UNVEILING PLASMODIUM DIVERSITY IN NORTHERN BENIN: INSIGHTS FROM MOLECULAR AND IMMUNOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF ANOPHELES GAMBIAE S.L. VECTORS

This study aimed to assess the specific diversity of Plasmodium infection in Anopheles mosquitoes in northern Benin. Anopheles mosquitoes were captured using human bait in four municipalities: Malanville, Cobly, Materi, and Boukoumbe. The mosquitoes were morphologically identified and characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Plasmodium species were detected using PCR. The sporozoite index (SI) was calculated, and the P-value test was employed. The kappa index (k) was also determined. A total of 3739 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected, of which 97.67% were Anopheles gambiae s.l., and 2.32% were Anopheles funestus. Two sibling species from the gambiae complex and one hybrid were identified. A. gambiae s.s. (74.38%), Anopheles coluzzii (24.79%), and A. gambiae/A. coluzzii (0.82%). Specifically, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax were detected in the municipalities of Malanville and Cobly, while only P. falciparum was detected in Materi and Boukoumbe using PCR. P. falciparum and P. vivax were detected in northern Benin, providing updated mapping of circulating Plasmodium species. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of infection and the dynamics of malaria transmission in Benin and West Africa.. KEYWORDS :Anopheles gambiae, Immunological analysis, Parasite diversity, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Vectors