Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission

Odette N. Zongo; Inoussa Toé; Mahamadi Kientega; Saberé O.G. Yemien; Grégoire Sawadogo; Honorine Kaboré; Achaz A.M. Agolinou; Nouhoun Traore; Emmanuel Kiendrebeogo; Abdoul Azize Millogo; Abdoulaye Niang; Moussa Namountougou; Alessandra Lanfrancotti; Tony Nolan; Hamidou Maiga; Abdoulaye Diabaté

doi:10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3

Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission

Odette N. Zongo
, Inoussa Toé
, Mahamadi Kientega
, Saberé O.G. Yemien
, Grégoire Sawadogo
, Honorine Kaboré
, Achaz A.M. Agolinou
, Nouhoun Traore
, Emmanuel Kiendrebeogo
, Abdoul Azize Millogo
, Abdoulaye Niang
, Moussa Namountougou
, Alessandra Lanfrancotti
, Tony Nolan
, Hamidou Maiga
, Abdoulaye Diabaté

Vector Biology

Centre national de recherche scientifique et technologique, Burkina Faso
Université Nazi Boni
Institut des Sciences des Sociétés
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

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

Abstract

Background: Anopheles funestus group and Anopheles gambiae complexes are among the most efficient malaria vectors in Africa, thriving in a variety of environments and well adapted to develop in semi-permanent and permanent water bodies. This study investigated the spatial distribution of the An. funestus group and their contribution to malaria transmission in Burkina Faso.

Methods: An entomological survey was conducted from October to December 2022 across 67 sites within the ecological zones of Burkina Faso (once a month); An. funestus was detected in 22 of these sites. Mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray catches (PSC) and identified at the species complex level using morphological keys. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for species identification among An. funestus group, blood meal sources and Plasmodium falciparum infection.

Results: A total of 617 members of the An. funestus group (45 males and 572 females) were collected across eight regions of Burkina Faso. Anopheles funestus s.s. was the most prevalent specie identified with a frequency of up to 95% (589/617). Most An. funestus s.s. were found in the Hauts-Bassins and the Sud-Ouest regions with 30% (177/589) and 55% (329/589), respectively. Hybrids between An. rivulorum and An. rivulorum-like were identified at a frequency of 3.57% (22/617). Additionally, results showed a high prevalence of zoophilic behaviour (64.3% of the blood source) in An. funestus. Plasmodium falciparum infection was detected in 5.76% (33/572) of the An. funestus s.l. populations with a frequency of 5.6% (32/572) and 0.174% (1/572) in An. funestus s.s. and An. rivulorum-like, respectively.

Conclusions: This study updates the distribution of the An. funestus group and its potential role in malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. It emphasizes the need to strengthen malaria vector surveillance and highlights the importance of incorporating An. funestus in developing innovative vector control interventions.

Original language	English
Article number	130
Journal	Malaria Journal
Volume	25
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3
Publication status	Published - 3 Feb 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Anopheles funestus
Blood source
Burkina Faso
Distribution
Plasmodium infection

Access to Document

10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

s12936-026-05813-3 (1)Final published version, 2.25 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Zongo, O. N., Toé, I., Kientega, M., Yemien, S. O. G., Sawadogo, G., Kaboré, H., Agolinou, A. A. M., Traore, N., Kiendrebeogo, E., Millogo, A. A., Niang, A., Namountougou, M., Lanfrancotti, A., Nolan, T., Maiga, H., & Diabaté, A. (2026). Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission. Malaria Journal, 25(1), Article 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3

@article{14d8ca2536034a0ba7ca1f5be84b93d2,

title = "Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission",

abstract = "Background: Anopheles funestus group and Anopheles gambiae complexes are among the most efficient malaria vectors in Africa, thriving in a variety of environments and well adapted to develop in semi-permanent and permanent water bodies. This study investigated the spatial distribution of the An. funestus group and their contribution to malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. Methods: An entomological survey was conducted from October to December 2022 across 67 sites within the ecological zones of Burkina Faso (once a month); An. funestus was detected in 22 of these sites. Mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray catches (PSC) and identified at the species complex level using morphological keys. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for species identification among An. funestus group, blood meal sources and Plasmodium falciparum infection. Results: A total of 617 members of the An. funestus group (45 males and 572 females) were collected across eight regions of Burkina Faso. Anopheles funestus s.s. was the most prevalent specie identified with a frequency of up to 95\% (589/617). Most An. funestus s.s. were found in the Hauts-Bassins and the Sud-Ouest regions with 30\% (177/589) and 55\% (329/589), respectively. Hybrids between An. rivulorum and An. rivulorum-like were identified at a frequency of 3.57\% (22/617). Additionally, results showed a high prevalence of zoophilic behaviour (64.3\% of the blood source) in An. funestus. Plasmodium falciparum infection was detected in 5.76\% (33/572) of the An. funestus s.l. populations with a frequency of 5.6\% (32/572) and 0.174\% (1/572) in An. funestus s.s. and An. rivulorum-like, respectively. Conclusions: This study updates the distribution of the An. funestus group and its potential role in malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. It emphasizes the need to strengthen malaria vector surveillance and highlights the importance of incorporating An. funestus in developing innovative vector control interventions.",

keywords = "Anopheles funestus, Blood source, Burkina Faso, Distribution, Plasmodium infection",

