Open Peer Review Discuss this article (0) Comments RESEARCH ARTICLE Mapping the distribution of across Anopheles funestus Benin highlights a sharp contrast of susceptibility to insecticides and infection rate to between southern Plasmodium and northern populations [version 2; referees: 2 approved] Rousseau Djouaka , Romaric Akoton , Genevieve M. Tchigossou , Seun M. Atoyebi , Helen Irving , Michael O. Kusimo , Innocent Djegbe , Jacob M. Riveron , Eric Tossou , Akadiri Yessoufou , Charles S. Wondji 4 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Cotonou, Benin University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK University of Sciences, Arts and Techniques of Natitingou, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Natitingou, Natitingou, Benin Equal contributors Abstract Malaria remains an important public health issue in Benin, with Background. and being the predominant Anopheles gambiae s.l. Anopheles funestus s.s vectors. This study was designed to generate information on An. funestus distribution, molecular speciation, infection rate and insecticide Plasmodium susceptibility status across Benin. Mosquito samples were collected Methods. from December 2014 to January 2016 in 46 localities in Benin. These samples were mapped and collected were speciated to the molecular level. An. funestus infection rate was determined using a Taqman assay and Plasmodium susceptibility to insecticides was assessed using the WHO guidelines. The genotyping of the L119F- Gste2 mutation was also carried out. Results. An. was found in 8 out of the 46 localities surveyed with a high presence in funestus Tanongou (wet Sudanese ecological zone), Kpome, Doukonta and Pahou (sub-equatorial ecological zone). Molecular identifications revealed that only was present in southern Benin, whereas in Tanongou An. funestus s.s (northern Benin) and were found in sympatry at An. funestus s.s. An. leesoni proportions of 77.7% and 22.3% respectively. infection rate of Plasmodium An. was higher in southern Benin at a range of 13 to 18% compared to funestus 5.6% recorded in Tanongou. High DDT (8±0.5%) and permethrin (11±0.5%) resistance were observed in Doukonta, Kpome and Pahou, contrasting with relatively low resistance profiles: mortality-DDT=90±3.18% and mortality-permethrin=100% in Tanongou. Genotyping analysis revealed high frequency of the resistant 119F allele in the South (Kpome and Doukonta) compared to the North (Tanongou). The high Discussion and Conclusion. presence of in the South compared to the North could be due to An. funestus favorable environmental and climatic conditions found in both regions. A significant infection rate was recorded across the country. A high Plasmodium 1* 1,2* 1,2 1,3 4 1 5 4 1,2 2 4 1 2 3 4 5 * Referee Status: Invited Referees version 2 published 03 Mar 2017 version 1 published 14 Dec 2016 1 2 report report , Mouhamadou S. Chouaibou Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire 1 , Institut Mamadou Ousmane Ndiath Pasteur of Madagascar Madagascar 2 14 Dec 2016, :28 (doi: ) First published: 1 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10213.1 03 Mar 2017, :28 (doi: ) Latest published: 1 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10213.2 v2 Page 1 of 17 Wellcome Open Research 2017, 1:28 Last updated: 24 MAR 2017