Culicoides Species of the Rain Forest Belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon: Their Incrimination in the Transmission of Mansonella perstans

Rene Ebai; Chi Anizette Kien; Fanny Fri Fombad; Frederick Esofi; Emmanuel Ouam; Anna Ning Ntuh; Glory Ngongeh Amambo; Victor Narcisse Tchamatchoua Gandjui; Valerine Chawa Chunda; Franck Nietcho; Lucy Cho Nchang; Chefor Magha; Jerome Fru Cho; Mathias Eyong Esum; Peter Ivo Enyong; Kenneth Pfarr; Achim Hoerauf; Manuel Ritter; Samuel Wanji

doi:10.3390/pathogens13020146

Pathogens (Feb 2024)

Culicoides Species of the Rain Forest Belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon: Their Incrimination in the Transmission of Mansonella perstans

Rene Ebai,
Chi Anizette Kien,
Fanny Fri Fombad,
Frederick Esofi,
Emmanuel Ouam,
Anna Ning Ntuh,
Glory Ngongeh Amambo,
Victor Narcisse Tchamatchoua Gandjui,
Valerine Chawa Chunda,
Franck Nietcho,
Lucy Cho Nchang,
Chefor Magha,
Jerome Fru Cho,
Mathias Eyong Esum,
Peter Ivo Enyong,
Kenneth Pfarr,
Achim Hoerauf,
Manuel Ritter,
Samuel Wanji

Affiliations

Rene Ebai: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Chi Anizette Kien: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Fanny Fri Fombad: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Frederick Esofi: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Emmanuel Ouam: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Anna Ning Ntuh: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Glory Ngongeh Amambo: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Victor Narcisse Tchamatchoua Gandjui: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Valerine Chawa Chunda: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Franck Nietcho: Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Lucy Cho Nchang: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Chefor Magha: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Jerome Fru Cho: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Mathias Eyong Esum: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Peter Ivo Enyong: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Kenneth Pfarr: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
Achim Hoerauf: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
Manuel Ritter: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany
Samuel Wanji: Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13020146
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 2
p. 146

Abstract

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Biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides are tiny stout-shaped hematophagous insects and are thought to transmit the filarial nematode Mansonella perstans. Little is known about the Culicoides fauna in the rain forest belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. This study was designed to investigate the diversity, abundance and distribution of Culicoides spp. and their role as the purported vector(s) of M. perstans. Overnight light trap collections and human landing catches (HLCs) revealed eight species of Culicoides with C. grahamii being the most abundant species followed by C. milnei. Four anthropophilic species (C. inornatipennis, C. grahamii, C. fulvithorax and C. milnei) were determined by the HLCs with a higher abundance in the 4–6 p.m. collections. The drop trap technique and Mp419 LAMP assay confirmed C. milnei to be the most efficient vector in enabling the development of the microfilarial stage to the infective larval form of M. perstans. The LAMP assay also revealed that natural transmission of this nematode is fostered by C. milnei and C. grahamii in the wild. In conclusion, C. milnei was shown to be the main vector of M. perstans in the rain forest belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Published in Pathogens

ISSN: 2076-0817 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogens

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