Vector Abundance and Genetic Diversity of Anopheles Mosquitoes Collected in a Laboratory-Office Complex in Vom,...

Malaria remains a significant threat in high-burden high-impact (HBHI) countries despite substantial investments in disease control. This highlights the need for more comprehensive and inclusive strategies to meet national and international targets. Although agricultural and poorly maintained environments are known for mosquito breeding, workplaces are rarely considered in conventional malaria control measures. In this pilot investigation, we assessed the presence of Anopheles spp. in a laboratory-office complex in Vom, Nigeria, to assess workplace malaria risk and its implications for control strategies. We conducted molecular barcoding on 74 Anopheles specimens targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (cox1). Our analyses identified Anopheles funestus (n = 29; 54.6%), Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (n = 17; 32.1%), and Anopheles rufipes (n = 6; 11.3%). Haplotype network analyses revealed 12, 8, and 6 distinct haplotypes for A. funestus, A. gambiae, and A. rufipes, respectively. Genetic divergence estimates for cox1 sequences were ≤0.011% for A. funestus, ≤0.007% for A. gambiae, and ≤0.018% for A. rufipes. The detection of genetically diverse Anopheles vector species in an office setting underscores the potential risk of workplace malaria transmission. This pilot study provides initial evidence that workplace environments can harbor genetically diverse malaria vectors and should be considered in future surveillance and control strategies. We recommend subnational tailoring (SNT) of intervention strategies to incorporate workplace environments and public places into malaria control efforts.