Describing variations in wing shapes of Anopheles flavirostris detected positive and negative of filaria using relative warp and Euclidean distance matrix analysis

Abstract

Geometric morphometrics such as relative warp (RW) analysis has been increasingly used in assessing medically important mosquito species. It is used as a tool for quantifying phenotypic variation among populations. In this study however, relative warp (RW) and Euclidean Distance Matrix analysis (EDMA) were both used to describe intraspecific variation among Anopheles flavirostris that were detected positive and negative of filaria. Relative warp analysis generated five significant relative warps which account for most variation in the wing venation patterns in most of the landmarks near the base and apex. The posterior end of the wing is more labile as compared to the more rigid costa-radial boundary in the anterior side indicating the presence of a more tapered wing span for the identified vectors and a broader base and a wider wing tip among the non-vectors. Euclidian Distance Matrix Analysis show fifteen interlandmark distances that could explain wing shape differences between An. flavirostris found positive and negative of the presence of filarial parasite. Results of this study show that both RW and EDMA are useful tools in quantitatively describing shape variation in the wings of A. flavirostris.