<i>Culicoides</i> Species of the Rain Forest Belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon: Their Incrimination in the Transmission of <i>Mansonella perstans</i>
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
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.
