Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42471684›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2026

Species composition, abundance and seasonality of potential Rift Valley fever virus vectors in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

Takalani I Makhanthisa, Milehna M Guarido, Alan Kemp, Melinda K Rostal, William B Karesh, Johana Teigen, Assaf Anyamba, Nichar Gregory, Jacqueline Weyer, Peter N Thompson

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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Takalani I MakhanthisaDepartment of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Milehna M GuaridoDepartment of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
Alan KempCentre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa.
Melinda K RostalDepartment of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
William B KareshOne Health Concepts, Easton, CT, USA.
Johana TeigenOne Health Research Consulting, Glen Rock, NJ, USA.
Assaf AnyambaUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Cir, Baltimore, 21250, USA.
Nichar GregoryOne Health Research Consulting, Glen Rock, NJ, USA.
Jacqueline WeyerCentre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Sandringham, South Africa.
Peter N ThompsonDepartment of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa. peter.thompson@up.ac.za.

Funding

U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency HDTRA1-19-0033
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, primarily infecting ruminants such as sheep and cattle and causing high abortion and neonatal mortality rates. Previous studies have indicated hyperendemic circulation of RVFV in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The vectors of RVFV are not well characterized in this area, particularly with respect to species composition, seasonal abundance, and potential vector roles; however, several potential mosquito vector species have been identified. The aim of this study was to describe the species composition, abundance, and seasonal population dynamics of potential RVFV vectors in far north-eastern KZN, in order to identify likely important RVFV vectors in the area.

methodsMosquitoes were sampled monthly at three sites (Namaneni, Mpala and Bumbe), for one-to-two nights per site over a period of 3 years (November 2019-November 2022). CO

resultsA total of 141,594 mosquitoes consisting of 46 species from 8 genera, including Aedes (2610), Culex (89,143), Mansonia (45,029), and others, were collected. Culex (Culex) tritaeniorhynchus (55,491), Mansonia (Mansonioides) uniformis (35,453), and Culex (Lasioconops) poicilipes (14,192) were the most common species, varying in their relative proportions between sites. Mosquito species diversity and abundance differed across sites, with seasonal peaks occurring from January to April. Overall counts were higher at Namaneni (IRR = 3.30, 95% CI 2.62-4.16), p < 0.001) but lower at Bumbe (IRR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.23-0.54, p < 0.001), compared to Mpala. All 55,113 screened mosquitoes tested negative for RVFV.

conclusionsMultiple potential RVFV vectors, such as Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. poicilipes, Aedes (Neomelaniconion) circumluteolus, Aedes (Neo.) mcintoshi, and Aedes (Aedimorphus) durbanensis, were found to be present in relatively high numbers and could play an important role in both endemic and epidemic RVFV transmission.

Indexed as

CulicidaeMosquito VectorsRift Valley FeverRift Valley fever virusAedesAnimalsCattleCulexPopulation DynamicsSeasonsSheepSouth AfricaMosquitoRift Valley fever virusSouth AfricaVector

Identifiers

PMID42471684
PMCPMC13663144

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.