Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024

Jeanne N. Samake; Duncan K. Athinya; Sylvia Milanoi; Edith Ramaita; Margaret Muchoki; Seline Omondi; Bernard Abong’o; Damaris Matoke-Muhia; Charles Mbogo; Kibor Keitany; Wolfgang Richard Mukabana; Florence Oyieke; Mildred Shieshia; Monica Mburu; Sheila Ogoma; Elizabeth Nyawira; Celestine Wekesa; Brian Bartilol; Martin Rono; Marta Maia; Wendy O’Meara; Samuel Kahindi; Cristina Rafferty; Jonathan S. Schultz; Julie R. Gutman; John E. Gimnig; Sarah Zohdy; Eric Ochomo

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1

Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024

Jeanne N. Samake, Duncan K. Athinya, Sylvia Milanoi, Edith Ramaita, Margaret Muchoki, Seline Omondi, Bernard Abong’o, Damaris Matoke-Muhia, Charles Mbogo, Kibor Keitany, Wolfgang Richard Mukabana, Florence Oyieke, Mildred Shieshia, Monica Mburu, Sheila Ogoma, Elizabeth Nyawira, Celestine Wekesa, Brian Bartilol, Martin Rono, Marta MaiaWendy O’Meara, Samuel Kahindi, Cristina Rafferty, Jonathan S. Schultz, Julie R. Gutman, John E. Gimnig, Sarah Zohdy, Eric Ochomo

Vector Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This study analyzes the distribution, genetic diversity, and spread of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya following initial detection in December 2022. A total of 114 larval and 33 adult An. stephensi samples were confirmed in 7 of 18 surveyed counties majorly along transportation routes. Genetic analyses revealed three distinct genetic compositions with different levels of genetic diversity, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. The genetic composition of mosquitoes in most counties resembled southern Ethiopian populations, while those from Turkana showed a unique haplotype. A species distribution model predicts a more extensive range than currently observed, with low precipitation and minimal seasonal temperature variations as key factors influencing distribution. Challenges in adult sampling were noted, with larval sampling revealing co-occurrence with native Anopheles species. The findings have implications for surveillance and control strategies, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring, refined sampling techniques to inform bionomics, and cross-border collaboration.

Original language	English
Article number	19878
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1
Publication status	Published - 6 Jun 2025

Keywords

Anopheles stephensi
Kenya
Population structure
Spatial distribution

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10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

s41598-025-04682-1Final published version, 4.3 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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Samake, J. N., Athinya, D. K., Milanoi, S., Ramaita, E., Muchoki, M., Omondi, S., Abong’o, B., Matoke-Muhia, D., Mbogo, C., Keitany, K., Mukabana, W. R., Oyieke, F., Shieshia, M., Mburu, M., Ogoma, S., Nyawira, E., Wekesa, C., Bartilol, B., Rono, M., ... Ochomo, E. (2025). Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 19878. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1

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title = "Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024",

abstract = "This study analyzes the distribution, genetic diversity, and spread of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya following initial detection in December 2022. A total of 114 larval and 33 adult An. stephensi samples were confirmed in 7 of 18 surveyed counties majorly along transportation routes. Genetic analyses revealed three distinct genetic compositions with different levels of genetic diversity, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. The genetic composition of mosquitoes in most counties resembled southern Ethiopian populations, while those from Turkana showed a unique haplotype. A species distribution model predicts a more extensive range than currently observed, with low precipitation and minimal seasonal temperature variations as key factors influencing distribution. Challenges in adult sampling were noted, with larval sampling revealing co-occurrence with native Anopheles species. The findings have implications for surveillance and control strategies, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring, refined sampling techniques to inform bionomics, and cross-border collaboration.",

keywords = "Anopheles stephensi, Kenya, Population structure, Spatial distribution",

author = "Samake, \{Jeanne N.\} and Athinya, \{Duncan K.\} and Sylvia Milanoi and Edith Ramaita and Margaret Muchoki and Seline Omondi and Bernard Abong{\textquoteright}o and Damaris Matoke-Muhia and Charles Mbogo and Kibor Keitany and Mukabana, \{Wolfgang Richard\} and Florence Oyieke and Mildred Shieshia and Monica Mburu and Sheila Ogoma and Elizabeth Nyawira and Celestine Wekesa and Brian Bartilol and Martin Rono and Marta Maia and Wendy O{\textquoteright}Meara and Samuel Kahindi and Cristina Rafferty and Schultz, \{Jonathan S.\} and Gutman, \{Julie R.\} and Gimnig, \{John E.\} and Sarah Zohdy and Eric Ochomo",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

