Journal Article

First identification of Microsporidia MB in Anopheles coluzzii from Zinder City, Niger

Bilgo, Etienne, Diabate, Abdoulaye, Konkobo, Maurice, Gomgnimbou, Michel K., Moustapha, Lamine Mahaman, Arzika, Ibrahima Issa, Maman, Laminou Ibrahim, Sadou, Illiassou Mamane

2024

Overview

Background Malaria, a disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, is a major public health problem causing millions of deaths worldwide, mostly among children under the age of 5 years. Biotechnological interventions targeting parasite-vector interactions have shown that the microsporidian symbiont Microsporidia MB has the potential to disrupt and block Plasmodium transmission. Methods A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in Zinder City (Zinder), Niger, from August to September 2022, using the CDC light trap technique to collect adult mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles gambiae complex. The survey focused on collecting mosquitoes from three neighborhoods of Zinder (Birni, Kangna and Garin Malan, located in communes I, II and IV, respectively). Collected mosquitoes were sorted and preserved in 70% ethanol. PCR was used to identify host species and detect the presence of Microsporidia MB and Plasmodium falciparum infection. Results Of the 257 Anopheles mosquitoes collected and identified by PCR, Anopheles coluzzii was the most prevalent species, accounting for 97.7% of the total. Microsporidia MB was exclusively detected in A. coluzzii , with a prevalence of 6.8% (17/251) among the samples. No significant difference in prevalence was found among the three neighborhoods. Only one An. coluzzii mosquito tested PCR-positive for P. falciparum . Conclusions The results confirm the presence of Microsporidia MB in Anopheles mosquitoes in Zinder, Niger, indicating its potential use as a biotechnological intervention against malaria transmission. However, further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of Microsporidia MB to disrupt Plasmodium transmission as well as its impact on vector fitness. Graphical Abstract

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: adults / Anopheles / Anopheles coluzzii / Anopheles gambiae / Anopheles gambiae complex / Aquatic insects / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Biotechnology / Brief Report / CDC light traps / Control / cross-sectional studies / Culicidae / Disease transmission / Entomology / Ethanol / Genetic testing / Health aspects / hosts / Human diseases / Identification and classification / Infectious Diseases / Light traps / Malaria / Microsporidia / Microsporidia MB / Mosquitoes / Niger / Nucleotide sequence / Parasites / Parasitology / Physiological aspects / Plasmodium / Plasmodium falciparum / Public health / Seasons / species / Surveys / symbionts / Tropical Medicine / Vector-borne diseases / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / Virology