Population Genetics of Anopheles pretoriensis in Grande Comore Island

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this study, we assessed phylogenetics of 24 Anopheles species and the genetic structure of Anopheles pretoriensis populations on Grande Comore Island. Our study is the first to report the whole mitochondria genome of A. pretoriensis and the first to inform on the genetic relationship of this species’ populations, both within the island of Grande Comore and between the island and continental Africa. Studies on secondary vectors of malaria, such as A. pretoriensis, are significant because they have been reconsidered in regard to their role in sustaining malaria transmission after primary vectors are controlled. ABSTRACT: Anopheles pretoriensis is widely distributed across Africa, including on oceanic islands such as Grande Comore in the Comoros. This species is known to be mostly zoophylic and therefore considered to have low impact on the transmission of human malaria. However, A. pretoriensis has been found infected with Plasmodium, suggesting that it may be epidemiologically important. In the present study, we sequenced and assembled the complete mitogenome of A. pretoriensis and inferred its phylogenetic relationship among other species in the subgenus Cellia. We also investigated the genetic structure of A. pretoriensis populations on Grande Comore Island, and between this island population and sites in continental Africa, using partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Seven haplotypes were found on the island, one of which was ubiquitous. There was no clear divergence between island haplotypes and those found on the continent. The present work contributes knowledge on this understudied, yet abundant, Anopheles species.