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Background <p>Evidence of natural infection with <i>Wolbachia</i> and its negative correlation with <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> among wild malaria vectors has opened new avenues for utilization of <i>Wolbachia</i> in malaria vector control. However, the interaction between <i>Wolbachia</i> and <i>Plasmodium</i> parasites in mosquitoes tends to be species-specific and may show ecological variations. Among the primary malaria vectors in Tanzania, natural <i>Wolbachia</i> infection has only been observed in <i>Anopheles arabiensis</i>, while there is still limited information on <i>Wolbachia</i> natural infection in <i>Anopheles funestus</i> sensu lato, and its interaction with <i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> in the mosquito species. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of natural infection and co-infection of <i>Wolbachia</i> and <i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> in the <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> s.l. in southeastern Tanzania, and characterized the <i>Wolbachia</i> strains detected.</p> Methods <p>The study was conducted in five villages in southeastern Tanzania between March and June 2024. Mosquitoes were collected from 52 households using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and Prokopack aspirators, followed by morphological identification. Detection of <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> sibling species and <i>Wolbachia</i> was performed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR (<i>Wolbachia</i> only). Sanger sequencing was performed as a confirmatory test followed by phylogenetic analysis of the detected <i>Wolbachia</i> strains. <i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> sporozoites were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p> Results <p><i>Wolbachia</i> was detected in almost half of all wild <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> s.l. tested using the primary PCR (prevalence = 46.5%, <i>N</i> = 400); and more than half when nested PCR approach was used (prevalence = 70.8%, <i>N</i> = 400). Only three mosquitoes carried <i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> sporozoites (prevalence = 0.8%, <i>N</i> = 400) and only one showed co-infection with <i>Wolbachia</i> (prevalence = 0.3%, <i>n</i> = 400). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis involving both the 16S rDNA, <i>coxA</i>, and <i>wsp Wolbachia</i> genes showed that the detected strains clustered with <i>Wolbachia</i> supergroup B, specific for Dipterans.</p> Conclusions <p>Unlike findings from the previous study, this study demonstrates that <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> s.l. in southeastern Tanzania are infected with <i>Wolbachia</i>, at a surprisingly high prevalence. This study also provides the first report on <i>Wolbachia</i>–<i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> co-infection status in <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> s.l. in Tanzania. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the association between native <i>Wolbachia</i> and <i>P.&#xa0;falciparum</i> in wild <i>An.&#xa0;funestus</i> s.l. in southeastern Tanzania.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Detection of supergroup B Wolbachia strains and their co-infection with Plasmodium falciparum in wild Anopheles funestus in southeastern Tanzania: implications for malaria control

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月17日

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  • Reuben E. Mmweteni,
  • Anitha B. Philbert,
  • Gustav Mkandawile,
  • Faraji Abilahi,
  • Saidi Abbasi,
  • Jamal Msemo,
  • Salum Milonge,
  • Francis A. Tumbo,
  • Yohana Mwalugelo,
  • Letus L. Muyaga,
  • Dickson Msaky,
  • Abdallah R. Kipekepeke,
  • Fredros O. Okumu,
  • Emmanuel W. Kaindoa,
  • Francesco Baldini

摘要

Background

Evidence of natural infection with Wolbachia and its negative correlation with Plasmodium falciparum among wild malaria vectors has opened new avenues for utilization of Wolbachia in malaria vector control. However, the interaction between Wolbachia and Plasmodium parasites in mosquitoes tends to be species-specific and may show ecological variations. Among the primary malaria vectors in Tanzania, natural Wolbachia infection has only been observed in Anopheles arabiensis, while there is still limited information on Wolbachia natural infection in Anopheles funestus sensu lato, and its interaction with P. falciparum in the mosquito species. Therefore, this study investigated the prevalence of natural infection and co-infection of Wolbachia and P. falciparum in the An. funestus s.l. in southeastern Tanzania, and characterized the Wolbachia strains detected.

Methods

The study was conducted in five villages in southeastern Tanzania between March and June 2024. Mosquitoes were collected from 52 households using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and Prokopack aspirators, followed by morphological identification. Detection of An. funestus sibling species and Wolbachia was performed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR (Wolbachia only). Sanger sequencing was performed as a confirmatory test followed by phylogenetic analysis of the detected Wolbachia strains. P. falciparum sporozoites were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Wolbachia was detected in almost half of all wild An. funestus s.l. tested using the primary PCR (prevalence = 46.5%, N = 400); and more than half when nested PCR approach was used (prevalence = 70.8%, N = 400). Only three mosquitoes carried P. falciparum sporozoites (prevalence = 0.8%, N = 400) and only one showed co-infection with Wolbachia (prevalence = 0.3%, n = 400). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis involving both the 16S rDNA, coxA, and wsp Wolbachia genes showed that the detected strains clustered with Wolbachia supergroup B, specific for Dipterans.

Conclusions

Unlike findings from the previous study, this study demonstrates that An. funestus s.l. in southeastern Tanzania are infected with Wolbachia, at a surprisingly high prevalence. This study also provides the first report on Wolbachia–P. falciparum co-infection status in An. funestus s.l. in Tanzania. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the association between native Wolbachia and P. falciparum in wild An. funestus s.l. in southeastern Tanzania.

Graphical Abstract