ABSTRACT
Mosquitoes play a critical role as vectors of pathogens affecting both humans and animals. Therefore, understanding their biodiversity and distribution is crucial to developing evidence-based vector control strategies. The current study updated the composition and distribution of mosquito species through a comprehensive survey of all municipalities of Cabo Verde. From October 2017 to September 2018, mosquito larvae and pupae were collected from 814 aquatic habitats. Anopheles gambiae (Giles, 1902) and Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) complexes were subjected to PCR-based techniques for sibling species identification. Ten mosquito species from 5 genera were identified: Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), Aedes caspius (Pallas, 1771), Anopheles arabiensis (Patton, 1905), Anopheles pretoriensis (Theobald, 1903), Culex bitaeniorhynchus (Giles, 1901), Cx. pipiens, Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Giles, 1901), Culiseta longiareolata (Macquart, 1838), and Lutzia tigripes (de Grandpre & de Charmoy, 1901). Santiago Island reported the highest number of species (nâ =â 8). Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus were the most widely distributed species across the country. An. arabiensis was the sole species identified within the An. gambiae complex. The findings from our study will help guide health policy decisions to effectively control mosquito-borne diseases.
ABSTRACT
Mosquito-borne diseases can pose significant burdens. In many countries, they pose a risk to national economies and the well-being of humans and animals. To mitigate this, mosquito surveillance is crucial to assess the real and potential transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. Between 2020 and 2023, mosquito larvae were collected from both indoor and outdoor breeding sites in urban and rural areas of 4 municipalities of Santiago and Boavista Islands in Cabo Verde. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically and by polymerase chain reaction-based techniques that targeted the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I sequence. During this period, 6,825 breeding sites were assessed, and of 8,094 mosquito specimens screened, 194 specimens of Culex thalassius were identified for the first time in the country in 4 municipalities of Santiago and Boavista Islands. This new finding highlights the importance of including entomological surveillance in health systems. Although this species has only been detected on a few islands, it is important to continuously monitor it to determine its distribution, spread/dispersal, density, and potential involvement in pathogen transmission.
