Mosquito Anthropophily: implications on malaria transmission in the northern Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

-Seasonal variation of adults and larvae of anophelines was studied during 2003 and 2004 in Roraima State, located in the Northern region of Brazilian Amazon. Species diversity increased with distance of capture to human dwellings. Greater diversity was found in extradomiciliary collections than in peridomiciliary or intradomiciliary. A signifi cant association between Anopheles darlingi Root and An. albitarsis (s.l.) Arribálzaga (Diptera: Culicidae) breeding sites and the proximity to human dwellings was observed. Malaria Sporozoite Antigen Panel Assay (Vectest TM Malaria) indicated An. albitarsis s.l. as one of the local vectors in the studied area. In this study, an index to describe the anthropophilic behavior of each anopheline species is proposed.

Deforestation and Malaria on the Amazon Frontier: Larval Clustering of Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) Determines Focal Distribution of Malaria

“…At the boundary of overlapping ecosystems, species from both of these environments may coexist, as well as unique species that may be specially adapted to the conditions of the ecotone. In forest fringes, we have demonstrated an increased occurrence of Anopheline larval numbers, species diversity, 18 as well as parasite infestation of larvae by trophonts of Tetrahymenidae, 29 which were associated with larval habitats with unusually high larval densities. In particular, A. darlingi may have uniquely adapted to the forest ecotone of forested-deforested transitions due to its greater anthropophily, as compared with other Anopheline species.…”

“…The occurrence of A. darlingi larvae in proximity to human dwellings has been well described. 10,18 Humans sleeping in proximity to the fringe are exposed to both increased vector bites and bites from recently oviposited (epidemiologically older) females, increasing malaria risk. This creates highly focal transmission zones because mosquitoes insinuate little into deforested areas, leaving most of the human population in deforested areas unaffected.…”

“…The study site has been well characterized. [17][18][19] The first 1.9 km of the side road lack houses because they are the back of larger land lots bordering the main road. From then on, at either side of the road, 75 houses were located.…”

Ecological Suitability and Spatial Distribution of Five Anopheles Species in Amazonian Brazil

“…[40][41][42] Statistical analysis of environmental variables using a principal component analysis or canonical correspondence analysis can reveal distinct habitat diversification among species that share a geographic distribution. 43 Habitat generalist species may be less affected by ecological variation *Address correspondence to Sascha N. McKeon, University at Albany School of Public Health, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222.…”

Brazilian mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna: I. Anopheles species from Porto Velho, Rondônia state, western Amazon, Brazil

“…Moreover, they are likely related to the physiological, genetic and immunological characteristics of the species to acquire and transmit the pathogen 26,27 . The vectorial capacity of competent mosquito populations is determined by ecological factors, e.g., human-blood-feeding frequency, mean longevity, mosquito density relative to humans, and number of infective bites 3,37 . Consequently, a particular species of Anopheles may be an important vector in one region, but of minor or no importance in another.…”