Signature of resistance gene evolution and pyrethroid resistance escalation in the major malaria vector Anopheles funestus across Kenyan malaria-endemic regions separated by the Rift Valley
Infectious Diseases of Poverty·
- DOI
- 10.1186/s40249-026-01458-1
- PMID
- 42141496
- PMCID
- PMC13179624
- OpenAlex
- W7161260555
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Region-specific selection appears to generate distinct resistance profiles across Kenyan malaria-endemic zones, which has implications for malaria transmission and for tailoring insecticide resistance management strategies.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study examined whether landscape features such as the Rift Valley shape Plasmodium infection rates and insecticide resistance profiles in Anopheles funestus s.s. across Kenyan malaria-endemic regions.
Study design
A field-based entomological survey combining PCR genotyping of resistance markers, TaqMan and nested PCR screening for Plasmodium sporozoites, statistical association tests, and WHO-guideline phenotypic assays including diagnostic, intensity, and PBO-synergist bioassays on F1 progeny.
Population and setting
Anopheles funestus s.s. populations sampled from western Kenya, the Kerio Valley (within the Rift Valley), and coastal Kenya, with phenotypic work performed on F1 progeny.
Main findings
The 4.3kb-SV and G454A-Cyp9k1 alleles were nearly fixed in western Kenya and declined toward the Rift Valley and coast, while L119F-GSTe2 increased along a west-KV-coast gradient and included a novel coastal haplotype. Lower odds of Plasmodium infection were observed in L119F-GSTe2-RR versus RS mosquitoes (OR 0.2, P=0.046), whereas the 4.3kb R allele was associated with higher infection odds (OR 5.7, P=0.049). Pyrethroid resistance intensity was higher in the Kerio Valley than in western Kenya, and pre-exposure to PBO improved mortality more for type II pyrethroids than permethrin, with coastal populations showing extreme permethrin resistance.
Public-health relevance
Region-specific selection appears to generate distinct resistance profiles across Kenyan malaria-endemic zones, which has implications for malaria transmission and for tailoring insecticide resistance management strategies.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and bibliographic metadata and therefore cannot capture limitations discussed only in the full text; the original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
The paper provides contextual evidence on spatial heterogeneity of resistance markers and phenotypes in a major African malaria vector across Kenya, relevant to understanding how landscape barriers may affect vector population structure and resistance discoverability; it does not by itself confirm any live surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 7 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.