Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii, the main malaria vector in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, is a complex of at least five cryptic species

Abstract

Malaria, a tropical disease caused by Plasmodium and transmitted by Anopheles, remains a public health concern in Brazil. While most cases occur in the Amazon, transmission persists in the Atlantic Forest, where Anopheles mosquitoes of the Kerteszia subgenus are the primary vectors of human and simian malaria. Previous studies using cytogenetics, isoenzymes, and molecular markers have suggested cryptic species within Anopheles (Kerteszia) cruzii and Anopheles (Kerteszia) bellator. We sequenced 55 genomes: 35 An. cruzii s.l. (four with Nanopore and 31 with Illumina), 12 An. bellator s.l., and eight An. homunculus, the latter two with Illumina. Phylogenomic analysis revealed at least five cryptic species within An. cruzii s.l., labelled A-E, with evidence of sympatry in some locations. Anopheles bellator s.l. also forms a species complex, comprising at least three distinct lineages. These cryptic species showed high genetic differentiation (FST range: 0.4-0.7), typical of interspecific comparisons. In contrast, An. homunculus populations showed low differentiation (FST [~] 0.2), suggesting a single widespread species. Our analysis confirms cryptic speciation in An. cruzii and An. bellator, but not in An. homunculus. These findings are important for understanding malaria transmission in the Atlantic Forest, given that vector competence may differ among cryptic species.