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. 2014 Mar 28:13:125.
doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-125.

Biting by Anopheles funestus in broad daylight after use of long-lasting insecticidal nets: a new challenge to malaria elimination

Seynabou Sougoufara, Seynabou Mocote Diédhiou, Souleymane Doucouré, Nafissatou Diagne, Pape Mbacké Sembène, Myriam Harry, Jean-François Trape, Cheikh Sokhna, Mamadou Ousmane Ndiath  1
Affiliations

Biting by Anopheles funestus in broad daylight after use of long-lasting insecticidal nets: a new challenge to malaria elimination

Seynabou Sougoufara et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Malaria control is mainly based on indoor residual spraying and insecticide-treated bed nets. The efficacy of these tools depends on the behaviour of mosquitoes, which varies by species. With resistance to insecticides, mosquitoes adapt their behaviour to ensure their survival and reproduction. The aim of this study was to assess the biting behaviour of Anopheles funestus after the implementation of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).

Methods: A study was conducted in Dielmo, a rural Senegalese village, after a second massive deployment of LLINs in July 2011. Adult mosquitoes were collected by human landing catch and by pyrethrum spray catch monthly between July 2011 and April 2013. Anophelines were identified by stereomicroscope and sub-species by PCR. The presence of circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum and the blood meal origin were detected by ELISA.

Results: Anopheles funestus showed a behavioural change in biting activity after introduction of LLINs, remaining anthropophilic and endophilic, while adopting diurnal feeding, essentially on humans. Six times more An. funestus were captured in broad daylight than at night. Only one infected mosquito was found during day capture. The mean of day CSP rate was 1.28% while no positive An. funestus was found in night captures.

Conclusion: Mosquito behaviour is an essential component for assessing vectorial capacity to transmit malaria. The emergence of new behavioural patterns of mosquitoes may significantly increase the risk for malaria transmission and represents a new challenge for malaria control. Additional vector control strategies are, therefore, necessary.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Monthly human biting rate and entomological inoculation rate of Anopheles funestus calculated by standard catching at night (SCN) and new catching by day (NCD) after the second implementation of long lasting insecticide nets in Dielmo. SCN represented the Standard Catching Night at 19:00 and 07:00 from July 2011 to April 2013; NCD represented the New Catching by Day at 07:00 and 11:00 from January to April 2013.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in the biting cycle of Anopheles funestus night and dayly human landing catche after the implementation of LLINs (cumulated number of bites of An. funestus per hour by total number of bites per night x 100).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of An. funestus bites per person (% and 95% confidence interval) according to a hour catch. SCN represented the standard catching at night between 19:00 and 07:00 from July 2011 to April 2013; NCD represented the new catching by day between 07:00 to 11:00 from January to April 2013.
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