Contribution of different Anopheles vector complexes and groups to malaria transmission in the Covè, Zagnanado and Ouinhi districts, southern Benin

Abstract

Background: Malaria remains a major public health issue in Benin. The present study investigated the contribution of different malaria vector complexes and groups to the disease transmission in the Cove, Zagnanado and Ouinhi health area. Methods: Between september 2019 and april 2022, mosquito collections through Human Landing Catches were carried out over 9 rounds of collection, in 60 clusters/villages. Morphological identification of the mosquito specimens collected was carried out. A randomly selected subsample of An. gambiae complex and An. funestus and An. nili groups collected indoors and outdoors was screened for Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection and molecular species identification using ELISA CSP test and PCR methods, respectively. Results: Of the six Anopheles complexes and groups found during the study period, An. gambiae s.l. was the majority and represented 92.8% (64530/69527, p