Badara Samb
University
Faculty of Medicine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (University of Dakar), Senegal.
PhD Title
Anopheles funestus in the senegal river basin: role in malaria transmission and characterization of populations.
Abstract
Anopheles funestus is one of the major malaria vectors in tropical Africa. Because of several cycles of droughts events that have occurred during the 1970s, this species had disappeared from many parts of sahelian Africa, including the Senegal River basin. In 1999, An. funestus was reported in this area. The following entomological survey carried out in the area revealed that An. funestus females are lowly involved in malaria transmission. However, the infection rate increased from 0.04 % in 2004 to 5.07 % in 2006 (December) in the Guiers lake area. A correlated increase of parasite prevalence in children under 10 years was also reported in this part of the Senegal River Basin currently characterized by a permanent presence of An. funestus populations. Theses populations seem to be now well adapted to local conditions and better involved in malaria transmission regarding to the increase of infection rate. In order to better understanding the implication of An. funestus in malaria transmission, in the present proposal, we will (1) Update the distribution limits of An. funestus populations in the Senegal River basin, (2) Assess its role in malaria transmission, (3) determine its genetic structure and compare it to other An. funestus populations of Senegal, (4) determine its susceptibility / resistance to insecticides. These results will improve malaria control programmes in sub-Saharan areas.
Background
I obtained a Master (Postgraduate diploma) in Animal Biology in 2005 at the Université Cheikh Anta DIOP of Dakar and Medical Entomology Laboratory of Institut Pasteur of Dakar, working on the distribution, bio-ecology and role in malaria transmission of newly established Anopheles funestus populations in the Senegal River Basin. In 2008, I participated in the entomological evaluation of "Indoor Residual Spraying Programme", implemented by WHO in Senegal. In 2008 and 2009, I did an internship at the Laboratoire de Lutte contre les Insectes Nuisibles (IRD, Montpellier, France) to study the population genetic structure of Anopheles funestus using mitochondrial DNA (nd5) and microsatellite loci. I am currently doing my PhD at the Université Cheikh Anta DIOP of Dakar in collaboration with the Institut Pasteur of Dakar and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to study the bionomics, population genetics, and susceptibility/resistance to insecticides of Anopheles funestus populations in Northern Senegal.