The mosquito Anopheles cruziimain vector of malaria in areas of Atlantic Forestis not a single species, but rather a complex formed by five genetically distinct lineages.
The finding indicates that the insect, previously treated as a single biological unit, groups five cryptic speciesin organisms that have identical external appearance, but that do not reproduce among themselves.
The discovery, which included the participation of Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)was published in , from the Nature group.
Genomic technology and lineage mapping
To identify the differences, researchers from UFSCyes Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation) and from UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) used the phylogenomicsa technique that analyzes thousands of genes to map DNA.
Collections were carried out in ten cities in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Santa Catarina.
The five lineages were named A, B, C, D and E. According to the study, lineage A has greater distribution in the coastal region, including Florianópolis, while lineage E was only detected in the municipality of Santa Teresa (ES).
The precision of molecular mapping allowed us to confirm the reproductive isolation between lineages that cohabit the same place, which characterizes them as distinct species.
Impact on malaria control and public health
The distinction between species is considered fundamental for defining conservation policies. public health.
According to experts, the ability to transmit the (Plasmodium) may vary among the five identified lineages.
With the possibility of recognizing each cryptic species, strategies can become more accurate and economical.
Currently, control efforts are applied to all mosquito populations, but science indicates that perhaps only one or two strains are truly relevant vectors for human transmission.