author = "Zongo, \{Odette N.\} and Inoussa To{\'e} and Mahamadi Kientega and Yemien, \{Saber{\'e} O.G.\} and Gr{\'e}goire Sawadogo and Honorine Kabor{\'e} and Agolinou, \{Achaz A.M.\} and Nouhoun Traore and Emmanuel Kiendrebeogo and Millogo, \{Abdoul Azize\} and Abdoulaye Niang and Moussa Namountougou and Alessandra Lanfrancotti and Tony Nolan and Hamidou Maiga and Abdoulaye Diabat{\'e}",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3",

language = "English",

volume = "25",

journal = "Malaria Journal",

issn = "1475-2875",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd",

number = "1",

}

Zongo, ON, Toé, I, Kientega, M, Yemien, SOG, Sawadogo, G, Kaboré, H, Agolinou, AAM, Traore, N, Kiendrebeogo, E, Millogo, AA, Niang, A, Namountougou, M, Lanfrancotti, A, Nolan, T, Maiga, H & Diabaté, A 2026, 'Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission', Malaria Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 130. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3

TY - JOUR

T1 - Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission

AU - Zongo, Odette N.

AU - Toé, Inoussa

AU - Kientega, Mahamadi

AU - Yemien, Saberé O.G.

AU - Sawadogo, Grégoire

AU - Kaboré, Honorine

AU - Agolinou, Achaz A.M.

AU - Traore, Nouhoun

AU - Kiendrebeogo, Emmanuel

AU - Millogo, Abdoul Azize

AU - Niang, Abdoulaye

AU - Namountougou, Moussa

AU - Lanfrancotti, Alessandra

AU - Nolan, Tony

AU - Maiga, Hamidou

AU - Diabaté, Abdoulaye

PY - 2026/2/3

Y1 - 2026/2/3

N2 - Background: Anopheles funestus group and Anopheles gambiae complexes are among the most efficient malaria vectors in Africa, thriving in a variety of environments and well adapted to develop in semi-permanent and permanent water bodies. This study investigated the spatial distribution of the An. funestus group and their contribution to malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. Methods: An entomological survey was conducted from October to December 2022 across 67 sites within the ecological zones of Burkina Faso (once a month); An. funestus was detected in 22 of these sites. Mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray catches (PSC) and identified at the species complex level using morphological keys. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for species identification among An. funestus group, blood meal sources and Plasmodium falciparum infection. Results: A total of 617 members of the An. funestus group (45 males and 572 females) were collected across eight regions of Burkina Faso. Anopheles funestus s.s. was the most prevalent specie identified with a frequency of up to 95% (589/617). Most An. funestus s.s. were found in the Hauts-Bassins and the Sud-Ouest regions with 30% (177/589) and 55% (329/589), respectively. Hybrids between An. rivulorum and An. rivulorum-like were identified at a frequency of 3.57% (22/617). Additionally, results showed a high prevalence of zoophilic behaviour (64.3% of the blood source) in An. funestus. Plasmodium falciparum infection was detected in 5.76% (33/572) of the An. funestus s.l. populations with a frequency of 5.6% (32/572) and 0.174% (1/572) in An. funestus s.s. and An. rivulorum-like, respectively. Conclusions: This study updates the distribution of the An. funestus group and its potential role in malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. It emphasizes the need to strengthen malaria vector surveillance and highlights the importance of incorporating An. funestus in developing innovative vector control interventions.

AB - Background: Anopheles funestus group and Anopheles gambiae complexes are among the most efficient malaria vectors in Africa, thriving in a variety of environments and well adapted to develop in semi-permanent and permanent water bodies. This study investigated the spatial distribution of the An. funestus group and their contribution to malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. Methods: An entomological survey was conducted from October to December 2022 across 67 sites within the ecological zones of Burkina Faso (once a month); An. funestus was detected in 22 of these sites. Mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray catches (PSC) and identified at the species complex level using morphological keys. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for species identification among An. funestus group, blood meal sources and Plasmodium falciparum infection. Results: A total of 617 members of the An. funestus group (45 males and 572 females) were collected across eight regions of Burkina Faso. Anopheles funestus s.s. was the most prevalent specie identified with a frequency of up to 95% (589/617). Most An. funestus s.s. were found in the Hauts-Bassins and the Sud-Ouest regions with 30% (177/589) and 55% (329/589), respectively. Hybrids between An. rivulorum and An. rivulorum-like were identified at a frequency of 3.57% (22/617). Additionally, results showed a high prevalence of zoophilic behaviour (64.3% of the blood source) in An. funestus. Plasmodium falciparum infection was detected in 5.76% (33/572) of the An. funestus s.l. populations with a frequency of 5.6% (32/572) and 0.174% (1/572) in An. funestus s.s. and An. rivulorum-like, respectively. Conclusions: This study updates the distribution of the An. funestus group and its potential role in malaria transmission in Burkina Faso. It emphasizes the need to strengthen malaria vector surveillance and highlights the importance of incorporating An. funestus in developing innovative vector control interventions.

KW - Anopheles funestus

KW - Blood source

KW - Burkina Faso

KW - Distribution

KW - Plasmodium infection

U2 - 10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3

DO - 10.1186/s12936-026-05813-3

M3 - Article

C2 - 41634688

AN - SCOPUS:105031739788

SN - 1475-2875

VL - 25

JO - Malaria Journal

JF - Malaria Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 130

ER -

Updating Anopheles funestus group members in Burkina Faso species distribution and contribution to malaria transmission

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this