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Windborne long-distance migration of malaria mosquitoes in the Sahel

Author

Listed:
  • Diana L. Huestis

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Adama Dao

    (University of Bamako)

  • Moussa Diallo

    (University of Bamako)

  • Zana L. Sanogo

    (University of Bamako)

  • Djibril Samake

    (University of Bamako)

  • Alpha S. Yaro

    (University of Bamako
    Universite des Sciences des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (FSTUSTTB))

  • Yossi Ousman

    (University of Bamako)

  • Yvonne-Marie Linton

    (Smithsonian Institution Museum Support Center
    National Museum of Natural History)

  • Asha Krishna

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Laura Veru

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Benjamin J. Krajacich

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Roy Faiman

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Jenna Florio

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

  • Jason W. Chapman

    (University of Exeter
    Nanjing Agricultural University
    University of Exeter)

  • Don R. Reynolds

    (University of Greenwich
    Rothamsted Research)

  • David Weetman

    (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)

  • Reed Mitchell

    (Smithsonian Institution Museum Support Center)

  • Martin J. Donnelly

    (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)

  • Elijah Talamas

    (Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
    Department of Plant Industry)

  • Lourdes Chamorro

    (National Museum of Natural History
    Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History)

  • Ehud Strobach

    (University of Maryland
    Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA GSFC)

  • Tovi Lehmann

    (Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID, NIH)

Abstract

Over the past two decades efforts to control malaria have halved the number of cases globally, yet burdens remain high in much of Africa and the elimination of malaria has not been achieved even in areas where extreme reductions have been sustained, such as South Africa1,2. Studies seeking to understand the paradoxical persistence of malaria in areas in which surface water is absent for 3–8 months of the year have suggested that some species of Anopheles mosquito use long-distance migration3. Here we confirm this hypothesis through aerial sampling of mosquitoes at 40–290 m above ground level and provide—to our knowledge—the first evidence of windborne migration of African malaria vectors, and consequently of the pathogens that they transmit. Ten species, including the primary malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii, were identified among 235 anopheline mosquitoes that were captured during 617 nocturnal aerial collections in the Sahel of Mali. Notably, females accounted for more than 80% of all of the mosquitoes that we collected. Of these, 90% had taken a blood meal before their migration, which implies that pathogens are probably transported over long distances by migrating females. The likelihood of capturing Anopheles species increased with altitude (the height of the sampling panel above ground level) and during the wet seasons, but variation between years and localities was minimal. Simulated trajectories of mosquito flights indicated that there would be mean nightly displacements of up to 300 km for 9-h flight durations. Annually, the estimated numbers of mosquitoes at altitude that cross a 100-km line perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction included 81,000 Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, 6 million A. coluzzii and 44 million Anopheles squamosus. These results provide compelling evidence that millions of malaria vectors that have previously fed on blood frequently migrate over hundreds of kilometres, and thus almost certainly spread malaria over these distances. The successful elimination of malaria may therefore depend on whether the sources of migrant vectors can be identified and controlled.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana L. Huestis & Adama Dao & Moussa Diallo & Zana L. Sanogo & Djibril Samake & Alpha S. Yaro & Yossi Ousman & Yvonne-Marie Linton & Asha Krishna & Laura Veru & Benjamin J. Krajacich & Roy Faiman & J, 2019. "Windborne long-distance migration of malaria mosquitoes in the Sahel," Nature, Nature, vol. 574(7778), pages 404-408, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:574:y:2019:i:7778:d:10.1038_s41586-019-1622-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1622-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Tomasz Suchan & Clément P. Bataille & Megan S. Reich & Eric Toro-Delgado & Roger Vila & Naomi E. Pierce & Gerard Talavera, 2024. "A trans-oceanic flight of over 4,200 km by painted lady butterflies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Wei Kit Phang & Mohd Hafizi Abdul Hamid & Jenarun Jelip & Rose Nani Mudin & Ting-Wu Chuang & Yee Ling Lau & Mun Yik Fong, 2020. "Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Plasmodium knowlesi Infection in Peninsular Malaysia, 2011 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-21, December.

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