Biology subjects

Soma, D. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Soma, D. D..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Evidence of fitness costs associated with Ace-1R-mediated resistance to pirimiphos-methyl in Anopheles gambiae sensu lato following the withdrawal of indoor residual spraying in Burkina Faso

IntroductionChanges in vector control strategies alter the selection pressures exerted on natural populations of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and may influence the dynamics of insecticide resistance mechanisms. However, the consequences of discontinuing indoor residual spraying (IRS) campaigns on the evolution of Ace-1-mediated resistance remain poorly documented under natural conditions. This study aimed to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of resistance to pirimiphos-methyl following the cessation of IRS and to investigate evidence consistent with the existence of a biological cost associated with Ace-1-mediated resistance. MethodsNatural populations of An. gambiae s.l. were collected between 2017 and 2023 in three districts in Burkina Faso that had undergone IRS campaigns (Kampti, Solenzo, and Kongoussi). Susceptibility tests with pirimiphos-methyl (0.25%) were conducted out following WHO protocols, and a subsample of exposed mosquitoes was genotyped to detect the Ace-1 G119S mutation. Spatiotemporal trends in mortality, allele frequencies and genotypes were analyzed according to the pre-IRS, IRS, and post-IRS periods. The association between the Ace-1 genotype and survival following exposure to pirimiphos-methyl was assessed using logistic regression, while the concordance between phenotypic and molecular indicators of resistance was examined using Spearmans correlation. ResultsThe susceptibility of An. gambiae s.l. populations to pirimiphos-methyl was gradually restored after the discontinuation of IRS at all sites. At the same time, the frequencies of the Ace-1 119S resistance allele declined sharply, particularly in Kampti and Solenzo, while they remained low in Kongoussi throughout the study period. Mosquitoes carrying resistant genotypes had a significantly higher probability of survival after exposure to pirimiphos-methyl than susceptible homozygotes, with resistant homozygotes (RR) exhibiting the greatest survival advantage (OR = 27.62; 95% CI: 6.91-110.45; p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was observed between the frequency of the Ace-1 119S allele and phenotypic mortality ({rho} = -0.48; p = 0.033), indicating a concordance between the two indicators of resistance. The progressive decline in allele frequencies, the decreasing prevalence of resistant genotypes, and the concomitant restoration of susceptibility are field observations consistent with the existence of biological costs associated with Ace-1-mediated resistance. ConclusionThis study provides field evidence consistent with the existence of biological costs associated with Ace-1-mediated resistance in natural populations of An. gambiae s.l. These results underscore the value of an adaptive resistance management strategy based on alternating selection pressures and could guide future vector control strategies, particularly if indoor residual spraying campaigns or other interventions relying on organophosphates were reintroduced.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2024

A metagenomics-based survey of the virus diversity in mosquito vectors allows the first detection of Sindbis virus in Burkina Faso

Mosquito-borne viruses represent a threat to human health worldwide. This taxonomically-diverse group includes numerous viruses that recurrently spread into new regions. Thus, periodic surveillance of the arbovirus diversity in a given region can help optimizing the diagnosis of arboviral infections. Nevertheless, such screenings are rarely carried out, especially in low-income countries. Consequently, case investigation is often limited to a fraction of the arbovirus diversity. This situation probably results in undiagnosed cases. Here, we have explored the diversity of mosquito-borne viruses in two regions of Burkina Faso. To this end, we have screened mosquitoes collected along three years in six urban and rural areas using untargeted metagenomics. The analysis focused on two mosquito species, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, considered among the main vectors of arboviruses worldwide. The screening detected Sindbis virus (SINV, Togaviridae) for the first time in Burkina Faso. This zoonotic arbovirus has spread from Africa into Europe. SINV causes periodic outbreaks in Europe but its distribution and epidemiology in Africa remains largely unstudied. SINV was detected in one of the six areas of the study, and at a single year. Detection was validated with isolation in cell culture. SINV was only detected in Cx. quinquefasciatus, thus extending the list of potential vectors of SINV in nature. SINV infection rate in mosquitoes was similar to those observed in European regions that experience SINV outbreaks. A phylogenetic analysis placed the nearly-full genome within a cluster of Central African strains of lineage I. This cluster is supposedly at the origin of the SINV strains introduced into Europe. Thus, West Africa should also be considered as a potential source of the European SINV strains. Our results call for studies on the prevalence of SINV infections in the region to estimate disease burden and the interest of SINV diagnostic in case investigation. Author summaryMosquito-borne viruses are responsible for millions of cases worldwide every year. Moreover, they have repeatedly shown an ability to spread over large distances. Thus, periodic surveys of the arbovirus diversity in a given region can help to define the diagnostic tests to use during case investigation. However, comprehensive surveys are rarely carried out, especially in low-income countries. Here, the arbovirus diversity was assessed in two main mosquito vectors in Burkina Faso using untargeted metagenomics. This screening identified Sindbis virus (SINV), a zoonotic arbovirus, for the first time in Burkina Faso. Moreover, SINV was found in nature for the first time in Culex quinquefasciatus, a main mosquito vector of several pathogens and with a cosmopolitan distribution. SINV leads to periodic outbreaks mainly in Europe. Despite a likely African origin, its distribution and epidemiology in Africa remains largely unstudied. The SINV sequence from Burkina Faso felt within the cluster of Central African strains thought to be at the origin of the European SINV strains. Thus, our results indicate that West Africa should be considered as another potential source of the SINV introductions in Europe. Further studies are required to characterize SINV epidemiology in Burkina Faso and the West African region.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Data-driven and interpretable machine-learning modeling to explore the fine-scale environmental determinants of malaria vectors biting rates in rural Burkina Faso

