Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS

Abstract The age structure of a mosquito population helps estimate the proportion of vectors capable of transmitting malaria. Many malaria transmission models rely on mosquito longevity as key parameter. However, these are rarely measured in the field due to lack of a reliable and scalable age-gradi...

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Main Authors: Mercy Tuwei, Jonathan Karisa, Caroline Kiuru, Zedekiah Ondieki, Tobias Odongo, Martha Muturi, Festus Mure, Bruno Otieno, Miguel Okoko, Brian Bartilol, Rehema Gona, Kelly Ominde, Luis Constantino, Gildo Cole, Trisa Anastácio, Baltazar Candrinho, Romário Armazia, Claudia Alves, Edith Ramaita, Martin Rono, Joseph Mwangangi, Charles Mbogo, Francisco Saute, Carlos Chaccour, Caroline Wanjiku, Marta Maia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00935-1
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author Mercy Tuwei
Jonathan Karisa
Caroline Kiuru
Zedekiah Ondieki
Tobias Odongo
Martha Muturi
Festus Mure
Bruno Otieno
Miguel Okoko
Brian Bartilol
Rehema Gona
Kelly Ominde
Luis Constantino
Gildo Cole
Trisa Anastácio
Baltazar Candrinho
Romário Armazia
Claudia Alves
Edith Ramaita
Martin Rono
Joseph Mwangangi
Charles Mbogo
Francisco Saute
Carlos Chaccour
Caroline Wanjiku
Marta Maia
author_facet Mercy Tuwei
Jonathan Karisa
Caroline Kiuru
Zedekiah Ondieki
Tobias Odongo
Martha Muturi
Festus Mure
Bruno Otieno
Miguel Okoko
Brian Bartilol
Rehema Gona
Kelly Ominde
Luis Constantino
Gildo Cole
Trisa Anastácio
Baltazar Candrinho
Romário Armazia
Claudia Alves
Edith Ramaita
Martin Rono
Joseph Mwangangi
Charles Mbogo
Francisco Saute
Carlos Chaccour
Caroline Wanjiku
Marta Maia
author_sort Mercy Tuwei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The age structure of a mosquito population helps estimate the proportion of vectors capable of transmitting malaria. Many malaria transmission models rely on mosquito longevity as key parameter. However, these are rarely measured in the field due to lack of a reliable and scalable age-grading method. An accurate method could improve predictions of malaria risk and the impact assessment of interventions. This study aimed to investigate the use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for malaria vector age-grading using insectary-reared and wild-caught mosquitoes. Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes were reared in the insectary to different known physiological and chronological ages to evaluate if MALDI-TOF MS could be used to distinguish between different age groups. Wild mosquitoes were collected from Mozambique and Kenya and dissected to determine their parity status. Reference spectra were obtained from mosquito’s cephalothorax and used to create predictive databases which were validated using independent samples. MALDI-TOF MS identified the physiological and chronological age of insectary-reared mosquitoes with 94.52% and 77% accuracy respectively. Field-collected mosquitoes were primarily An. funestus s.s. and An. gambiae s.s. Parity prediction accuracy was between 81% and 87%. MALDI-TOF MS was able to distinguish and differentiate mosquitoes based on their age structure (chronological and physiological) and parity status.
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spelling doaj-art-1fe98bfb371f4581bdf23585a127f87f2025-08-20T01:49:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-00935-1Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MSMercy Tuwei0Jonathan Karisa1Caroline Kiuru2Zedekiah Ondieki3Tobias Odongo4Martha Muturi5Festus Mure6Bruno Otieno7Miguel Okoko8Brian Bartilol9Rehema Gona10Kelly Ominde11Luis Constantino12Gildo Cole13Trisa Anastácio14Baltazar Candrinho15Romário Armazia16Claudia Alves17Edith Ramaita18Martin Rono19Joseph Mwangangi20Charles Mbogo21Francisco Saute22Carlos Chaccour23Caroline Wanjiku24Marta Maia25Kenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramKEMRI-CGMR CoastKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramKEMRI-CGMR CoastKEMRI-CGMR CoastKEMRI-CGMR CoastKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramKEMRI-CGMR CoastKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaNational Malaria Control ProgramCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaNational Malaria Control Program, Ministry of HealthKEMRI-CGMR CoastKEMRI-CGMR CoastKEMRI-CGMR CoastCentro de Investigação em Saúde de ManhiçaISGlobalKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramKenya Medical Research Institute, Wellcome Trust Research ProgramAbstract The age structure of a mosquito population helps estimate the proportion of vectors capable of transmitting malaria. Many malaria transmission models rely on mosquito longevity as key parameter. However, these are rarely measured in the field due to lack of a reliable and scalable age-grading method. An accurate method could improve predictions of malaria risk and the impact assessment of interventions. This study aimed to investigate the use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for malaria vector age-grading using insectary-reared and wild-caught mosquitoes. Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes were reared in the insectary to different known physiological and chronological ages to evaluate if MALDI-TOF MS could be used to distinguish between different age groups. Wild mosquitoes were collected from Mozambique and Kenya and dissected to determine their parity status. Reference spectra were obtained from mosquito’s cephalothorax and used to create predictive databases which were validated using independent samples. MALDI-TOF MS identified the physiological and chronological age of insectary-reared mosquitoes with 94.52% and 77% accuracy respectively. Field-collected mosquitoes were primarily An. funestus s.s. and An. gambiae s.s. Parity prediction accuracy was between 81% and 87%. MALDI-TOF MS was able to distinguish and differentiate mosquitoes based on their age structure (chronological and physiological) and parity status.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00935-1Anopheles gambiae s.s.An. funestus s.s.Age-gradingMALDI-TOF MSParityDetinova
spellingShingle Mercy Tuwei
Jonathan Karisa
Caroline Kiuru
Zedekiah Ondieki
Tobias Odongo
Martha Muturi
Festus Mure
Bruno Otieno
Miguel Okoko
Brian Bartilol
Rehema Gona
Kelly Ominde
Luis Constantino
Gildo Cole
Trisa Anastácio
Baltazar Candrinho
Romário Armazia
Claudia Alves
Edith Ramaita
Martin Rono
Joseph Mwangangi
Charles Mbogo
Francisco Saute
Carlos Chaccour
Caroline Wanjiku
Marta Maia
Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
Scientific Reports
Anopheles gambiae s.s.
An. funestus s.s.
Age-grading
MALDI-TOF MS
Parity
Detinova
title Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
title_full Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
title_fullStr Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
title_full_unstemmed Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
title_short Age structure and parity status determination of Afrotropical malaria vectors using MALDI-TOF MS
title_sort age structure and parity status determination of afrotropical malaria vectors using maldi tof ms
topic Anopheles gambiae s.s.
An. funestus s.s.
Age-grading
MALDI-TOF MS
Parity
Detinova
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00935-1
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