# Species composition, infection rate and feeding preference of Anopheles mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) in the west Amhara Region, northwest Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This study in Ethiopia finds that Anopheles demeilloni and Anopheles cinereus are the main mosquito species involved in malaria transmission, with a shift in feeding behavior towards cattle.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the species composition and feeding preferences of Anopheles mosquitoes in the West Amhara Region.

## Key findings

- An. demeilloni was the most abundant species, accounting for 42.9% of all captures.
- An. demeilloni and An. cinereus had a combined infection rate of 1.1% for P. vivax parasite.
- Over 50% of collected Anopheles mosquitoes fed on cattle blood, indicating a shift in feeding behavior.

## Abstract

Reports showed that Amhara Region is accounting for 31% of Ethiopia`s malaria burden. Reports also depicted that despite the existing malaria vector control tools implemented by the regional government, currently there is an increment in malaria prevalence in the region. This might be due to lack of entomological monitoring and comprehensive information on the prevailing species composition, infection rate and feeding presences of An. mosquito species in the study areas. Therefore, this study aimed to address this information.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 18 February to 30 March 2023 at three districts of the west Amhara Region. For this, six CDC light traps (three indoor and three outdoor) were used to collect adult female An. mosquito species. In this study, 261 An. mosquito species comprising seven species were collected. Their morphological identification and abdominal status determination were carried out using standard morphological identification keys under a dissection microscope. While their infection rates and blood meal sources were determined, using circumsporozoite protein-ELISA and blood meal-ELISA based on the standard protocol. Data were entered to SPSS versions 20 for analysis and p- value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

In our study, total of 261 An. mosquito species were identified. An. demeilloni was the most abundant species accounted for 112(42.9%) of all captures. It was also the most predominant species at Ayehu-Guagusa followed by Jabitehnan districts. An. demeilloni and An. cinereus altogether accounting for infection rate of 3(1.1%) for P. vivax parasite. Furthermore, our study showed that more than 50% of An. mosquito species collected fed on cattle blood showing shifting of feeding behaviors.

Our study depicted that An. demeilloni and An. cinereus were the most abundant species and infected with P. vivax parasite. Therefore, further comprehensive study should be done in the future.