BackgroundImproving the knowledge and understanding of the environmental determinants of malaria vectors abundances at fine spatiotemporal scales is essential to design locally tailored vector control intervention. This work aimed at exploring the environmental tenets of human-biting activity in the main malaria vectors (Anopheles gambiae s.s., Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles funestus) in the health district of Diebougou, rural Burkina Faso. MethodsAnopheles human-biting activity was monitored in 27 villages during 15 months (in 2017-2018), and environmental variables (meteorological and landscape) were extracted from high resolution satellite imagery. A two-step data-driven modeling study was then carried-out. Correlation coefficients between the biting rates of each vector species and the environmental variables taken at various temporal lags and spatial distances from the biting events were first calculated. Then, multivariate machine-learning models were generated and interpreted to i) pinpoint primary and secondary environmental drivers of variation in the biting rates of each species and ii) identify complex associations between the environmental conditions and the biting rates. ResultsMeteorological and landscape variables were often significantly correlated with the vectors biting rates. Many nonlinear associations and thresholds were unveiled by the multivariate models, both for meteorological and landscape variables. From these results, several aspects of the bio-ecology of the main malaria vectors were precised or hypothesized for the Diebougou area, including breeding sites typologies, development and survival rates in relation to weather, flight ranges from breeding sites, dispersal related to landscape openness. ConclusionsUsing high resolution data in an interpretable machine-learning modeling framework proved to be an efficient way to enhance the knowledge of the complex links between the environment and the malaria vectors at a local scale. More broadly, the emerging field of interpretable machine-learning has significant potential to help improving our understanding of the complex processes leading to malaria transmission.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Insecticide resistance status of malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae s.l of southwest Burkina Faso and residual efficacy of indoor residual spraying with microencapsulated pirimiphos-methyl insecticide

The rapid spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the rebound in malaria cases observed recently in some endemic areas underscore the urgent need to evaluate and deploy new effective control interventions. A randomized control trial was conducted with the aim to investigate the benefit of deploying complementary strategies, including indoor residual spraying (IRS) with pirimiphos-methyl, in addition to long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) in Diebougou, southwest Burkina Faso. We measured the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae s.l. population from Diebougou to conventional insecticides. We further monitored the efficacy and residual activity of pirimiphos-methyl on both cement and mud walls using a laboratory susceptible strain (Kisumu) and the local An. gambiae s.l. population. An. Gambiae s.l. from Diebougou was resistant to pyrethroids (deltamethrin, permethrin and alphacypermethrin) and bendiocarb but showed susceptibility to organophosphates (pirimiphos-methyl and chlorpyrimiphos-methyl). A mixed-effect generalized linear model predicted that pirimiphos-methyl applied on cement or mud walls was effective for 210 days against the laboratory susceptible strain and 247 days against the local population. The residual efficacy of pirimiphos-methyl against the local population on walls made of mud was similar to that of cement (OR=0.792, [0.55-1.12], Tukeys test p-value =0.19). This study showed that one round of IRS with pirimiphos-methyl CS has the potential to control the multi-resistant An. gambiae s.l. population from Southwest Burkina Faso for at least 7 months, regardless of the type of wall.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Anopheles bionomics, insecticide resistance mechanisms and malaria transmission in the Korhogo area, northern Cote d Ivoire: a pre-intervention study

BackgroundA better understanding of malaria transmission at a local scale is essential for developing and implementing effective control strategies. In the frame of a randomized control trial, we aimed to provide an updated description of malaria transmission in the Korhogo area, northern Cote dIvoire, and to get baseline data for the trial.\n\nMethodsWe performed Human Landing Collections in 26 villages in the Korhogo area during the rainy season (September-October 2016, April-May 2017) and the dry season (November-December 2016, February-March 2017). We used Polymerase chain reaction techniques to ascertain the species of the An. gambiae complex, Plasmodium sp sporozoite infection and insecticide resistance mechanisms in a subset of Anopheles vectors.\n\nResultsAnopheles gambiae s.l. was the predominant malaria vector in the Korhogo area. Overall, more vectors were collected outdoors than indoors (P < 0.001). Of the 774 An. gambiae s.l. tested in the laboratory, 89.65% were An. gambiae s.s. and 10.35% were An. coluzzii. The frequencies of the kdr allele were very high in An. gambiae s.s. but the ace-1 allele was found at moderate frequencies. An unprotected individual living in the Korhogo area received an average of 9.04, 0.63, 0.06 and 0.12 infected bites per night in September-October, November-December, February-March, and April-May, respectively.\n\nConclusionsThe intensity of malaria transmission is extremely high in the Korhogo area, especially during the rainy season. Malaria control in highly endemic areas such as Korhogo needs to be strengthened with complementary tools in order to reduce the burden of the disease.

zoology↗