Distribution and chromosomal characterization of the Anopheles gambiae complex in Angola.

Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex (N = 1,336) were sampled (2001-2005) across Angola to identify taxa, study inversion polymorphisms, and detect the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. Anopheles gambiae s.s. was found in all sites; it was characterized as M-form in localities of the tropical dry and semi-desertic belts, whereas the S-form was predominant in comparatively more humid and less anthropized sites. Both forms were characterized by low degrees of chromosomal polymorphism based solely on the 2La inversion, a pattern usually associated with An. gambiae populations from forested, humid, and derived savanna areas. Unexpectedly, this pattern was also observed in M-form populations collected in dry/pre-desertic areas, where this form largely predominates over An. arabiensis, which was also detected in central/inland sites. Anopheles melas was found in northern coastal sites. Three of 534 An. gambiae s.s. were positive for P. falciparum CS-protein, whereas none of the 105 An. melas were positive.

Chromosomal differentiation of Anopheles funestus from Luanda and Huambo Provinces, western and central Angola.

The chromosomal polymorphism of Anopheles funestus sensu stricto from Angola was analyzed from indoor-resting samples collected in 11 peri-urban and rural sites of the Luanda and Huambo Provinces, which are > 450 km apart and have distinct eco-climatic conditions. Five polymorphic paracentric inversions were observed (scored chromatids range = 202 to 248): 2Ra, 2Rh, 3Ra, 3Rb, and 3La. Inversions 3Rb and 3La were highly polymorphic; the 2Ra and 3Ra arrangements were absent in Luanda. No significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg and linkage equilibria were found at the locality, commune, or province level (sites