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Samake, JN, Athinya, DK, Milanoi, S, Ramaita, E, Muchoki, M, Omondi, S, Abong’o, B, Matoke-Muhia, D, Mbogo, C, Keitany, K, Mukabana, WR, Oyieke, F, Shieshia, M, Mburu, M, Ogoma, S, Nyawira, E, Wekesa, C, Bartilol, B, Rono, M, Maia, M, O’Meara, W, Kahindi, S, Rafferty, C, Schultz, JS, Gutman, JR, Gimnig, JE, Zohdy, S & Ochomo, E 2025, 'Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, 19878. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1

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T1 - Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024

AU - Samake, Jeanne N.

AU - Athinya, Duncan K.

AU - Milanoi, Sylvia

AU - Ramaita, Edith

AU - Muchoki, Margaret

AU - Omondi, Seline

AU - Abong’o, Bernard

AU - Matoke-Muhia, Damaris

AU - Mbogo, Charles

AU - Keitany, Kibor

AU - Mukabana, Wolfgang Richard

AU - Oyieke, Florence

AU - Shieshia, Mildred

AU - Mburu, Monica

AU - Ogoma, Sheila

AU - Nyawira, Elizabeth

AU - Wekesa, Celestine

AU - Bartilol, Brian

AU - Rono, Martin

AU - Maia, Marta

AU - O’Meara, Wendy

AU - Kahindi, Samuel

AU - Rafferty, Cristina

AU - Schultz, Jonathan S.

AU - Gutman, Julie R.

AU - Gimnig, John E.

AU - Zohdy, Sarah

AU - Ochomo, Eric

PY - 2025/6/6

Y1 - 2025/6/6

N2 - This study analyzes the distribution, genetic diversity, and spread of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya following initial detection in December 2022. A total of 114 larval and 33 adult An. stephensi samples were confirmed in 7 of 18 surveyed counties majorly along transportation routes. Genetic analyses revealed three distinct genetic compositions with different levels of genetic diversity, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. The genetic composition of mosquitoes in most counties resembled southern Ethiopian populations, while those from Turkana showed a unique haplotype. A species distribution model predicts a more extensive range than currently observed, with low precipitation and minimal seasonal temperature variations as key factors influencing distribution. Challenges in adult sampling were noted, with larval sampling revealing co-occurrence with native Anopheles species. The findings have implications for surveillance and control strategies, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring, refined sampling techniques to inform bionomics, and cross-border collaboration.

AB - This study analyzes the distribution, genetic diversity, and spread of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya following initial detection in December 2022. A total of 114 larval and 33 adult An. stephensi samples were confirmed in 7 of 18 surveyed counties majorly along transportation routes. Genetic analyses revealed three distinct genetic compositions with different levels of genetic diversity, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. The genetic composition of mosquitoes in most counties resembled southern Ethiopian populations, while those from Turkana showed a unique haplotype. A species distribution model predicts a more extensive range than currently observed, with low precipitation and minimal seasonal temperature variations as key factors influencing distribution. Challenges in adult sampling were noted, with larval sampling revealing co-occurrence with native Anopheles species. The findings have implications for surveillance and control strategies, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring, refined sampling techniques to inform bionomics, and cross-border collaboration.

KW - Anopheles stephensi

KW - Kenya

KW - Population structure

KW - Spatial distribution

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1

DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-04682-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 40481090

AN - SCOPUS:105007468263

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 15

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 19878

ER -

Spatial distribution and population structure of the invasive Anopheles stephensi in Kenya from 2022 to 2024

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Keywords

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