The goal of this work was to understand the genetic structuring in the primary malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis and implication on vector control in Zimbabwe. This was achieved through population genetic analysis of An. arabiensis caught indoor and outdoor from different ecological zones in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe and profiled insecticide susceptibility status, human blood index as well as Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite rates. An analysis of genes associated with insecticide resistance and  the frequency of the 2La chromosomal inversion in an Anopheles arabiensis populations from South Africa and Zimbabwe was also explored.

Objectives:

To determine insecticide resistance status, human blood index and infectivity rate from Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal provinces

To determine if feeding behaviour (outdoor or indoor) of An. arabiensis is linked to factors such as insecticide susceptibility status, human blood index and Plasmodium infectivity status

To determine the genetic diversity (CYP6P9a) and population structure of An. arabiensis in different from South Africa and Zimbabwe

To determine the presence and frequency of metabolic resistance involved in insecticide degradation in detoxification genes such carboxylesterases (CoEs), cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases (P450s) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs)

To determine the presence and frequency of G119S mutation conferring resistance to organophosphates (OPs) and carbamates (CMs)

Contributors:

Givemore Munhenga Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa and Wits Research Institute for Malaria, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Prof Nicholas Midzi National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Zimbabwe

Gladys Maponga National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Zimbabwe

White Soko National Institute of Health Research/De Beers Research Laboratory, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Zimbabwe

Taonga Muzenda National Institute of Health Research/De Beers Research Laboratory, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Zimbabwe

Ephius Mutava National Institute of Health Research/De Beers Research Laboratory, Ministry of Health & Child Care, Zimbabwe

Charmaine Matimba Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe