Distinct haplotypes and free movement of Aedes aegypti in Port Sudan, Sudan

Abstract

Any attempt to control a mosquito-borne disease should primarily focus on controlling its vector. In Sudan, arboviral infections are a major health problem where periodical outbreaks of arboviruses transmitted byAedes aegyptihave been reported. This preliminary study was performed to uncover the population genetic diversity ofAedes aegyptifrom Red Sea State, Sudan, using mtDNA-COIgene. We performed morphological identification, PCR and DNA nucleotide sequencing and analysed the genetic polymorphism, and isolation by distance ofAedes aegyptifrom four sites. Of the 55 samples successfully sequenced, six haplotypes were revealed. Global haplotype network revealed that the predominant haplotype in Sudan (Hap1; 31 sequences = 56.4%), the second most frequent haplotype (Hap2; 13 sequences = 23.6%) and Hap 5 (3.6%) were identical or genetically close to isolates seen in different countries distributed in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia and two African isolates, one from Kenya and the other from Europa Island (Mozambique Channel). Haplotype 4 (3.6%) appeared closely related to mosquitoes sampled from Cameroon, Kenya, Sri Lanka and India and belonged to a lineage that contained isolates from all over the geographical expansion. Haplotype 6 (1.8%) seemed quite distant from any other sequenced mtDNA. To summarize, four haplotypes were found only in Sudan, and one rare haplotype appeared genetically distant from all other haplotypes, suggesting a local origin. Subdivision measures and testing suggested a probable free (or almost free) migration between the different sites sampled