Identification of breeding habitats and kdr mutations in Anopheles spp. in South Korea

Abstract Background Malaria is still endemic in South Korea. However, limited information is available on the current Anopheles breeding sites and the occurrence of insecticide resistance-associated genetic mutations and their distribution needed to control the malaria vector efficiently. Methods Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Hyelee Hong, Tae-Hui Eom, Thuy-Tien Thi Trinh, Bao Duong Tuan, Hyun Park, Seon-Ju Yeo
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-023-04821-x
https://doaj.org/article/40f1eee4ed7c415788f01116a22f4a37
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Malaria is still endemic in South Korea. However, limited information is available on the current Anopheles breeding sites and the occurrence of insecticide resistance-associated genetic mutations and their distribution needed to control the malaria vector efficiently. Methods This study explored breeding sites of Anopheline adults in Gimpo-si, near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Gyeonggi-do province, South Korea, from 2022 to 2023. Genetic diversity was investigated based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and knockdown resistance (kdr) genes of Anopheles mosquitoes. A natural environment associated with the seasonal abundance of Anopheles larvae was characterized. Results Two breeding sites of Anopheles larvae and adults were found at a stream margin or shallow freshwater near the forest in Wolgot-myeon in Gimpo-si without cattle shed within 1 km and in Naega-myeon in Ganghwa-gun with cow shed within 100 m in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Both sites were located between the newly cultivated lands and the forest. Besides, both breeding sites were in the valley at a slight elevation of 60–70 m from ground lands and maintained the shadow all day. Overall, the Wolgot-myeon breeding site showed various Anopheles spp. larvae, including Anopheles sinensis. Naega-myeon, an additional breeding site found in 2023, had Anopheles sineroides larvae, and approximately 59.7% (89/149) of An. sinensis adults inhabited within a 100-m distance. The total collection, including larvae and adults, revealed that An. sinensis, Anopheles pullus, Anopheles kleini, An. sineroides, Anopheles belenrae, and Anopheles lindesayi accounted for 44.2% (118/267), 0.7% (2/267), 0.7% (2/267), 22.1% (59/267), 1.9% (5/267), and 30.3% (81/267), respectively. Furthermore, various kdr mutant genotypes (F/F, C/C, L/F, L/C and F/C) in An. sinensis, and the first kdr allele mutant (L/F1014) in An. belenrae were identified in South Korea. Conclusions Two breeding sites of Anopheles larvae ...