Evidence for a new malaria vector species, species E, within the Anopheles culicifacies complex (Diptera: Culicidae)

摘要

Female A. culicifacies from Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, India, were examined for oocysts and sporozoites and their larval progeny for mitotic karyotype. Collections were made in 1994-95 and 1997 from Mandapam and Uchipuli on the mainland, and Thangachimadam and Pamban on Rameshwaram Island. Of the 451 A. culicifacies females that were collected and dissected, 24 were found to be positive for Plasmodium (21 for sporozoites and 3 for oocysts). Both acrocentric and submetacentric Y-chromosomekaryotypes were observed among the progeny of females from all villages. All 11 iso-female lines whose parental females were positive for sporozoites or oocysts had progeny with submetacentric Y-chromosomes. Total absence of sporozoite-positives among mothers of acrocentric males was evidence of assortative mating between these 2 sympatric populations (i.e. 2 species). It is proposed that the nonvector population with acrocentric Y-chromosome sons retain the original designation of species B and that the vector population with the submetacentric Y-chromosome sons be designated as species E, a new species.