Molecular characterization of cryptic species of Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp in China

Background Anopheles barbirostris sensu lato belongs to the Barbirostris subgroup of the subgenus Anopheles that is distributed in Southeast Asia. Different molecular forms have been identified based on the rDNA-ITS2 and mtDNA-COI sequences. Anopheles barbirostris occurs in China. The species status was uncertain due to the lack of molecular characterization. The present study characterized Chinese An. barbirostris using rDNA-ITS2 and mtDNA-COI gene sequences. Two cryptic species were identified. Findings DNA was extracted from morphologically identified An. barbirostris specimens collected in Yunnan and Hainan from China, the sequences of rDNA-ITS2 and mtDNA-COI regions of 40 individuals were amplified and analyzed. The sequence comparison revealed two cryptic species, corresponding to An. barbirostris A1/clade III and A2/clade IV, respectively. The molecular characterization updated the species composition of the An. barbirostris complex in China. Conclusions This study distinguished two molecular forms in the An. barbirostris s. l. in China.