Relationships between anopheline mosquitoes and topography in West Timor and Java, Indonesia

Abstract

BackgroundMalaria is a serious health issue in Indonesia. Mosquito control is one aspect of an integrated malaria management programme. To focus resources on priority areas, information is needed about the vectors and their habitats. This research aimed to identify the relationship between anopheline mosquitoes and topography in West Timor and Java.MethodsStudy areas were selected in three topographic types in West Timor and Java. These were: coastal plain, hilly (rice field) and highland. Adult mosquitoes were captured landing on humans identified to species level and counted.ResultsEleven species were recorded, four of which were significant for malaria transmission: Anopheles aconitus, Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles subpictus and Anopheles sundaicus. Each species occupied different topographies, but only five were significantly associated: Anopheles annularis, Anopheles vagus and Anopheles subpictus (Java only) with hilly rice fields; Anopheles barbirostris, Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles subpictus (West Timor only) with coastal areas.ConclusionInformation on significant malaria vectors associated with specific topography is useful for planning the mosquito control aspect of malaria management.

Mosquito Longevity, Vector Capacity, and Malaria Incidence in West Timor and Central Java, Indonesia

“…Figure 1 shows the study areas in West Timor and Central Java. Seven villages (five in West Timor and two in Central Java) were chosen to represent coastal plain, hilly, and highland areas [14]. The villages were selected also for their pattern of malaria as recorded and by the availability of local assistants and access constraints.…”

“…Previous research has addressed some of these factors: that is, the significant habitats and the dusk-to-dawn pattern of host-seeking activity of the main malaria vectors in West Timor and Java [14,15]. The aim here was to explore a simple method of assessing the longevity, by age grading, of anopheline mosquitoes in West Timor and Central Java and relating this to vectorial capacity to help explain the different malaria incidences in the two areas.…”

Incidence of malaria is clustered and buffers around plantations: a spatial analysis

“…maculatus are in open hilly areas and mountains where forests have been cleared and is located in the hilly areas of forest. (13) The breeding sites of An. maculatus are puddles that get sunlight, various types of ponds, lakes, marshes, along the banks of slow-flowing streams, ditches and rice fields near the hills.…”

Effect of climate on malarial vector distribution in Monsoon Asia: coupled model for Ecophysiological and Climatological Distribution of mosquito generations (ECD-mg)

“…3. Anopheles sinensis is an important vector in the regions of Japan, Korea, and the eastern part of China (Chow 1991); A. minimus is the main species to which cattle are exposed in northern Vietnam and southern China (Garros et al 2006; A. culicifacies has been recorded throughout India, including Kashmir and the high elevations of the Himalayas, but not on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Barik et al 2009); A. dirus is an important vector of malaria in Myanmar (Paing et al 1989); A. sundaicus has been reported to be the main vector of malaria in the coastal areas of Southeast Asia (Imai et al 1988, Ndoen et al 2010). …”

“…Although the relationship between malaria and climate variables has been assessed in many regions, few studies have addressed the relationship between the vector species and climate variables. In addition, since there are many species of malaria vector mosquitoes in Monsoon Asia -which occurs in various climates, such as cool-and warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical -the relationship between vectors and projected climate conditions is quite complex, depending on the type of species (Paing et al 1989, Chow 1991, Barik et al 2009, Ndoen et al 2010. In particular, little is known about the broad-scale impact of variations in climate on the vector species distributions in these regions.…”