FIRST RESULTS OF MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES OF THE ANOPHELES MACULIPENNIS S. L. COMPLEX IN ODESA REGION: NEW DATA FOR THE FAUNA OF UKRAINE

Introduction. Malaria remains one of the most dangerous parasitic diseases worldwide, with its incidence increasing in recent years. The importation of malaria cases and the emergence of local transmission in Europe underscore the importance of indigenous vectors – mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. In Ukraine, seven species of malaria mosquitoes have been recorded, including three members of the Anopheles maculipennis s. l. complex, which are considered the principal potential vectors. Accurate identification of cryptic species within this complex is crucial, yet challenging, due to their morphological similarity. Molecular identification methods enable differentiation of morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species. Aim. The aim of this study was to identify cryptic species of the An. maculipennis s. l. complex in a selected biotope in the Odesa region using molecular markers. Methods. On 10 June and 14 September 2023, the total of 112 Anopheles larvae were collected from a drainage canal near the village of Yasky (Odesa Region). Specimens of the An. maculipennis s. l. complex, distinguished on the basis of morphological characteristics, were selected for molecular genetic analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted usingthe protocol with CTAB lysis buffer, and species identification was carried out via PCR-analysis of the ITS2 region of rDNA. PCR amplification with species-specific primers enabled species determination based on a fragment length. The resulting data were used to calculate relative abundances and corresponding confidence intervals. Main results. Six species of malaria mosquitoes were found in the study habitat, including five representatives of the An. maculipennis complex (An. atroparvus, An. labranchiae, An. maculipennis s. s., An. melanoon, and An. messeae) and one species – An. hyrcanus, which does not belong to this complex. The species An. labranchiae and An. melanoon were registered in Ukraine for the first time. A quantitative analysis of species composition was performed, identifying both dominant and accompanying species. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of molecular markers in differentiating closely related species and highlight their value in detecting potential malaria vectors in Ukraine. The detection of An. labranchiae and An. melanoon underlines the need for a comprehensive survey of An. maculipennis s. l. mosquitoes in the region.