Molecular identification of sibling species of the members of the Anopheles punctulatus group in the Jayapura regency, Papua province, Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: Precise mosquito species identification is an essential step for proper management and control of malaria vectors. Misidentification of members in the Anopheles punctulatus group, some which are primary malaria vectors in Papua (Indonesia), Papua New Guenia (PNG), Solomon Islands, Vanutu and northern Australia, remains problematic because of indistinguishable or overlapping morphological characters between sibling species. Distinguishing these species from each other requires molecular diagnostic methods. Methods & Materials: Mosquitoes obtained from seven districts of Jayapura regency, Papua province, Indonesia representing a variety of habitats were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). Results: Results of the identification based on morphological characteristics of the members of the An. punctulatus group found in Jayapura Regency are: An. farauti, An. koliensis and An. punctulatus. Further species identification using PCR-RFLP for sibling species of the An. punctulatus group was found four species in Jayapura Regency: An. farauti s.s, An. farauti 2, An. farauti 4 and An. koliensis. Morphological species An. farauti identified using PCR-RFLP were shown to be three sibling species: An. farauti s.s, An. farauti 4 and An. koliensis, the morphological species of An. koliensis were shown to be two sibling species: An. farauti 2 and An. koliensis while the morphological species of An. punctulatus to be one sibling species: An. koliensis Conclusion: This PCR assay is simpler, quicker, cheaper and readily interpreted. This study is the first efford to make malaria vector mapping in Indonesia base on molecular approach.