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Morphological changes in the spiracles of Anopheles gambiae s.l (Diptera) as a response to the dry season conditions in Burkina Faso (West Africa).
Mamai, Wadaka; Mouline, Karine; Parvy, Jean-Philippe; Le Lannic, Jo; Dabiré, Kounbobr Roch; Ouédraogo, Georges Anicet; Renault, David; Simard, Frederic.
Affiliation
  • Mamai W; Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (DRO), 399 Avenue de la Liberté, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. mwjosephfr@yahoo.fr.
  • Mouline K; MIVEGEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier, cedex 5, France. mwjosephfr@yahoo.fr.
  • Parvy JP; Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso (UPB), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. mwjosephfr@yahoo.fr.
  • Le Lannic J; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Antenne de Bobo Dioulasso, BP 171, Bobo Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso. mwjosephfr@yahoo.fr.
  • Dabiré KR; Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Direction Régionale de l'Ouest (DRO), 399 Avenue de la Liberté, 01 BP 545, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. karine.mouline@ird.fr.
  • Ouédraogo GA; MIVEGEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier, cedex 5, France. karine.mouline@ird.fr.
  • Renault D; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France. jparvy@snv.jussieu.fr.
  • Simard F; CGM, UPR 3404, CNRS, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. jparvy@snv.jussieu.fr.
Parasit Vectors ; 9: 11, 2016 Jan 07.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26739500
BACKGROUND: Survival to dry season conditions of sub-Saharan savannahs is a major challenge for insects inhabiting such environments, especially regarding the desiccation threat they are exposed to. While extensive literature about insect seasonality has revealed morphologic, metabolic and physiological changes in many species, only a few studies have explored the responses following exposure to the stressful dry season conditions in major malaria vectors. Here, we explored morphological changes triggered by exposure to dry season conditions in An. gambiae s.l. mosquitoes by comparing females reared in climatic chambers reflecting environmental conditions found in mosquito habitats during the rainy and dry seasons in a savannah area of Burkina Faso (West Africa). RESULTS: Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal imaging, we revealed significant changes in morphological features of the spiracles in females An. gambiae s.l. exposed to contrasted environmental conditions. Hence, the hairs surrounding the spiracles were thicker in the three species when raised under dry season environmental conditions. The thicker hairs were in some cases totally obstructing spiracular openings. Specific staining provided evidence against contamination by external microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. However, only further analysis would unequivocally rule out the hypothesis of experimental artifact. CONCLUSION: Morphological changes in spiracular features probably help to limit body water loss during desiccating conditions, therefore contributing to insect survival. Differences between species within the An. gambiae complex might therefore reflect different survival strategies used by these species to overcome the detrimental dry season conditions in the wild.
Subject(s)

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Insect Vectors / Malaria / Anopheles Limits: Animals / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Parasit Vectors Year: 2016 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Burkina Faso Country of publication: United kingdom

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Insect Vectors / Malaria / Anopheles Limits: Animals / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: Africa Language: En Journal: Parasit Vectors Year: 2016 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Burkina Faso Country of publication: United kingdom