Cryptic Diversity and Demographic Expansion of Plasmodium knowlesi Malaria Vectors in Malaysia

Although Malaysia is considered free of human malaria, there has been a growing number Plasmodium knowlesi cases. This alarming trend highlighted the need for our understanding this parasite and its associated vectors, especially considering role genetic diversity in adaptation evolution among vectors endemic areas, which currently significant knowledge gap their fundamental biology. Thus, study aimed to investigate Anopheles balabacensis, cracens, introlatus, latens—the P. malaria Malaysia. Based on cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers, genealogic networks An. latens showed separation haplotypes between Peninsular Borneo, forming two distinct clusters. Additionally, distances these clusters were high (2.3–5.2% CO1) (2.3–4.7% ITS2), indicating likely presence species or cryptic within latens. In contrast, no observed implying lack pronounced differentiation populations. It worth noting that varying levels polymorphism across different subpopulations, highlighting some variation mosquito species. Nevertheless, further analyses revealed all four have undergone demographic expansion, suggesting population growth potential range expansion region.