in host choice in An. arabiensis [ 79 ].…”

“…funestus s.s. being more anthropophilic than An. arabiensis , which rather are more opportunistic [ 11 , 26 , 27 ]. Due to this difference in host preference, An.…”

Mosquito ShieldTM, a transfluthrin passive emanator, protects against pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles gambiae s.l in central Benin

“…The difference in outcome between both studies could be attributed to higher intensities of pyrethroid resistance in the An gambiae sl population in the Benin study and/or to inherent differences in vector species. The An gambiae sl vector population in Benin is highly anthropophagic, feeding almost entirely on humans indoors [21], while An arabiensis tends to be more zoophilic and is less attracted to humans compared to An gambiae sl [22,23]. Susceptibility bioassays showed that the Benin vector population had a high intensity of resistance to pyrethroids with mosquito mortality remaining below 80% even at doses 10 times the diagnostic dose of permethrin and alphacypermethrin.…”

Comparative evaluation of different versions of exposure-free mosquito electrocuting traps and barrier screen trap for monitoring outdoor densities and biting time phenotypes by malaria and filariasis vectors in Tanzania

“…The experiment was conducted over 12 nights of sampling from 17 to 28 November 2020. While traps were rotated through stations, volunteers once assigned to a particular station remained fixed throughout the experiment to minimize any variation associated with volunteers and their catching stations [ 9 , 21 ]. Mosquitoes were collected hourly (from 18:00 to 07:00) from each trap on each experimental night with catches from each hour placed in hourly labelled paper cups.…”