Molecular identification of anopheline mosquitoes in goat farms of Menoreh Highland, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta

Abstract

The anopheline mosquito is an exciting subject of study, as it is responsible for disease transmission worldwide. Goat malaria is one of the diseases spread by anopheline mosquitoes. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of anopheline mosquitoes in the Menoreh Highland Areas of Girimulyo and Samigaluh, Kulon Progo, Indonesia. A total of 38 anopheline mosquitoes were collected twice weekly from March to April 2024. Morphological identification was immediately performed using a light microscope. Nine representative mosquitoes from each species were subjected to molecular analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 (COII) gene. The results of this study showed that the anopheline mosquitoes collected belonged to four species: Anopheles maculatus, An. barbirostris, An. annularis, and An. vagus. The dominance index (D) of the total anopheline population was 0.452, categorizing it as moderate. The diversity index (H′) was calculated as 1.027, indicating moderate diversity. Among the identified anopheline mosquitoes, An. maculatus was the most prevalent species, accounting for 63.16 % of the total population. Molecular analysis using PCR and Sanger sequencing identified four species in this study based on partial sequences of COII nucleotide analysis. A phylogenetic tree was constructed that highlighted genetic diversity within the anopheline population. This study emphasized the importance of understanding mosquito diversity on goat farms. Additionally, further research is needed to investigate environmental factors influencing mosquito distribution and potential resistance to control methods.