Spatial temporal distribution of Anopheles mosquitoes in different ecological zones of Ghana

Abstract

Vector control is a cornerstone for malaria management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the distribution dynamics and ecology of major malaria vectors is important for strengthening the current control efforts of national malaria control programmes. This project monitored the spatiotemporal distribution of <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes across different ecological zones of Ghana from 2017 to 2025. <i>Anopheles</i> mosquitoes were sampled from twelve sites across the three ecological zones of Ghana (Coastal, Forest and Sahel Savannah zones) using human landing catches and Prokopack aspirators. Mosquitoes were subjected to morphological and molecular species identification. Sporozoite infection rates and blood meal sources of collected blood fed female mosquitoes were both assessed using PCR. A total of 47,771 Anopheline mosquitoes (<i>An. gambiae</i> s.l, <i>An. funestus</i>, <i>An. pharoensis</i> and <i>An. rufipes</i>) were collected across the three ecological zones. <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l, and particularly <i>An. coluzzii</i> and <i>An. gambiae</i> s.s were the predominant species across the study sites and ecological zones. Sporozoite infections were higher in the forest and sahel zones compared to the coastal zone, and the overall human blood index was 40.46%. Our findings provide relevant data for improving current vector control for malaria in Ghana.