Published in PLOS One on 2026-04-30, this study is presented as an attributed evidence briefing. The excerpts below are the original researchers’ words, reproduced under their Creative Commons Attribution licence. HealthSignal has selected the abstract and, where needed, opening background paragraphs; the complete methods, results, limitations and references remain in the linked paper.
Original authors: Hamidou Ilboudo, Elodie Doda Gricela Sanon, Domonbabele François de Sales Hien, Fadilah Traoré, Helle Hansson, Bérenger Kaboré, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Eli Rouamba, Ismaïla Bouda, Toussaint Rouamba, Michael Alifrangis, Hermann Sorgho, Pascal Magnussen, Halidou Tinto
Source: PLOS One • DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0348192
Read the complete primary study ↗ · Creative Commons Attribution licence
From the researchers
Abstract
Malaria is endemic in Burkina Faso, with seasonal transmission during the rainy season. Environmental changes such as dam construction may influence mosquito ecology and malaria transmission; however, entomological data from this area remain limited. This study aimed to characterize malaria vector dynamics, including species composition, blood meal sources, and sporozoite infection rates, in five villages at varying distances from the Soum dam located in the Nanoro Health District catchment area in Burkina Faso. From March 2022 to February 2023, mosquitoes were collected monthly via pyrethrum spray catches (PSCs) targeting indoor resting vectors. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically via taxonomic keys. PCR analyses were performed to identify species within the Anopheles gambiae complex, determine blood meal sources, and assess Plasmodium falciparum infection. A total of 11,378 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected, including 3,432 males (30.1%) and 7,948 females (69.9%). An. gambiae s.l. was the most abundant species (86.5%), followed by An. funestus (10.6%). Within the An. gambiae complex, 91.5% were An. coluzzii, 8.3% An. arabiensis, and 0.2% An. gambiae sensu stricto. The vector density was highest in Soum (49.7%) and decreased with distance from the dam. The overall sporozoite rate was 6.2%, with higher rates in Seguedin (9.5%) and Soala (8.7%). Among the tested mosquitoes, 34.7% fed on humans, 14.2% on animals, and 23.6% on both. Anopheles coluzzii was the predominant vector and showed moderate anthropophilic behavior. Despite higher vector density near the dam, infection rates were greater in distant villages, highlighting the complexity of vector dynamics in dam-associated areas and the need for localized control strategies.
Background
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles [1]. It remains a major public health problem, with 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths reported worldwide in 2023, of which approximately 95% of cases and 96% of deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa [2].
In Burkina Faso, malaria remains the leading cause of outpatient consultations, hospitalizations, and deaths in health facilities, with more than 12 million cases recorded in 2021, including 4,355 deaths [3]. Pregnant women and children under five years of age are the most vulnerable groups [4]. Although malaria is endemic throughout the country, transmission peaks occur during the rainy season (June to October), placing the entire population at risk.
Several Anopheles species are involved in malaria transmission, with Anopheles gambiae (An. gambiae) complex being the most widespread and epidemiologically significant across sub-Saharan Africa [5,6]. This complex comprises eight morphologically similar species [7], among which An. gambiae sensu stricto (An. gambiae s.s.), An. coluzzii, and An. arabiensis are highly anthropophilic and serve as the primary vectors of Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum), the parasite responsible for most malaria-related deaths in the region [2,8].
Reading this evidence
Use the full paper to check the study design, participant selection, comparator and outcome definitions before drawing a practical conclusion. An association does not by itself show cause and effect. A reported performance measure needs its denominator and uncertainty. A finding from a particular facility, sample or time period should retain that scope when it is discussed elsewhere.
This briefing makes the source accessible within the wider public health desk. It does not assess an individual patient or certify a product. When considering relevance to another health system, examine the original authors’ account of context and limitations, then seek local implementation evidence. The related reporting below provides other studies to read alongside this one; it is a topic connection, rather than a claim that their results are directly comparable.
© 2026 Hamidou Ilboudo, Elodie Doda Gricela Sanon, Domonbabele François de Sales Hien, Fadilah Traoré, Helle Hansson, Bérenger Kaboré, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Eli Rouamba, Ismaïla Bouda, Toussaint Rouamba, Michael Alifrangis, Hermann Sorgho, Pascal Magnussen, Halidou Tinto. Excerpts reproduced under CC BY. Selection, formatting and contextual notes by HealthSignal. The researchers are the authors of the source study, not members of HealthSignal’s staff.
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