About Anopheles atroparvus

Range

Anopheles atroparvus belongs to the A. maculipennis species complex. Current suitability studies indicate that habitat and climate in 21st century Europe are extensively appropriate for A. atroparvus, being distributed in northern and western Europe, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Portugal and northern Italy and was one of the main malaria vectors in Europe. However the speceis has known ranges covering: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine. Anopheles atroparvus was the most abundant species of the A. maculipennis complex found in south-east England [5]. Flight range of A. atroparvus is suggested to be at least three kilometres [1]. A. atroparvus hibernate as adult females, often seeking shelter indoor in stables or man-made dwellings during the autumn where they can remain active [1].

Vectoral capacity

Although research interest in A. atroparvus has been low in the past several decades, recent concern for an increase in vector-borne disease has encouraged new research into this species. The current dominant Anopheles vector species in Europe and the Mediterranean includes A. atroparvus, among other species of Anopheles[4]. Anopheles atroparvus, the dominant vector in large parts of Europe, might play an important role with respect to changes of the potential transmission stability[6]. Anopheles atroparvus is generally considered as primarily zoophilic, however, it has also been described as anthropophilic, with host choice dependednt on availability thus reflecting the opportunistic nature of this species. Implicated in the transmission of autochhtonous malaria in Europe via the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax; and known to be involved in winter transmission of malaria at the start of the twentieth century in Britain, coastal areas in the Netherlands and Germany[2] and elsewhere in Europe[1]. In Portugal, Anopheles atroparvus is the only mosquito species implicated in malaria transmission[3].

More information

Anopheles atroparvus strain Infravec2 Ebre Delta preserved or extract

General information about this species can be found here Wikipedia and ECDC

Picture credit: James Gathany, CDC Public domain via Wikimedia Commons (Image source)

Taxonomy ID 41427

Data source Ensembl Metazoa

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